I wish I would have known enough about the 2.9 issues when I first got the truck, to just automatically replace the oil pump. It’s funny that this fuel injector thread has devolved to another 2.9 oil thread. But you live and you learn.
I’m interested in rebuilding the engine soon but not yet. Have workspace needs to solve. But first I’m going to spring for the M328 high volume pump and see how it goes. I did a little poking around and found that the Melling IS-128 may very well be their shaft intended for both the standard volume and high volume. It makes sense to produce only one version of the shaft. And if you go to Summit it’s clearly labeled as heavy duty and also has “Intended for High Volume Pump: Yes” in the details.
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But here’s a wild question…
On a 2.9, is any surface / segment of the oil pump exposed to the air or is it fully inside the engine and enclosed by the oil pan?
If my pump was on its last legs, and if the pump is exposed to the air at all, I think I MAY have further smoked it while doing the Motor Medic. I don’t expect that a healthy pump would give out from an engine flush, but maybe a failing one could since it’s so thin.
Reason I think this is because during flush for a very brief moment I saw a single puff of smoke or something come up from radiator area. Shut down truck immediately and inspected. Found nothing weird, so figured it was just the wind that carried a bit of exhaust over from muffler and found it’s way up. Happens all the time. But then just yesterday I found an small oil drenched gasket sitting directly under the front of the engine. See pic below. That’s makes little sense, I mean how could a bolt mounted gasket just fall out of its fastening? I don’t know. But it’s there and there’s not denying it came from my truck.
On the drive I took after flush and oil change, it was already warmed up of course and the engine was the quietest it’s ever been, except for lightweight ticking that came back. So I don’t think I’ve mangled the engine. But this gasket is alarming, although it seems impossible. Maybe it was just some old gasket that from previous owner that was stuck to oil on engine for years and finally fell off.
Anyways im comitted to the 2.9 (although not committed to the A4LD) and so I think it still makes sense to put the pump in and worst case is I still have to rebuild sooner than expected. Best case is the flow helps a lot and I can drive the truck until rebuild.
10mm for scale.
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