I've been finding conflicting information on the oil pumps for 2003. I'm looking at a 2003 that is in the VIN range with 70k miles.

 

your fine. most that had issues blew early on. Plus it is not the oil pump it self as much as it is mis aligned dowel pins. For safety I would if you buy go ahead and replace the oil pump gears and the timing chain. it id a kit you can buy. I did that to my '03 at 122K the gears I replaced were perfect.

 

Does replacing gears and chain prevent any failure?

 

NO,the problem was with the way the holes were machined in the face of the block.
the problem is not the oil pump; as it is the front cover containing the pump does not line up with the block correctly.

 

Being outside the range does not ensure that your 2003 will not suffer from an oil pump failure. Your best bet is to install a good oil pressure gauge and keep an eye on it.

 

I disagree with this. I have one that went at 75K.

I say replace it before it becomes an issue.

 

Wich is why I said MOST. Not all. and he SHOULD be fine not will be without question. I also suggested he replace the gears.

 

If you actually have the problem and it has not been addressed yet, just replacing the oil pump ring will not correct the miss aligned dowels. it will just stress the new oil pump rings the same as the old ones.

Maybe WNYErik can elaborate with some more detail... Clearly you meant to say replace the front cover without the using the dowels. Or are you saying you have a miss aligned front cover and your suggested remedy is a new oil pump ring? Or are you just saying the oil pump went bad at 75k and the dowels were not an issue? That can happen to any year rover V8 at any mileage.

I wouldn't worry about the VIN range issue as long as you know you have good oil pressure.

 

Have you checked the oil pressure by chance? I would do this first. Mine was also in the VIN range and it failed at 83k miles...found out the hard way first with the warning light then a oil pressure check that showed it was history.....Pump gear was shot to hell.
how does the rest of the 2003 look?

 

As mentioned previously you can have a broken oil pump in an '03, or any year, without it being related to the miss placed dowels on the front cover.

When you, Yoops, say "it failed at 83k" are you referring to the oil pump ring only or are you saying you had to fix the front cover and the dowels too?

I had my whole engine replaced at 38k when the tick developed and upon further inspection it was found to have the miss placed dowels.

My oil pump rings broke again at 85k... The second time, with a new engine!

So just because you are in the VIN range and you have a failed oil pump does not mean that that block had the miss drilled dowels. The oil pumps on these trucks fail. Period.

Two separate issues. However often confused as one.

Remember, the VIN issue is for misplaced dowels aligning the front cover to the block. That can lead to a broken oil pump. The VIN range issue is not for broken oil pumps. Its for miss drilled blocks that lead to broken oil pumps. Broken oil pumps can happen regardless.