PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

It's probably getting a little tired, might just need an oil pump. But I've always thought that stock oil spec is too thin for what is essentially an old 3RZ bottom end.

 

The oil consumption will remain even if you fix the oil pump.
You could try a 40w oil. But you aren't fixing anything.

I'd run 40w, and add oil as needed.
Eventually, you'll need an engine. But that could a long time from now.
Adding oil is cheap and easy.

 

I'm worried that that the oil pump could totally fail and fuck up my engine; I'm concerned about the light staying illuminated on startup...

 

How hard is to replace the oil pump?

 

It's behind the timing cover.
So it's about the same time and labor as doing a timing chain.
There is also a relief valve in there too. If the pressure is too high, the relief valve opens and lets oil bypass.
Might as well replace that too.

 

Wow, Dealer book hours is 10 hrs for a timing cover R&R.
That's going to be expensive. Unless you have a local shop that that will do it "cheaper".

 

The timing chain was done when the head gasket was gone. Does the whole cylinder head have to come off for this? Either way, I think I'm just gonna run the engine until it's time for a new one...

 

No, the head can stay on. As can the chain.

 

So, at that hourly rate, I'm looking at probably $1,300-$1,500...

 

Unfortunately, Yes.

I'd go with adding oil.

 

I will put a whole new engine it if and when the time comes...

 

Meantime, $1300-1500 can buy a lot of oil.

Hell I remember one of my first cars. Quart every 200-300 miles.

 

Gerator pumps rarely totally fail, the gap between the inner and outer rotor get out of spec causing a lower pressure slowly over time. It’s somewhat predictive if you trend the pressure.

 

So it's probably fine?

 

I wouldn’t say that, might be time for replacement but not something of dire urgency. Continual low oil pressure isn’t good for an engine.

 

A heavier oil sounds like a good idea at this point, what is Liquimolly some sort of additive?

 

Yeah. It’s the newest “cure all” on the market.

Money wasted in my opinion.

 

Same here, l don't care for any oil additives.

 

I’m with you. Unless the engine calls for an additive, like zinc, I’m not a fan of any of it.

Masking a problem isn’t fixing a problem.
At best, it buys you a little time until you can fix it. Most additives are a placebo. They help the driver, not the engine.

 

It's actual oil...