Low oil pressure

[diverd]

Help

My 99 Flex-fuel is having the common problem of LOW oil pressure.. Cold I get 50 psi once the engine gets hot the pressure drops to about 10 psi and zero @ idle. I have installed a mechincal pressure.

Is there an easier way of getting to the oil pump without removing the tranny or unbolting the engine and lifting it on it's side??? Do you even think the oil pump has gone bad or could it be the main bearings????

And if I do have to almost have to pull the motor to replace the pump do you think I should just replace the motor it has 155k on it. and what V8 will drop it and bolt right up to my 5 speed manual?

 

[Rearanger]

Cold pressure looks ok. What is the hot pressure at 3000rpm? Has the hot idle pressure changed, if so what was it before you thought you had a problem? 10psi at idle may be ok depending on accuracy of gauge.

Edit: When was the last time you changed your oil? You will notice that fresh oil produces higher oil presssures. Other problem could be fuel dilution of oil if raw fuel is getting past rings from poor compression or leaking injector. Oil analysis will show % of fuel in oil.

 

[diverd]

Rearanger,

Thanks for the reply... The oil has been changed about 3 times in the last month and the just yesterday to 10-40.. The oil pressure seems to stay around 10 psi @ idle and can reach about 30 at 3000 rpms. I believe the oil is blowning past a bearing as it heats up. So for now I will keep a close eye on it and look for a new motor.. Its my beach truck so I dont drive it everyday

 

[TomB1269]

Sounds like a clasic case of blow-by. If you check the valve cover breather tube and the PCV I will bet you find them loaded with oil. Aslo check that the PCV is still rattling.

Blow-by is usually worn rings.......

 

[98RangerDanger]

have you looked at the synctionizer to see if the teeth are worn where they meet with the camshaft? sometimes the camshaft moves back and forth very little but it beats the shit out of the synctionizer teeth and they become very thin and break.

 

[chiloh30]

Dont know if this will help or scare you.
I have a 99 4x4 3.0 was headed down the freeway it dropped oil press and the engine siezed.
Got it home pulled the engine (that is the way to get to the oil pan with a 4x4) whoever had the truck before I did must not have liked to change the oil much, there was sludge in the oil pan deep enough it was a quater inch below the oil pick up,, the faster I went the sludge would be picked up and block the oil pickup,,,,,no oil to the engine

Earl