'01 Pontiac Firebird 3.8

Chris03Silver · March 14, 2011

So a buddy of mine has a 01 Firebird. 3.8 V6, ... The oil pressure on his car would be fine.. then fluctuate, then go into the red then back to normal. We were both thinking it was the sending unit for pressure. Well yesterday we were coming to a stop light and she started to make noise, more of a lifter clatter... so i dont think any major damage has been cause since we shut her down right after we heard it .. yet.... but we were looking and the oil pump is on the crankshaft.. new to me im used to the old small blocks.. and it looks like the new LS engines are this way too.. so does anybody have info or a right up on a oil pump change? would help us out a lot.. even if its just for a 5.3... looks like it would be along the same lines... do these oil pumps just fail.. for a gear type pump u would think they never fail...

thanks ahead of time.. sorry for posting it here i know its not a silverado but his forum is full of shady people...

Cheers...

Chris

ChevyTech77 · March 14, 2011

I have heard of very few failures, of this style oil pump, and never seen one fail, myself.

Not a cheap replacement as all the gears, cover and pump cover plate would be replaced with the repair.

I'd put a manual gauge on it first and make sure you're actually loosing oil pressure. If so, you might just better

pull the engine itself and take a look inside.

Chris03Silver · March 14, 2011

I have heard of very few failures, of this style oil pump, and never seen one fail, myself.

Not a cheap replacement as all the gears, cover and pump cover plate would be replaced with the repair.

I'd put a manual gauge on it first and make sure you're actually loosing oil pressure. If so, you might just better

pull the engine itself and take a look inside.

well we both live in a apartment complex dont think we can pull the engine in the parking lot.. thou im sure we can manage... pretty sure its down.. cause of the valve clatter... a spun bearing make a racket when they go?

TexasAl · March 14, 2011

I often see a bad sending unit, but never seen a bad pump itself. Check the basics first, and then go from there. Those engine are prone to gasket that get dissolved, allowing water into the oil. Check the oil level as well. If that is okay, do like Chevytech77 says, and get a manual gauge to make sure it is a bad pump.

Al

Doug_Scott · March 14, 2011

I will also add to the list of people that have not seen an oil pump actually fail. Not saying it cannot happen, but I had many years on the bench and never saw a pump fail. Saw many that had low oil pressure at idle (making the light flicker) that was caused by worn main and/rod bearings. Actually spent a complete winter doing nothing but crank and bearings on 318/360 dodge engines. Replaced 14 in that one winter. Not one of them had a bad oil pump (took them out and measured first).

If you have a spun bearing, it will make a noise that would not be described as a clatter. I have seen a spun bearing not make a noise at all though. Chances are you have a crank/bearing wear issue. Check oil pressure with a gauge, should have more than 10psi at idle, if it is low, you will have to remove the pump to verify its condition. I thought the oil pump on the 3.8 buick engine was an external pump (meaning it can be removed without removing oil pan), but it may not be. I know that does not tell you much.

Maybe time for crate LS engine.....

Chris03Silver · March 15, 2011

thanks for your input guys, ...

it is an external oil pump, oil quantity and quality is typical of a few 100 miles on it. Not cloudy or smells of fuel...

hes fixing to graduate from college i think he is trying to get a few more miles out of this car before a new one. We will have to find a oil gallery somewhere on the engine to hook a manual gauge up. Its def a clatter as if the lifters arent primed up from the lack of oil pressure. And Im with you all, as ive never had a oil pump just quit.. but its almost as what has happened. I think this weekend we plan on taking the front of the engine apart.. I will take pics if we find that the oil pump is the culprit.... till then.. *cheers*

Chris

ChevyTech77 · March 15, 2011

The oil pressure sending unit, on that engine, is just to the left of the balancer pulley, sticking straight out the front. Super easy to remove and attach the mechanical gague in its place to verify the oil pressure before pulling the engine down for further repairs.

Chris03Silver · March 16, 2011

The oil pressure sending unit, on that engine, is just to the left of the balancer pulley, sticking straight out the front. Super easy to remove and attach the mechanical gague in its place to verify the oil pressure before pulling the engine down for further repairs.

thanks for the info... as of right now.. hes selling it so thanks for the info/help guys... this thread can be deleted now