I have a 2006 Ranger Sport 3 liter 4.2. Yesterday the oil light came on, the truck shut off and I just managed to pull it into a parking lot. I checked the oil, it was showing between the marks, I tried starting the truck, it started and a few sec later it started ticking, so I shut it off. Does this sound like the oil pump is gone, if so, how do I change it out?

 

Welcome to FTE.

Since you have the 3.0L Vulcan engine, have you been hearing an under hood squeeking sound, thats high up, passenger side, back near the fire wall, where the distributor used to be????

If so & you have ignored it, put the cam sensor/sync assy on your suspect list, as the oil pump shaft is driven off/through this assy, so if its bearing goes bad from lack of lube (which is common) it'll begin to squeek & if ignored & not replaced, the bearing can sieze & the oil pump shaft will strip out the drive splines & no oil pump drive!!!!

So, check that puppy out first & let us know what you find.

EDIT: If you have to replace the sync assy, its said by those that have done it, Don't use a Dorman product.

 

+1 on the sync shaft. It is at the top middle of the picture I included.

 

Thanks for the info, I ended up getting another motor with under 20k on it, I didn't want to chance swapping out the oil pump and the sync shaft and then the motor still be knocking. I also had a mechanic take a look and listen and he told me that the motor is knocking and to replace it (he isn't the one doing the work), so I got the new engine and we have it all in place now, just have to hook up everything to it. Hopefully this all goes well.

 

Good choice. Done it a few times. Once the oil pump goes - so does the motor.