Thread: 3.5L oil pump

Unless you know the history of this engine don't spend a cent until you do cam and lifters then probably rockers and shafts.
If the cam and lifters are older than 150k I would just replace them as a matter of course.
You will also hear a Rover V8 when the mains are worn when its cold it will have a cyclic knock that you can hear from the drivers seat.

I have had oil pressure issues in extreme heat (20-30psi) and found that if I ran Penrite oil the problems went away. (HPR50 above 40 degrees or HPR30 for what most people consider normal) you can also surface the bottom plate on the oil pump as the gears wear into them causing low oil pressure also replace the pressure relief valve
220k is not the true indicator of condition how many cold km has it done??
Have a look inside the oil filler what color is it you may also have leaking head gaskets that contribute to the accelerated cam wear issues
It will still go for years but will be gutless unless you freshen it up a bit

FYI the lifters on a Range rover are not pressure fed

HUH?????
They are hydraulic lifters which by definition are pressure fed. That is why they have oil holes in the side and can be noisy before the pressure builds in the morning.
Hydraulic tappet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Other than that agree with others, however one cause of poor oil pressure can be cam lobes breaking up and bits through the oil pump scoring the sides.

Specialists will sell recod front covers which have the oil pump body repaired.
There are also kits available to make the oil pump larger by adding a spacer to the bottom, and use late 3.5-3.9 gears.
But start at the start and check the pressure with a direct gauge. I have yet to see an old 3.5 with 20PSI at idle, but they can live with much less.
Regards Philip A

Well people i just got round to checking out the pump. I replaced the pressure spring with a new one and now i have no pressure at all had just under 15 psi at idle but didn't rise with rpm.

Swapped the old stuff back in and still no psi. Packed the oil pump up with grease still nothing.

any ideas?

I was booked in to take over the pits on thurs then hopefully up the coast on the weekend but not now.

God must hate me or my car every thing i do to this car ends up a big drama

Originally Posted by 2door grover

Well people i just got round to checking out the pump. I replaced the pressure spring with a new one and now i have no pressure at all had just under 15 psi at idle but didn't rise with rpm.

Swapped the old stuff back in and still no psi. Packed the oil pump up with grease still nothing.

any ideas?

God must hate me or my car every thing i do to this car ends up a big drama

Without questioning your mechanical abilities ..... I will go thru the obvious checks

Did you assemble it properly? ... Did you use new gaskets?

Use Vasoline ... not grease to pack a pump ... Did you pack it hard into the gears and make sure it has no air

Did you put the wire connector onto the "Sender unit"?
Did you "break" the sender unit? .... (IE .. oil wet spot at the top where the spade connection is)

What makes you think you have no oil pressure??? ... IE no pressure on a gauge .. or .. Oil light still on .. or ..lifters wont pressure up" (went noisy)

Mike

Originally Posted by mike 90 RR

Without questioning your mechanical abilities ..... I will go thru the obvious checks

Did you assemble it properly? ... Did you use new gaskets?

Use Vasoline ... not grease to pack a pump ... Did you pack it hard into the gears and make sure it has no air

Did you put the wire connector onto the "Sender unit"?
Did you "break" the sender unit? .... (IE .. oil wet spot at the top where the spade connection is)

What makes you think you have no oil pressure??? ... IE no pressure on a gauge .. or .. Oil light still on .. or ..lifters wont pressure up" (went noisy)

Mike

You don't need to question my abilities, they are not that good

The pump i have i can get to the spring with out taking off the pump. so i didnt take the pump apart except for the spring.

I know i now have no psi because the oil light stays on, oil gauge i use to check the psi against what the car gauge says o psi and lifters are really noisy now.

I packed grease up both the pick up and pump inlets(to the gears) and up where the spring plunger (or what ever the name is) slides home

Originally Posted by 2door grover

You don't need to question my abilities, they are not that good

The pump i have i can get to the spring with out taking off the pump. so i didnt take the pump apart except for the spring.

I know i now have no psi because the oil light stays on, oil gauge i use to check the psi against what the car gauge says o psi and lifters are really noisy now.

I packed grease up both the pick up and pump inlets(to the gears) and up where the spring plunger (or what ever the name is) slides home

Mmmmm .... This is like putting grease up ya nose and some in your ears ... .... You have not packed the pump properly

You have to undo the bolts to the pump cover (6x 8mm bolts?) and expose the gears .... IT'S the gears you pack with Vasoline ....


Mike

Ok thanks, was hoping i could get away with it with out taking the pump off the engine.

I'll pull the pump off tomorrow and have a go.

Thanks

Only the bottom cover, and make sure the engine is COLD.
Ask me how I know.
If its not cold you can use assembly lube that comes in a tube as the vaseline will just run everywhere.
Regards Philip A