I think my oil pump is going out...

[shadetree]

Didn't happin to install rod and main bearings did you? Had this happin to me one time it turned out incorrect bearings ! Chances are rare that its the oil pump ,in my opinion! I've never seen one go bad !

[Safety Guy]

Nope. Just installed new WP, redid oil pan and MBSP, new seals, a few things like that. I didn't touch the oil pump other than remove and reinstall the pickup tube.

I will probably try the "priming" method described as removing plugs and cranking engine to see if that works. If not, it's major operation time and I'll see what it's like to install an oil pump in the car.

Any other ideas, feel free! Thanks,

Karl

[blkfordsedan]

In my humble opinion, I wouldn't do anything except pull the engine and pull the oil pan & pump. You may be able to do this in the car as well. In any event, I wouldn't try to run it any more. You know from the sounds it's making that you don't have any oil pressure. When you went to the store, you had oil pressure. When you came out, you didn't....something broke or happened. The last thing you want is to damage the crank journals & camshaft journals in the head (if they're not already damaged). My guess is the pump went bad or a clogged or cracked pick-up tube. Doesn't really matter at this point, the main thing is to not damage it more! Sorry, I just don't want to see you ruin your engine for lack of oil pressure in an attempt to diagnose why you don't have oil pressure.

[blkfordsedan]

How common is it for an oil pump that has been working fine to need "priming?"

Karl

Never....unless it has been starved for oil, sucking air or some other issue has created it.

[Pu241]

I think you need to drop the pan and see what the pick-up looks like!

I agree with blkfordsedan, do not run it any more!

[nitrofarm]

Yes what they said Karl ^^^ Dont waste anytime priming the motor. The only time you really need to do that if its a fresh rebuild. Replace the pump & move on. Right now everytime you run/crank that motor you could be doing more & more damage if you dont have oil psi.

[blkfordsedan]

Sorry Karl, I wasn't trying to be negative or nasty, I'm just truely concerned for your circumstance. I just know how hard you have worked on your cars and I don't want to see you have any more problems than need be!

[Safety Guy]

I didn't see any "negativity" Brian. I know ya'll are watching out for me!

Thanks all for your thoughts and advice. I'm now prepping the car for an oil pump swap. I ordered the pump and seals and stuff this morning and should have everything by Friday morning. Aqua's up on the stands and I've removed about half of the timing stuff.

One good thing is I'll also swap crank pulleys. I think there'll be an update soon on my build thread (linking this as well, since it's part of the build, I suppose.

Anther GREAT thing is that I went on that Georgia trip last month--over 1400 miles--and didn't have a single problem, often as southern speeds of 70 mph. I didn't have any problems till I got back for a week or so and had my LF brake caliper begin acting up. I put on brand new front brakes last weekend, and now have SUPER AWESOME auto Aspire brakes with proper Kia Rio hoses to fit my Rio strut brackets.

Then this problem. It would have been much much worse on my trip!

Karl

[Safety Guy]

Just want to update this thread with the fact my oil pickup tube had come loose! I found that when I pulled the pan off.

I removed the part, shot some carb cleaner up into the bolt holes (probably should'a used brake cleaner instead), put on some thread locker and torqued them a bit over spec to keep it in place (I HOPE!!).

Oil pan was back on as of yesterday, then it began raining. Today it rained mostly, but then I got a chance and the timing area is mostly back together. I should finish tomorrow if the weather permits!

In hindsight, I only used one tube of the RTV in the B6 oil pan gasket kit. It seemed to cover enough properly, I also left the transaxle side rubber gasket "half-moon" in place since it was in a difficult area and had stayed in place pretty well when I removed the pan. I did use the other rubber piece on the timing side.

Hope it works!

I do have more confidence now that I've done a couple of major things to the engine while on the car. I fixed that huge oil leak by putting in the proper crank seal, and now this.

As always, thanks everyone for your help!

Karl

PS: I'm updating my build thread too.

PSS: Here's a link to this "problem thread":

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35940

My build thread:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31934