the oil gauge keeps going up then shooting straight down to zero. so i think the oil pump is gone. so is there anything else that could make it do that? and how do i replace it?
this sucks, i just got done doing this myself, you cant take off the oil pan because the cars frame that is welded on is in the way so you have to take out the entire engine, its about 600$ in shop or go buy your own tools like me and it was about 300$ plus i learned from it and got experience, but the reason my oil pump went was because somehow the oilpan gasket got decinagrated and sucked in by the pump and the pumps screen got plugged
you have 2 options... pull the engine or unbolt the engine and jack it up enough to get the pan out... i would try a couple of different things first...
1. put on a mechanical oil pressure gauge (not the electrical kind that just plugs into the stock oil pressure solenoid).
2. if the pressure is fine and you still want to use your stock gauge, just replace the oil pressure solenoid, or if you don't mind having the aftermarket gauge instead leave it on and your good to go.
if neither of these work then i would pull the oil pump...trouble shoot first..it'll save you alot of money and time...
BTW... the oil pressure solenoid is on the back side of the engine...kinda hard to get to...
hey if it doesn't run bad, tick(asside from the standard 2.3 tick), knock, and the oil level is ok, I would just keep driving. Its probably just the sending unit. They go bad quite often. However if your oil pump goes the engine will definately give you other signs.
well a friend told me if its not knocking then its okay and its the sending unit because his chevelle's oil pressure went to zero for 3 seconds and the engine locked up.
but someone who posted said that if my engine was loud. well did you mean by knocking or other noises? becuase my engine sounds like a freaking ricer with a fart can. but i gotta say the car likes to smoke oil though. owell once i get the 5.0 running right again ill rebuild the 2.3 engine and then drive it again.