Troubleshoot help please - Low oil light then engine noise - Oil pump?

Hello Everyone,
I am new here, and am needing some help with my 2005 4x4 V6 with 148K miles with clean oil. The problem may have began when I accidentally added about 1 qt. extra oil (about 2cm over the top mark on the oil dip stick the other day. Yesterday I drove an hour high speed with no problem to the next town. Upon returning with more weight in the bed and going about 70mph, after 30 minutes my oil light started flickering and within 5 minutes was on constantly. I stopped at the first place I could after 5 minutes and turned the engine off. Checked the oil level and saw it was high. Started it back up, and at idle engine sounded normal and oil light went off. I then drove the rest of the way home and after 15 minutes and up hill when the oil light came on again and I began to hear a whirring noise from engine with accelerator pressure. I let the truck cool down and started it back up in the morning and the noise is still there but no oil light. It is mainly coming from the passenger side where the power steering pump is, but I think it may actually be the oil pump. I assume the extra oil at high speeds caused the oil to foam and dropped the oil pressure which triggered the light because today the light is not on at idle or w increasing RPMs. I figure I burned out either the oil pump or a bearing, or maybe the water pump with the low oil. It sounds a lot like a PS pump when low on oil, but not as high pitch of a hum. Can anyone help identify the noise? I don't have an oil pressure gauge, but figure I will need to get one to verify the pressure is OK. Would it be possible for the oil pump to make this much noise and the oil light still be off? Help please

 

I don't see where you drained out the excess oil? You should...then see how it behaves. I doubt you have a problem.

 

No, I haven't taken out the excess oil yet. Its on my to do list. I wish that could fix it, however since it makes such a significant clatter/hum noise at idle, and was fine with driving several hours and over 50 miles before the problem began on my trip with no noise, I'm quite sure I have a lot of work ahead of me to fix this

 

Howdy,

Sorry about the problem. When you overfill there is the possibility of damaging a seal somewhere. I did not see, is the actual oil level still same or is it low? Any leaks?

You will get a ton of guesses, without seeing the truck and some diag tests there is no way to tell for sure. Any smoke out the exhaust?

 

Thanks, yes I had thought about a possible leak. It seems the oil level hasn't changed and I have checked for leaks and didn't see any. No smoke noticed either. Not sure however how a leak would cause this noise that is loud enough to be heard inside the truck. I was hoping that the stress to the engine during the trip when the low pressure happened made the water pump go out, but seems to be a bit more of a clatter than just a bearing which is why I was leaning towards the oil pump being the problem. Is it possible to have an oil pump make such a noise if its clearance is off and worn, and the pressure still be enough to not trigger the oil dummy light? I was watching the temp gauge as a 2nd warning when I was driving once I saw the oil light start to come on, and the engine temp never changed... it stayed normal. Also, I will need to find an oil pressure gauge to do the test, (once I leave our jungle on foot to get to closest town) does anyone know what the pressure should be on this 4.0L at idle?

 

Oil and coolant look normal. No color change to either? Oil not foamy?

 

Oil looks perfectly normal and clear, no foam even when I checked it hot on the trip. No foam or color change to coolant either. I would think it were the power steering pump by the sound if it were not for the fact that the oil light was on when the problem started, so different lubrication systems. I was planning to take the belt off and check by hand spinning the water pump just to see if I can hear anything, but was doing some research first today.

 

Here is an old timer trick, you will think is nuts but works. You need to be careful, and only if you can reach and have access.

You can use a large screwdriver as a stethoscope. I doubt it is the steering pump, but if you want to check and you can get to it safely put the flat end of the screw driver on the pump and your ear on the handle. I swear it works. Watch for loose clothing and chains.

edit, used to do that to help find valve ticking

 

Thanks for the idea. I had thought of that this morning and I did put my ear on each side of the valve covers and can tell its more on the passenger side, but will get something long and solid to see if I can locate it that way. I plan to take the skid plate "dust cover" off the bottom to listen as well underneath as that pan is diverting the noise right now. Maybe I can use the screwdriver to get to the lower timing chain case next to the oil pump.

 

Very careful, watch clothing, chains , anything that is on you. Most likely you will need to go to a trusted mechanic since it sounds internal, but at least you may have an idea

 

I will be calling one on Monday to see if he can make a house call and bring his oil pressure gauge. I don't want to drive it to him 20 minutes, even slowly because I live in the mountains and hills may stress the engine and I also don't know yet if there are any metal flecks in the oil and don't want to circulate that.

 

not sure why U have a CEL

not likely from an extra quart

to ease Ur mind put 4 quarts in a bucket or baking dish

then add 1 more....................really doesnt raise the level that much

no one uses ‘ splash ‘ lubrication any more

no less when engine is running at least at min 1 quart is up in the engine

not as critical as U might think

2 or more quarts might present issues

1 in the filter 5in the sump = 6 ..................more than likely tooooo much

i regulary run 5

1 in filter...............4 in sump ..............run engine check after 10 min

fill to full

 

Thanks for the reply and info. My truck uses a little oil for some reason, and so when I added the oil to top it off, I poured it from a 1 gal jug, and then checked the level and noticed I put too much in and it was high on the stick. I also did not think a little extra even a quart would hurt anything, so I just left it and then did the 2 hr. trip. You may be totally correct the extra oil has nothing to do with the problem, I just figured it was related somehow because its the first trip I took since adding the oil, and I have never seen my oil light come on before. Its quite obvious however that the low oil pressure (light) on the trip is related to my current noise problem. Once I got back after the noise had started and the oil light was on. I started it back up in 20 minutes, so the engine was still hot and the oil light was not on anymore, but the noise remains unchanged. I did that to see if the noise was viscosity related or not when oil hot.

 

I know hearing the noise would help, and I initially tried to upload a short video so the noise can be heard, but I wasn't aware that the forum didn't allow for videos, only pictures I don't have a YouTube channel, and so I am working to get it put up to Fb so I can link to that if anyone can help from hearing it. However I did take the skid pan off and used a long screwdriver to listen and I'm pretty sure its the oil pump. Also sound can be heard conducting through the oil filter at the top. At lowest idle when cold tonight the sound is gone, but when RPM increasing above 800, start to hear it. Even a slight bearing type of whirring, so time to get to work and tear it down. Ugh.

 

not tryin to convince U ......

maybe the the oil pump was goin south anywayz

id get a oil psi meter check it out b4 tear down

 

Yes, I think that may be true. Do you know what the normal pressure should be (30-40)? I wasn't sure if oil pressure psi meter can diagnose the pump or if only via using a feeler gauge is the only way. One thing for sure is I need to tear it down to get to the problem even if the pressure is normal.

 

This is of course only my opinion.
When over filled with oil, the crankshaft counterweights are slapping thru oil, entraining air into the oil and making a froth of oil and air which is getting taken by the oil pickup to the oil pump that is trying to pump and compressable gas (air) and a incompressable fluid (oil) then it trying to use that to lubricate your engine.

That can cause cavitation in your oil pump and literally destroy it over a short period of time.

Sooooooo......
Drain the extra oil out man. Fill it properly. See if it is ok or not. Sorry man but thats whats next.

 

Here is the post with video to hear the noise...

 

sometimes people o good intentions make a msitake

1 quart overfill will NOT have the crank counterweights anywhweres near the oil level

( some have reported that very fact of overfill more than 1 quart )

the oil level in the sump would have to be dangerously L O W for the pickup/pump itself be affected

by crankcase breathing.......................clearly the OPPOSITE of being tooooo full

by design most engines have 50-60% of available oil in the sump while the engine is runnin

normal use which allows the oil in the engine to drain back

& ‘ reconstitute ‘ itself with the sump oil

almost ALL engines in normal use will operate 1 quart low without ANY Hint of damage

otherwise NO One would EVER for those few seconds go near Red Line

late 50’s mid 60’s chevy small blocks used to pump ALL the oil up into the valve covers

much has been learned from high volume high pressure oil pumps

toooooooo much pressure does NOT allow the rod bearings lubrication

 

We do not know it was only one quart over when he started driving. Only that it was one quart over after driving, having a problem, and then checking. The problems and symptoms expressed fit with a overfill, air entrainment, issue. Is it the actual problem??? No way for me to know here.
However the simple first step of getting to oil level correct and then testing from there still seems right to me. If it is another mode of failure no harm, if it is the simple solution great.