Manager Forum

THE OIL PUMP, RELIEF VALVE, PICK-UP TUBE & UPPER OIL PAN ARE ALL GOOD. THE ONLY CLUES I HAVE FOUND SO FAR IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF BRASS AND A 3/8 STEEL BALL BEARING IN THE OIL PAN. THE ONLY PARTS THAT HAVE BRASS THAT I KNOW OF ARE THE HP OIL PUMP & POSSIBLY THE TURBO. BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE THE 3/8 BALL BEARING CAME FROM! IT LOOKS LIKE THE OIL DRAINBACK CHECK VALVE BALL BEARING FROM THE OLD 7.3L POWERSTROKES.

Does the low pressure pump feed a reservoir or does it directly supply the HPOP? Sounds like that ball probably has something to do with it. I haven't been that deep into one of these YET

THE LOW PRESSURE PUMP FEEDS THE OIL COOLER, THEN THE OIL FILTER, THEN THE ENGINE OIL GALLEYS & HPOP RESERVOIR

as a rule no low rpm oil pressure usually has to do with cam or crank bearing issues. isn't the front cam bearing a roller bearing on these? i'll ask my lead tech tomorrow morning. I'd check for end play in the crank shaft. on a limb here, was the transmission or the clutch changed recently? does the "brass" sediment look like shavings, powder, or just broken pieces?

THE BRASS LOOKS LIKE POWDER & VERY SMALL AMOUNT, END PLAY IS OK, NO SIGNS OF CRANK OR CAM BEARING MATERIAL. JUST THE BRASS AND ONE 3/8 STEEL BALL BEARING.

all can think of internally is the high pressure oil pump that can introduce the bearing and shavings. again i'll check further later in the morning.

Never seen this but am very interested

FOUND IT! IT'S FROM THE HPOP A 3/8 BALL BEARING PLUG THAT BLOCKS A CROSS DRILLED HOLE TO THE SUCTION SIDE OF THE HPOP IT'S ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE PUMP BETWEEN THE 2 BOLTS. IT NEVER COULD BUILD UP ANY LOW OIL PRESSURE. NOTE: IT'S AN EARLY 2004 PUMP SHOULD BE 03-04 ONLY.

thanks for posting the fix..................

DODGETHIS59 wrote:FOUND IT! IT'S FROM THE HPOP A 3/8 BALL BEARING PLUG THAT BLOCKS A CROSS DRILLED HOLE TO THE SUCTION SIDE OF THE HPOP IT'S ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE PUMP BETWEEN THE 2 BOLTS. IT NEVER COULD BUILD UP ANY LOW OIL PRESSURE. NOTE: IT'S AN EARLY 2004 PUMP SHOULD BE 03-04 ONLY.

Did you have to replace the high pressure oil pump? We got one in the shop right now with a similar issue. No base engine oil pressure. Dropped pan, replaced pickup tube an seals, pulled oil pump apart, all ok. Am still digging an doing exploratory surgery.

YES I REPLACED THE HPOP BECAUSE OF THE BRASS I FOUND IN THE OIL PAN IT CAME FROM THE NON ROLLER TYPE BRASS BEARINGS INSIDE THE HPOP,BUT BEFORE I PUT IN THE NEW PUMP I KNOCKED OUT THE 3/8 BB THEN TAPPED & INSTALLED A PIPE THREAD PLUG SO THAT IT CAN'T BLOW OUT AGAIN. JUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET ANY METAL INTO THE PUMP. I ALSO REPLACED THE OIL COOLER IT LOOKED PLUGGED UP INSIDE FROM WHAT LITTLE I COULD SEE & BELOW THE OIL COOLER IS A SCREEN/FILTER WHITCH IS THE LAST LINE OF DEFENCE FOR THE HPOP IT WAS RIPPED OPEN, THE REPLACEMENT SCREEN FILTER IS MADE OF A SS MESH INSTEAD OF NYLON/PLASTIC MATERIAL. AND FINALY MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE IPR VALVE SCREEN MAKE SURE ITS CLEAN & NOT SUCKED IN, IF IT IS REPLACE IT ALSO.

Interesting. thanks for the info.

DODGETHIS59 wrote:YES I REPLACED THE HPOP BECAUSE OF THE BRASS I FOUND IN THE OIL PAN IT CAME FROM THE NON ROLLER TYPE BRASS BEARINGS INSIDE THE HPOP,BUT BEFORE I PUT IN THE NEW PUMP I KNOCKED OUT THE 3/8 BB THEN TAPPED & INSTALLED A PIPE THREAD PLUG SO THAT IT CAN'T BLOW OUT AGAIN. JUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET ANY METAL INTO THE PUMP. I ALSO REPLACED THE OIL COOLER IT LOOKED PLUGGED UP INSIDE FROM WHAT LITTLE I COULD SEE & BELOW THE OIL COOLER IS A SCREEN/FILTER WHITCH IS THE LAST LINE OF DEFENCE FOR THE HPOP IT WAS RIPPED OPEN, THE REPLACEMENT SCREEN FILTER IS MADE OF A SS MESH INSTEAD OF NYLON/PLASTIC MATERIAL. AND FINALY MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE IPR VALVE SCREEN MAKE SURE ITS CLEAN & NOT SUCKED IN, IF IT IS REPLACE IT ALSO.

Good points

OH ONE OTHER THING IF YOU HAVE THE 3/8 BB BLOWN OUT UF THE HPOP MAKE SURE YOU FIND IT. MINE WAS LAYING ON TOP OF THE UPPER OIL PAN AND IF IT FELL OFF AND IF THE CRANKSHAFT HIT IT. IT COULD CAUSE MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!