[TR] Low Oil Pressure and Engine Noises

[Peter Ryner]

Randall is right on.  It is false economy (from my early repair manuals) not 
to open the bearings and at least check them out - I would just replace the 
rod bearings them as a matter of course.  You may not have any damage from 
the debris in the oil pump, but if you've had low oil pressure you may have 
damaged the bearings anyway.  The main bearings are a little more problem to 
change with the engine in the car, but I would change them if there is any 
wear.
Not a bad idea about the pump shaft too.
My $.02 input
Pete
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Randall" <tr3driver at ca.rr.com>
To: "'John & Pat Donnelly'" <pdonnel1 at san.rr.com>; <triumphs at autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, September 06, 2009 4:08 PM
Subject: Re: [TR] Low Oil Pressure and Engine Noises


>> Check out the ugliness I
>> found inside,
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/42214313@N05/3893953988/
>
> Ugly indeed.  I've never seen that kind of damage to an oil pump, but it
> almost looks as though it managed to suck some FOD up from the pan and 
> then
> tore itself up trying to pass it.  Was the screen in good condition?
>
>> If everyone agrees this is the cause of my low oil pressure
>> I'll order a new
>> pump right away. I really don't want to pull the rob bearings
>> if possible.
>
> Very clearly a contributing factor, including the broken rotor (which 
> heats
> the oil in addition to allowing it to leak past the pump).
>
> But IMO it would be foolish not to change the rod bearings; and personally 
> I
> would at least inspect the main bearings as well.  There is a lot of metal
> missing from those rotors, and I doubt the oil filter caught it all.
> Bearing inserts are really cheap compared to repairing the damage if one
> fails/spins.  And even if the crank surfaces have some damage/wear, new
> inserts will be better than ignoring the problem.
>
> I would also pull the oil pump driveshaft out, and inspect it for damage
> (bent tang where it drives the pump).
>
> Sorry, I know that's not what you want to hear, but that's my opinion and
> what I would do if it were my car.
> Randall