3.2L low oil pressure

[dcswingle]

Been reading what I can. Mileage = 100K Symtoms = Low oil pressure at idle, tapping sound. If guage is linear 0-85 psi, less than 20 psi idle, warm day, warm engine. 40-80 psi on highway, closer to 40 psi on hot days. Engine takes 1 quart oil every 1500 miles, no oil dripping on ground. Possibilities = Guage, oil pump, worn bearings, rear oil seal? Probably not guage (tapping sound). Probably not rear oil seal, no oil on ground. This leaves oil pump, or worn bearings. I've changed oil every 5K thus this would be a bit premature on the bearings. I'm thinking oil pump.

1. Flush engine? With what? Use 10-30w oil or straight 30 weight at next oil change?

2. Preemptive replacement of oil pump? Are high preformance oil pumps available? Where is it located? How hard to get to?

Thanks in advance Dave Swingle

[rodeo02]

Dave- I see from your profile that this is a 1997 rodeo 3.2L. This design has the SOHC's and hydraulic valve lash adjusters. 5Kmi between oil changes is way too much for this engine- regardless of what the owners manual says. At that oil change interval, the small orifices in the lash adjusters will plug will contaminants in the oil, causing the lash adjusters to collapse, which gives the tick noise. As far as the low oil pressure, I have heard of one instance where someone on the edmunds rodeo board had his SOHC 3.2L seize, upon tear-down, they found what looked like gasket material clogging the oil pump pickup screen. He never did give more info than that. I would try an engine flush or two, run nothing but a quality 5w-30 oil at an absolute max of 3000mi oil change intervals. Use anything but a fram oil filter, these have been known to cause low oil pressure issues on startup due to their crappy bypass design. Some "ticking" is normal for these engines & not harmfull unless it's REALLY loud. You'll have to pull your oil pan to gain access to the oil pump & p/u screen if you want to inspect it for clogging.
G/luck
Joel

[2eyefishclaw]

Rodeo is correct I have seen it too many times remove the oil pan clean the pickup screen you may also find that it has been sucked up against the tube use a small nail or pick to pull it back away from the tube because that alone can reduce oil pressure to cause your concern change the oil every 3,000 miles add seafoam this will help clean the sys. and only change the oil when the engine is at operating temp. this ensures that you are getting all of the old out of the system

[dcswingle]

Thanks for the great advice! If I can get this fixed up, maybe get another 50-100 K on motor.

1. Should the oil press be at least 57 psi at idle or is this under load/higher RPM's.

2. Is the oil screen at all visible thru the drain hole or is there some sort of baffle/sheet metal blocking view?

DCS

[2eyefishclaw]

57 at idle should be ok and around 75-80 while driving

no you cant see the pickup tube with drain plug removed the pan will have to come off