Oil Pump Help

[Broosedamoose]

My mechanic said I have a small pin hole in my lower oil pan so I need to replace it. I'd like to replace the oil pump with a Melling high volume pump and a new pick-up tube/screen while he has the pan off but I'm getting some conflicting information about whether it can be done with the engine in the truck. It looks to me like the pan just drops off and the oil pump should be right there. Why is some information saying either the engine has to be jacked up or the front axle dropped? There isn't a problem with the pump. I just figured it would be a good time to replace it. The engine has about 100K miles. This is on my 07 4wd Ranger with the SOHC.

 

[19Walt93]

Look in the tech library, I don't recall ever seeing a pan pulled with the engine in place. Also, I would stick with a stock oil pmp if you replace it, a high volume pump adds parasitic drag and isn't needed for a relatively stock engine. Unless the engine is badly sludged, the pick up tube screen should be easily cleaned.

 

[Uncle Gump]

The key words were "lower oil pan". This would indicate an SOHC. That lower pan will certainly come off in vehicle. As for changing the pump... I'm not sure... simply because I've never done it.

I'm in the camp of high volume oil pumps are OK. Any losses for me are made up for with piece of mind in an older high mileage engine. To me it's a no brainer if you have any operating temperature oil pressure concerns.

 

[Mechrick]

I'd like to replace the oil pump with a Melling high volume pump

Never a good idea unless the engine has a known oil volume issue (460 Ford, Buick 231). If the engine is carrying decent pressure when hot at idle with the correct viscosity oil, stock pump is fine.

High volume pumps were created for classic performance applications that run more bearing clearance than stock. For instance, Ford 351s had .0007'.0015" bearing clearance from the factory, for a race application that was usually increased to .003" (and higher viscosity oil was often used as well).

 

[Broosedamoose]

We just went with swapping the pan for now. The mentality was, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I had good oil pressure before and we just did the tentioners and guides not that long ago. But just for the record, it looked like the pump could be changed without an issue. Not sure why some information said the engine has to come out.

 

[Uncle Gump]

We just went with swapping the pan for now. The mentality was, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I had good oil pressure before and we just did the tentioners and guides not that long ago. But just for the record, it looked like the pump could be changed without an issue. Not sure why some information said the engine has to come out.

They were likely confused between the SOHC and OHV offerings. The OHV version the oil pan will not even come out unless you do some extensive maneuvering.

Glad you verified it's possible on the SOHC.