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99 chevy blazer oil pressure problems


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Slick
New User
Slick profile image

Jul 1, 2011, 7:35 PM

Post #1 of 5 (9183 views)
99 chevy blazer oil pressure problems Sign In

I have a problem with my 99 chevy blazer. It is the mid-size (S-10?) and has a 4.3 liter V-6 engine (vortec). It has fairly high mileage (140,000) but the engine was replaced after only 60,000 miles, so actually it only has about 80,000 miles on this engine. The problem I am having is with the oil pressure. About a week ago, the engine started to make a sound much like that of mating humpback whales. The moaning started out at a medium pitch, then drops down, and then goes up. About two days ago, the oil pressure gauge started dropping to zero suddenly, and then come back up. It then fluxuates between zero and 30 psi. The moaning stopped during this fluxuation, and I could hear the valves tapping whenever the oil pressure dropped. Yesterday the moaning could be heard momentarily, but then it stopped when the oil pressure dropped, and I could hear the valves tapping again. The moaning is soft, but clearly audible even to me (and I have some industrial hearing loss).

I immediately thought to myself, "self, the oil pump must be in the process of failing...". Then I started thinking about how crank bearings and plugged oil gallies could cause an intermitten problem with the pressure. I don't have much experience with SI engines, and I don't know if the pump will just fail (and completely stop working) or if it will go through some "death throws" and work intermittenly while dying slowly.

Which brings me to my question (finally), will the oil pump just fail and stop working completely, or will it work intermittenly for a while and starve the engine of oil?


Slick
New User
Slick profile image

Jul 1, 2011, 8:54 PM

Post #2 of 5 (9161 views)
Re: 99 chevy blazer oil pressure problems Sign In

Can someone venture a guess...Please?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jul 2, 2011, 3:10 AM

Post #3 of 5 (9153 views)
Re: 99 chevy blazer oil pressure problems Sign In

There are many things to cause an oil pressure loss and they all have one thing in common. If you don't stop driving it and find out why, you will lose your engine. You could have something clogging up the pick up screen or other possibilities.



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cardc1
Novice

Jul 3, 2011, 8:16 AM

Post #4 of 5 (9141 views)
Re: 99 chevy blazer oil pressure problems Sign In

Oil Pump on that Engine is Run off the Distributor shaft , and or an oil pump drive gear ( where the Dis would be if it had one ) which is run off the cam. Oil pumps don't usually work intermittently, with that much milage the gears in the pump could be worn which would lead to low pressure at idle, Sounds like you have something in the bottom at that pan the pump is picking up and " Intermittently " starving the pump of oil flow. Drop the Pan clean everything ,install a New Pump
( install new pump cause your there and with that many miles it is a good idea ) and your oil pressure should return to normal.

So, to Answer your question NO Oil pumps themselves dont Intermittently come and go , as long as it has a steady flow of something to pump it'll pump it.

Good Luck , Hope this Helps


Slick
New User
Slick profile image

Jul 5, 2011, 8:17 AM

Post #5 of 5 (9122 views)
Re: 99 chevy blazer oil pressure problems Sign In

Card, thank you. I enjoyed your response. I appreciate your knowledge and experience, and I am grateful for you sharing it with me.






 
 
 






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