Newbie Intro and question

[Foreigner]

Hey ya'll

I recently bought a 1990 4Runner with the 3.0, 4X4 etc. (in the process of selling my big ol' Suburban) and my buddy Andino pointed me to this site. . .I've been skulking around the forums for awhile, and thought I'd introduce myself. I am in serious need of lots of mechanical guidance. . .I'm good with 2-strokes, but I'm lost on most automotive issues.


Also, I have a question. . .My oil pressure has been sinking recently (it's been holding on the low mark for about two weeks), but the general consensus here on Mud seems to be "Don't trust the gauge." I haven't lost any oil in at least two weeks, including a 250 mile road trip I took it on last weekend. The Runner has 180k miles on it. So my question is, should I just go ahead and change the oil pump? How difficult a job is it? Can I just drop the pan and have access to it? I have access to a great shop, and competent advisors. . ., but I want Toyota-specific advice.

Speaking of Toyota-specific. . .two months ago I broke down on the road with a loaded trailer and my wife and kid. . .the only available shop in boonieville Missouri was a Ford dealership. :whoops: The purge valve on the fuel rail failed and was leaking gas all over the place. Glad we didn't go up in flames. Anyway, this Ford dealership ordered the wrong part three times over the course of four days, finally did a patch job, and sent me home with a bill of $400. So yeah, I'm looking for Toyota advice.

 

[beatdown83fj60]

I would hook up a real pressure guage where the sender goes while the vehicle is running (never done this on a 3.0, but you can usually hook up a guage where the sending unit installs) to make sure that your pressure is in fact low. It would be a complete pain in the ass to go through the work to put in an oil pump and realize that a resistor in the guage is fawked or that your sender is having issues.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

X2, and welcome to Mud!!!

 

[Foreigner]

Does this make any difference?

Another thing to consider:

The last few days, when I start it in the morning, it runs like crap for 5-10 minutes and the gauge reads up in the normal range, then when the engine warms up, it drops down to the lower line. Does that shed anymore light on the situation? I won't get a chance to check it out with another gauge for a couple more weeks.

 

[underthehood]

i dont think theres a relationship between oil pressure and the running rough. the gauge reads higher for two reasons: the oil is thicker when it is cold and the idle/rpm is probably higher also. i second the notion to install a real pressure gauge in place of the oil pressure sending unit to see what the actual pressure is. try cleaning the throttle body to help with the rough idle in the mornings. a rag and some carb cleaner should be sufficient remove the intake boot at the throttle body housing and voila there it is. just make sure to open the throttle plate and clean on the back side also. take a good look at the hose as they are notoriously cracking. good luck.