Oil Pump Problem?
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Oil Pump Problem?
I have a 1988 F250 5.8L 351, 104,000 miles. the oil pressure dropped suddenly and the engine started rattling. I shut it off immediately. When I restarted it, there was oil pressure for a short time and then it dropped off again and started rattling again. Its not the oil pressure gauge. Mechanic says I need a new engine or this one rebuilt. Could it be just the oil pump/pickup tube/shaft that is the problem? It still sounds fine when started up. I'm not sure it needs a complete rebuild. I thought I could probably try to replace the oil pump myself, I don't have $2500 for an engine rebuild, or would I be wasting my time? Thanks for any replies/ comments.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Oil Pump Problem?
I would change the oil, and drain the old oil into a clean bucket. From there, use an old soda bottle or something to take a small amount out. If you look closely at the used oil in the bottle, and it looks metalic, it's rebuild time. The shiny stuff in the oil is bearing material. It sounds like there is something floating around in the oil pan, maybe a chunk of RTV, that is getting sucked up every now and then. If it was a bad pump, it would take forever to get any kind of oil pressure to show up.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,907
Likes: 39
From: suburban atlanta
Oil Pump Problem?
Get your hands up! OK, done. Drop the oil pan, and you'll most likely find there is some gasquet material that is blocking the pickup screen intermittently. OR maybe something else, such as silicone that was used as gasket mat'l on some engines...
Clean pan, replace gasket, fill and drive. Most pump failures will not have problems come and go. They just fail, and pumps can fail quicky, or fail by wearing out. But NOT an on again.. off again type failure. I'd check your mechanics qualifications if he didn't recommend dropping the pan for at least a bearing inspection, especially when the pressure comes back. Bad engines will not do that...
tom
Clean pan, replace gasket, fill and drive. Most pump failures will not have problems come and go. They just fail, and pumps can fail quicky, or fail by wearing out. But NOT an on again.. off again type failure. I'd check your mechanics qualifications if he didn't recommend dropping the pan for at least a bearing inspection, especially when the pressure comes back. Bad engines will not do that...
tom
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 297
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From: Butner,NC
Oil Pump Problem?
I agree with the last post. Drop the pan and your problem may be the pickup. I had a hot 302 years ago that lost oil pressure suddenly; got it home, dropped the pan and there lay the pickup. It cracked the tube near the mounting ear and removing the pan finished the job. Installed pickup and engine was fine.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 265
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From: Connecticut
Oil Pump Problem?
This happened to me i my 1992 Ranger. I dropped the pan to find that the oil pan gasket had dry-rotted and got sucked into the system clogging the screen on the oil pump. It is worth a shot to check it out. Good Luck...Jay
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