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Broken Oil Pumps - RB26dett - How to Fix Them - Why They Break

Sean Morris Posted on October 15, 2024
This R32 GT-R oil pump inner gear shouldn't be 2 piece. 


When you are running a car hard, you will often see failures.  Just recently Brian's R32 lost oil pressure at the race track. His R32 GT-R has had about 20 track days, and is a worst case scenario for a crankshaft on an RB26, a narrow pump drive.  We were out doing a comparison of stock cars for a online magazine, and we were allowed to bring his car up. I told everyone if I got 3 laps of the track, I would be happy to bring the car up. We don't get much time at the track when both Ernie, Brian, and myself are there. 

 
Brian's R32 GT-R at Willow Springs

 

The cool part about the day was we were on Horsethief Mile doing the testing. However Brian noticed some friends were on Big Track at Willow. Also some other friends on Streets. So in a single day, he got a chance to drive on all three tracks. It doesn't get much better than that. 
 

Nasty gouge and heat there . You can see the powdered metal the gear is made of

This was an R32 crankshaft, so narrow pump drive. 

So, honestly this is to be expected with an RB26 with a narrow pump drive and driven on the race track. This engine has about 20 track days on it. Its run hard. It has probably been over revved a few times. And for all those that ask about a rev limiter, remember rev limiter only protects on the way up, not on the way down. So if you miss a shift, it will zing to 10k plus RPM. 
 





RB26 oil pump backing plate showing some grooves

Outer gear and case. 

 
 

 


 
Engine Lubrication and Cooling Fluid Capacities for  Nissan Skyline

Engine Oil Capacity (quarts)
Item RB20E/RB25DE RB25DET RB26DETT
H Level 4.2 4.3 4.8
L Level 3.2 3.5 3.7
Oil and Filter Change ~ 4.4 ~4.8 ~4.9

Coolant Capactiy (liters)
  RB20/RB25DE/RB25DET RB26DETT
Capacity ~9 ~9.2

Engine Oil Pressure(kg/cm2, psi)
RPM Idling 2000 6000
RB20E ~1.0, 14 ~3.8,54 ~4.8,68
RB25DE ~1.0, 14 ~3.3,47 ~5.3,75
RB25DET ~1.0, 14 ~3.5,50 ~5.6,85
RB26DETT ~1.5, 21 ~3.0,43 ~4.6,65

 
 

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