[4lunger]

have a 91 2.3 was driving down the road and lost oil pressure.was just wandering before i drop the pan & pump is there something else to check first. i mean oil pump failure is kinda rare in most everything. everone says these 2.3's are bullitproof.thanks

[heavy metal]

Welcome to the site!!!! Do the engine start rattling or knocking?

[stlwagon]

We'll find you an answer in this forum.

[b_chandler]

There are two fairly common problems that occur with the 91 and later 2.3's.

One is the oil pump driveshaft, a 5/16" hex rod (think allen wrench without the 90 degree bend). The hex corners wear much like the allen wrench and eventually strip where they engage the oil pump. Oil pump stops, and you have no oil pressure.

The other is kinda odd, and if I hadn't seen it first hand, before reading about others with the same problem, I'd have called BS. The oil pan gasket used on the cast aluminum oil pans is basically an o-ring of sorts. The rubber deteriorates over time and the little crumbs of rubber end up in the oil pump pickup screen clogging it up and restricting the flow of oil. No flow, no pressure. I tried cleaning the pickup first, but it wasn't easy and after pricing a replacement pickup, it was cheaper and easier just to throw a new one in.

Both fixes require the removal of the oil pan. It can be done with the engine in the car, but it's a pain.

[n98]

It could be the oil pressure sending unit also. Don't know if you can test one our not. I just replaced mine and found out the oil pressure was fine it was the unit that failed.