Oil pressure

[Wasp]

I dropped a new to me 2.9 in my B2. I finally got around to installing a manual oil pressure gauge in it to be sure I have OP.
The factory gauge is reading plus normal, the problem being I've developed the dreaded rap after a few miles. it comes and it goes but mostly stays and it's driving me nuts. I have a line on a Melling Cam and lifters. But I need to know should I score a new Oil pump.

The new gauge is the plastic tube type running from a "T" I installed in the block with the OEM sender on the other side of the "T".

At idle my OP is around 5-10PSI, at 2k it goes up to around 25-30psi.......
This seems a little low to me.

All the while my factory gauge is sitting at plus normal no matter what the RPM is.

I want to keep the 2.9 for the gas mileage, I'm averaging around 24 with a hydrogen generator.

Any advise would be appreciated,

Thanks,

Wasp

 

[Bronco_Chuck]

got any pice of the hydrogen generator? i was considering building one for mine but not sure how big i should make it.

 

[Wasp]

I built mine from plans I bought on line. The whole thing, including the plans cost me around $200. I check it every fill up........ top off the water, check all the connections ect. and that's about it. I'm impressed at how well it has survived all my off roading.

Word of warning, hydrogen is very explosive stuff... take every precaution to prevent a back fire from making it to the generator. That would ruin your whole day...

No advise on the OP, ah?......... Oh well

 

[AllanD]

I dropped a new to me 2.9 in my B2. I finally got around to installing a manual oil pressure gauge in it to be sure I have OP.
The factory gauge is reading plus normal, the problem being I've developed the dreaded rap after a few miles. it comes and it goes but mostly stays and it's driving me nuts. I have a line on a Melling Cam and lifters. But I need to know should I score a new Oil pump.

The new gauge is the plastic tube type running from a "T" I installed in the block with the OEM sender on the other side of the "T".

At idle my OP is around 5-10PSI, at 2k it goes up to around 25-30psi.......
This seems a little low to me.

All the while my factory gauge is sitting at plus normal no matter what the RPM is.

I want to keep the 2.9 for the gas mileage, I'm averaging around 24 with a hydrogen generator.

Any advise would be appreciated,

Thanks,

Wasp

If your 2.9 has an oil pressure problem it isn't the pump.

When you can't get water from your sink do you instantly
assume the reservoir is dry? or do you go looking for a broken
pipe in your basement?

2.9's with "oil pressure issues" have one of two problems,
either the engine is "sludged" and the pudding like goo
that used to be oil won't flow through the pickup screen...

OR

(sadly just as common) the cam/main bearings have excessive
clearance and the oil "leaks out" of the pressure side of the
oiling system before it reaches the lifters.

But in any event putting a new oil pump in it is as likely to fix
it as installing a new steering wheel on the RMS Titanic would be
to make her reach port (98 years late, but...)

Basically I'm telling you that in all probability you don't have
an oil "pressure" problem, you much more likely have an
oil control issue

This problem is common to the 2.9.

BTW, 2.9's can actually seize crank in the block
after grinding all the babbit off the main bearings
AND the copper that lies beneath the babbit all the
way down to the steel base material on the main
bearings and not leave so much as a single mark
on the rod bearings.

But the cam bearings were also down to copper.

I've seen the remains of three 2.9 engines that did exactly that.



AD

 

[Wasp]

Allan,
I don't think it's a sludge problem,
Oil changes after engine install............
1st- 1 quart of MMO with 10w30 high detergent and new filter
2nd- BG MOA plus 10w30 high detergent w/new filter
3rd- Flushed oil system with 5 qrts Kerosene
4th- 10W40 and Reslone new NAPA Gold filter.......

If there's any sludge left in there, it's running for it's life.

The bearing thing seems reasonable to me. I ordered a new cam and lifters set for the beast. I'll install new cam bearing while I have it apart. I'll also drop the oil pan and change all the shells and maybe install a new Melling high out put oil pump just to be sure.

I've been led to believe the cam bearings are normally seen as the main culprit for low OP and the dreaded rapping.... is that correct?

When I started the truck this morning I noted the OP was in the High 50s (cold) Once it warmed up and the oil became more viscous the OP settled down to around 30psi at 2K and 5-10psi at idle.

Why buy new when you can shovel money into a 19 year old beater, ah

Wasp