avidhunter3

Noticed the oil gauge was not working this morning, and the motor sounded like a diesel. Checked the oil level and it was fine. By the time I got home, truck stalled, and would turn over but not start. There was also a fine spray of oil close to the power steering pump, but it didnt look like regular oil, it looked red. Anyway does it sound like the oil pump is for sure out, and how hard is it to change it? I don't want to rebuild the engine, just get it running good enough to make it a couple of months and trade it in.

Steve83

No, it sounds like the PS pump blew out some fluid because you steered after the engine stalled.

Turn the key to RUN, open the hood, disconnect the Wh/R wire from the oil pressure switch just above & inboard of the PS pump, & short it to ground on the block. Does the gauge go to mid-scale? If so, the engine may be damaged. If not, the engine is probably fine.

Get a mechanical oil gauge to temporarily install in place of the switch to see if there's any pressure at idle. If so, replace the switch. (I recommend converting to a real pressure sender, but that takes a little work.) If there's no pressure, don't start the engine again. Either repair it , or trade it now.

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dthompson

With my experience with this type of problem the pick up tube in the oil pan is clogged up and the engine was starved of oil. Once you put a mech. gauge on to see if there is any pressure you will find out that the tube is the problem.