with 260k+ on the clock it is no wonder the oil pan gasket is leaking. I am going to change the crusty/rusty pan as well, but wondered should I change the pump and pickup while I am there? When I first start my truck the pressure is high, almost 3/4 the range of the gauge, but when it heats up it drops off and fluctuates normally under acceleration. I already changed the pressure sending unit, but again to change the pump and screen or not? that is the question.

I think at a minimum I am going to change the screen a.k.a. pickup tube.

 

Change it while you are in there.

If not it Will go as soon as you button it back back up

 

This. Murphy is always looking to bite you in the ***.

Not much money for a lot of peace of mind.

 

Yeah, change the pump and pickup while you are in there. Gotta pull the pump to change the pickup anyway..... Be sure to prime the pump before your reinstall it. (basically, you pour some oil into the top of it.....)

Not a bad job. Two hours or so, including cleaning things up. Get the GOOD gasket. It's rubber, or viton, or some such, and is re-usable.

 

At 260K miles its definitely a good idea to replace the oil pump and pick up tube. The factory pick up tube is a very poor design and is designed to plug up over time.


I have a 2000 ram with 168K miles on it, and the oil pan gasket is also leaking. I have a new oil pan gasket, oil pump, and new pick up tube to install once the weather warms up here. The pick up tube I got is made by Melling and is an open screen design on the pick up end.

 

thanks all - it is sound advice. And will do it at the next oil change.
1. pan
2. gasket
3. pump
4. pickup

 

next question:

high volume pump or regular?

 

If your just doing normal street driving then a standard volume oil pump should be fine. If you do a lot of hard off road driving, then you might consider going with a high volume oil pump.
I bought a standard volume oil pump for my truck from rock auto, it was about $30. dollars. They also have a high volume oil pump, its about $100. dollars.

 

I got my high volume pump for around 50 bucks or so at advance. (melling, I think.) My truck has a boatload of miles on it, so, I thought the additional volume would be good compensation for loosening bearing tolerances and such. If you have good pressure with the stock pump..... you can just stick with that.

 

If you want to since you'll be right there, do the rear main seal as well.