Getting ready to tear into my 03 with 153k miles on it. After a short stint down the interstate Im getting an intermittent low oil pressure light at idle only when hot. I hooked up a gauge to get a reading and came up with
8 PSI hot idle 29 PSI 2000 rpm hot. Obviously both numbers are low so Im going to take a look at oil pump and front cover housing. The current pump is one I changed back in 2012 about 50k miles ago as a preventive measure. The reading I got after the pump change back then was Hot idle 25psi Hot 2000rpm 55psi.

Do these number sound consistent with a cracked pump issue or something more sinister like a spun bearing? Thanks!

 

I removed the oil pump and the gear set looks fine. There is a good bit of scoring on the cover and cover plate. I will attach some pictures. Is this enough scoring to cause a drop of oil pressure ?

cover:

cover plate:

 

Did you have to remove the housing on the front to get to the oil pump? I saw an Atlantic British video when I was doing my water pump that mentioned it was on the same cover. What does a failing oil pump look like? Anyone know?

 

i would not think so and i think the oil pressure numbers are ok. My pump outer ring was split and heavily scored and no light. You may just have a bad connection or switch

 

yes the pump is in the front timing cover housing.

 

I read the numbers with a gauge. They are below spec. Land Rover specs Min hot idle 10. Min hot 2k rpm is 50. My numbers where 8 and 30

 

Was there a noise associated with this condition?

 

It's had tapping liners for at least the last 50k miles. No new noises associated with oil light

 

The scoring looks to be too much in my opinion.

buy a new front cover assembly. No sense in putting that one back in.

 

That's what I'm leaning towards. Just wanted to make sure it's not some other cause before I spring for a pricy front cover. Thanks