Dodge 318 engine oil pump failure

[GOakes]

Does anyone have information (they are willing to share) about oil pump failures in Dodge 318 engines? A friend of mine called me the other day telling me that he had been told about such a problem and that there were a number of Dodge PU's in an Austin Tx wrecking yard with this problem...

 

[ZEEEW]

I know Mopar small blocks use an intermediate shaft between the distributor and oil pump, and the bushings can cause some problems in high mileage engines, especially if the motor is rebuilt without a new bushing. Dont know if other engine makes use this type of setup or not.

Havent had any trouble with any of my 318/360's with the oil pump.





Eric

 

[Power Wagon]

It's almost unheard of . The shaft that drives the pump is much more stout than that used in say, many Fords... The pump itself is normal design and not common to fail...

 

[Doc Tinker]

About the only time I've ever seen a 318 oil pump failure is when a lot of crap falls into the oil pan, while changing the timing chain. If you're not carefull, when you scrape the timing cover gasket off the block, pieces get into the oil pan and then block the screen in the pickup tube. Careless mechanics allow gasket materials to fall into the pan.



You don't indicate how many miles are on the engines.



Doc

 

[B.G. Smith]

318 oil pump

As Doc says above, I had one twist the drive shaft off going to the oil pump on a 85. The engine was gummed up when I got it, after a while, the screen on the pump plugged. The way the screen was designed, when it plugged to a point, the suction from the pump would pull the screen away from the plate over the center of the screen. There is a hole in the center of the screen about 3/4" in diameter under the plate. When the screen is pulled back, large objects can get into the pump, in my case it was a piece of scale about 1/2"x1/2" went into the pump and locked it up, didnt hurt the pump, just twisted the shaft off. bg

 

[tgbol]

I had one fail in a 340. The bypass valve stuck open after a burn out. The drive was ok.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

In 1982 I bought a 1979 Dodge van with 97,000 miles on it for $1500. It had been used as a stop and go delivery van. It had some good lifter noise but felt real strong. After working on I found that the idiot light sender had been disconnected - that pesky red light will do that It turned out to be a bad oil pump. I have no idea how long it ran this way but when I dropped the pan I could that a cylinders looked good - still had the cross hatch marks in them. I replaced the pump and that engine ran for another 60,000 miles - trouble free I finally replaced it with a 360 because I was towing and there was no diesel on the market that I felt comfortable with. I sold it in 1993 when I bought my Cummins powered Dodge Hope this helps

Happy trails

Bob

 

[The patriot]

GOakes, if I still have it, I'll give you a Melling high volume oil pump. I think the part # is M72HV.

I last saw it in my shed about 5 years ago. I'll see if I can find it this weekend.

Brand new. You pay shipping, it's yours. I have no use for it.

Eric