Thanks, Fred, for the quick response...and thanks for the great info. I read the shop manual and an oil pressure regulator valve regulates the pressure at about 35 psi at 2000 rpm. but I couldn't find anything about WHEN the idiot light comes on. (I'd like to put a real gauge in...is it possible to keep the idiot light for looks and also have the gauge? Or replace the light with a gauge in the same spot?)
This noise came on very rapidly...over the course of a 15 minute drive at 50 mph. It wasn't making the noise when I started out, and when I got to the exit ramp I could here the whirring sound. Can the oil pump develop a noise and contiue to deliver oil? common sense tells me yes. the manual, in the engine overhaul section, says to inspect the pump gears for wear and shaft looseness in the housing that would cause leakage. So maybe the shaft finally reached its limits.
I like the idea of testing the pump with the distributor removed, instead of just replacing the oil pump good or bad. But I guess I'm nervous never having removed a distributor before. (She is a daily driver for me.)
I've had the truck for 3 years and have changed the oil every 3000 miles. What happened before me is the question...the truck had at LEAST 196K on it when I bought it (maybe 296K???).
One other thing I should mention...About two weeks ago I noticed the "coffe cream" look on the underside of my oil filler cap. I panicked at first, but the dipstick was, and still is, very clean (I just changed the oil on Dec 15 and it still looks clean.) also the engine continues to run as normal as always. I hope its just some moisture working its way out of the crank case (I was missing my dipstick for a few weeks there.) Ahhh, the plot thickens
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/ubb/icons/icon11.gif ...Anyway...I guess It could be that antifeeze ate my front main bearings...lets hope not.
the weather is supposed to be beautiful today and tomorrow (fri and sat) here and I'd like to do something before we get back to cold and sleet
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/ubb/icons/icon8.gif thanks again...This is my first experience with the Stovebolters and its been great so far!
Jerry Mann
ps I'm not sure if I'm using these "message icons" correctly....
