Engine oil pump gone bad 98 F150

Alright guys, and gals, here's the deal: I have a 1998 F150 4.6 V8 4x2, and changed the oil three days ago. Have had an almost constant clicking for the past couple of months, and had no clue what it was. When I went to start the truck back up, the oil pressure wouldn't rise at all, and now apparently, according to the dealer, the oil pump has gone bad. Since the oil pump is unreachable without removing the oil pan, etc., I am wary of attempting it myself. Apparently you must lift the engine to do this, which I consider more than shade-tree work. First of all, is the dealer's assessment correct, in your opinion? Also, about how much do y'all think it would run me to have them replace it for me? Thanks. :icon16:

I doubt it.

You DO NOT have an oil pressure gauge, but a switch activated indicator. Either you have pressure, or you don't. It is VERY common for the switches to fail (open) so the "gauge" shows no pressure.

If the oil pump HAD failed, and you drove it to the dealership, you would not have made it, nor made it back home. The engine would have locked up long before that.

Is the ticking louder (more noticeable) at idle than while driving? If so, it is rather likely that one of the timing chain tensioners has failed (not common, but it happens). Other possible causes are valve guides, "lifters".

The truck was towed, not driven to the dealership, just in case. Also, the ticking is more noticeable while idling, but that may be because of outside noise while driving. One way or the other, the noise is noticeable while in motion, no matter what speed.

This happened to my '82 Ford 1/2 ton pick-up. Noticed that the oil pressure gauge stoped working and had a ticking noise and miss. I though the gauge took a dump& one onother and had the same reading. Took the oil pan off and removed the oil pump and found the oil pump rod twisted like a drill bit!:eek2:I showed several shops my oil pump rod and no one has ever seen anything like it. Now that I replaced the oil pump and rod, the motor is no good(blow-by).:iamwithst