Lately I have been dealing with a low to zero oil pressure at idle and a slow loss of coolant in my 01. She has a 174K on her and the funny thing is that she runs great, idles as she should has power, no knocks, no ticks.
I thought it was a sender so i put a mechanical gauge on it and it was reading the same. I made the decision to stop going to the local "quicky lube" (generic name) and decided pulled the pan and have a look see. It was remarkably clean as was the rest of the motor and NO sign of any coolant in the bottom end or up top. It is my understanding that the 0331 head will crack between 3 & 4 which is directly below the oil filler cap. NO evidence of coolant there either. I did not pull any rod or main bearings but cleaned the pick up screen and tube, installed a new gasket and Mobile One high mileage synthetic.
Ran much smoother, oil pressure was not great still about 10psi at idle but wasn't falling off to zero. Funny thing is the oil pressure has pretty much been like that since i bought it 3-4 years ago and always holding at 10-12 psi. We've been on several Jeep trips TDS a couple times and multiple trip to the local mountain trails in Big Bear California and never an issue. But now after a couple of weeks, the pressure is falling off to zero at idle again.
That should pretty much cover the back story. As i don't believe a high volume oil pump is going to make things better, i am looking at an ATK motor, i've used them in the past and have not had any issue (knock on wood). they are priced right and should be able to do the job for just under 2500.
So, the real question here is... i have noticed that the ATK motor still uses a 0331 head? I've tried to call them directly with no luck thus far.
Are they doing something different, is it an improved casting or is this the same head that's on the Jeep now.
I'd really like to stay away from piecing a motor together as i need the warranty should something go wrong.
Any help/info would be greatly appreciated!
I thought it was a sender so i put a mechanical gauge on it and it was reading the same. I made the decision to stop going to the local "quicky lube" (generic name) and decided pulled the pan and have a look see. It was remarkably clean as was the rest of the motor and NO sign of any coolant in the bottom end or up top. It is my understanding that the 0331 head will crack between 3 & 4 which is directly below the oil filler cap. NO evidence of coolant there either. I did not pull any rod or main bearings but cleaned the pick up screen and tube, installed a new gasket and Mobile One high mileage synthetic.
Ran much smoother, oil pressure was not great still about 10psi at idle but wasn't falling off to zero. Funny thing is the oil pressure has pretty much been like that since i bought it 3-4 years ago and always holding at 10-12 psi. We've been on several Jeep trips TDS a couple times and multiple trip to the local mountain trails in Big Bear California and never an issue. But now after a couple of weeks, the pressure is falling off to zero at idle again.
That should pretty much cover the back story. As i don't believe a high volume oil pump is going to make things better, i am looking at an ATK motor, i've used them in the past and have not had any issue (knock on wood). they are priced right and should be able to do the job for just under 2500.
So, the real question here is... i have noticed that the ATK motor still uses a 0331 head? I've tried to call them directly with no luck thus far.
Are they doing something different, is it an improved casting or is this the same head that's on the Jeep now.
I'd really like to stay away from piecing a motor together as i need the warranty should something go wrong.
Any help/info would be greatly appreciated!