HELP! P0022, Check Engine & Low Oil Pressure Indicators

About every 8k miles. I'm the second owner, I bought it in 2010 w/72k miles. Still had original spark plugs, not sure how well it was taken care of by original owner.

 

Yikes, that is some nasty looking oil. Glad the trucks ok now. Good luck OP.

 

FML! Had been driving since 12 Jan, no lights or problems. Last Friday drove from central TX to Broken Bow, OK(275ish miles) no problem.

Left OK at 1100hrs and about 70 miles in on the return trip passed some vehicles moving at 70ish in a 75, I passed at about 85-90mph.

Oil pressure light kicks on. Immediately pull over start reading the forum, pace back and forth for 20 or so minutes, find the nearest parts store, and start the truck to see if the light is still on. It wasn't, drove to Autozone, purchased new Mobil 1 filter and pressure gauge. Then replaced both in the parking lot.

Zero oil came out of the old Mobil 1 filter when I unscrewed it! There were signs of oil, but not a bit spilled out. Nothing appeared visually wrong with the old filter, other than the lack of oil that usually comes out during an oil change.

Figured something had happened to the old filter. Started truck, no light, drove off. Got to about 45mph and boom light again. Pulled over and parked it.

Called buddy, picked me and the truck up with a trailer, finally made it the last 184 miles home at 0230hrs.

Now what? Check pressure with gauge? Drop the pan and check for debris? Oil level is good, looks brand new when wiping off dipstick.

 

Do you have an oil leak from your engine? Timing cover or main seal?

 

Only minor ones on each valve cover gasket. That was on the agenda for this weekend. Mechanic that replaced OCV's a few weeks ago said he could, but they weren't serious and I could just do it when I had a chance.

 

All you did was change the Oil? You didn't add anything else to the oil?

 

I changed the oil filter, and pressure sensor. I didn't change the oil on Sunday.

 

Oil pump losing suction or is going bad.

 

I'm hoping, somehow, it's just suction. Realistically, I think the best case scenario is I find something clogging the pickup and everything goes back to normal after cleaning/removal. I'm not gonna count on that though.

 

So far....

 

No1 lifter well was dry on top, no oil in it like the rest.

 

We also borescoped through the sparkplug sockets, nothing alarming there. Wipe and clean, replace v cover gaskets and run an engine flush with something?

I was going to pull the oil pan to see if there was sludge that neeeded to be cleaned out. Wondering if I should wait until after flush to do so, if you guys recommend a flush. My fear is breaking up more sludge and causing damage. I've never had to flush an engine before. Never had one that I expected to last 300k+ miles either.

 

There is only one "good"way to remove sludge. Disassembly and manual cleaning.

 

Moral of the story: buy new if you can afford it.

 

I think a lot of folks do that but these trucks are expensive new especially for younger guys just starting out. That said, OP saying original plugs at 70,000 miles is a dead giveaway that original owner neglected the truck. I hope it works out for him...

 

to the previous owner's maintenance.

They called it. Oil pick-up tube, probably has a very small opening which isn't clogged.

 

Reminds me of when a used engine of mine looked like this.

 

Pull the heads?