How do I change the oil pump on a 1988 Dodge Ram Van B-150 V8?
I know I'll need an oil pump, gasket, what else? more oil? how hard of a project is this? Any tips/tricks?
Van keeps losing oil pressure after about 10 minutes... I imagine because of the oil pump or pickup tube in the pan...
Thanks guys!
alloro
09-15-2008, 08:53 AM
The loss of oil pressure could also be the result of the pressure sender going bad or a spun main bearing. An oil pump usually works or it doesn't, so your problem is not likely the pump itself. Sludge in the pan could do it, but all you have to do is run some motor flush in the engine to see if that makes the problem go away.
mgoblue9798
09-15-2008, 05:38 PM
First, I would put an actual pressure gauge on to be sure exactly what pressure you are getting. As long as it will maintain 5-10 lbs of oil pressure at idle when hot then there really is no need to change it. If it checks out ok, then it could wind up being that the oil pickup screen is stopped up. I had the same prob with a 5th ave that I bought, after the car warmed up after driving a couple of miles the oil light would come on. Once I got the oil pan off i could see the oil pickup screen was stopped up with a combo of sludge and broken nylon teeth from the timing chain set. If you can get the pan off the engine while it is still in the van it would not be too hard a job, but if you have to pull the engine it obviously is more involved. Either way if I had to pull the pan off I would plan on a high volume pump and new timing chain set as the chains are notorious for failure due to the nylon teeth.
alloro
09-15-2008, 07:16 PM
Stay away from the nylon gears. A nice double roller chain set with steel gears is not all that expensive.
