Well, you can cheat using a little thick oil to bring up the compression some. If it's really bad, I would try straight SAE30. But, if you are up north, 10w30 or 10w40 may be your bet.

 

It's inside the tank for any type of fuel injection or it's mechanical and mounted on the engine for carbed engines.

 

Both previous responses are correct: this motor appears to be whipped. You can confirm this by changing to straight 40 weight(yes, you read that correctly, 40w) and see if the pressure rises and symptoms subside.

Assuming the motor runs well otherwise - and by that I mean it is making good power and not burning any oil - I recommend installing a reground "crank kit" with matching bearings. Currently this should run around $300 + gaskets + labor. Otherwise replace the engine with a good used engine, it'll run you around the same price start to finish.

 

hope the rest of your van is in better shape than the engine

 

Not to be a killjoy but you should consider purchasing another van before making a substantial investment in your current one. The market is in your favor Dodge B vans can be found in much better shape than what you have for <$2000.

 

LOL -- Back to the same ol' catch 22.

I'd fill it with 40w to get the oil pressure up, and run it 'till it blows up.

Maybe replace the oil pump.

 

IF you can find them. It's been a hard struggle now looking for a good Ram Van 1998 or newer after the Cash For Clunkers a few years ago.

 

Posted in a previous thread regarding frame repair, Funair02 pasted a link too a Craigslist search which listed at least a dozen Florida B vans that appeared to be in reasonable condition.



http://tampa.craigslist.org/search/s...20van&sort=rel

 

I'm not too keen on FL vans. I have gotten a bike recently from down that way near Tampa. The rust on the rims is bad. Looking for new rims for it now.

That beach smell isn't just ozone, it's sea salt that mixed with humidity causes rust in places we dare not find until later.

It took some time, but the one in New Port Richie doesn't have rust. Those others sure do. Maybe I can easily convert this one to a 12-passenger.... http://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/ctd/4810879898.html

 

That 2001 3/4 ton is a nice van, like most of the ones posted. Up here in New England most of those vans would be considered desirable.