Yeah, timing chain and gears are a must-do. Especially, considering mileage. Had an 03 motor that ran pretty strong and clean, but idle was somewhat/very very slight roughness at idle...changed timing chain and gears and it has a smooth as glass idle now in the 04.

 

So I am on board that this is probably oil pump related. But for conversation, a friend of mine who is a decent mechanic and messes with VW T3 Syncros says it sounds more like the relief valve sticking. When you think about it, it is behaving more like a switch on/off. My pressure is very even and good, no fluttering or inconsistency follows the throttle. The two times it read zero was at start. SO, not saying it ain't the pump gears but anyone know about the relief valve and its nuances? Either way my troubles are in the front cover, likely.

 

Not sure about the relief valve but I would take care of this pretty quick. Mostly because these engines are very expensive to replace
I had a LR shop in Canada do mine it cost me $1700 with taxes all in for new oil pump and timing cover and labour
so I’m assuming it’s probably a bit cheaper is the USA for a shop to tackle this of your in a hurry

 

Yeah, I am ordering the parts today for a weekend project if weather holds. Its strange though, I have perfect numbers by the gauge. There is another thing where the oil filter backflow valve fails causing the oil to drain out at stop. That actually makes sense to some degree here. It would explain why the pressure is low only at a few startups.

 

Do you have a spare front cover? If it is the oil pump if could have scored up the surface of the cover and it will not be usable.

 

I do not. Most info on failed oil pumps and scoring appear to also show low oil pressure as a symptom. I don't have low oil pressure when driving. Only the two times the oil light remained on (and gauge indicated zero) longer than I was comfortable at start, probably less than 5 seconds. Both times on second start attempt the light went out immediately and my gauge indicated correct pressure. I can't understand how the oil pump would work fine then not at all without failure. I understand how it could progressively show less pressure as it wears or cracks, and then fail, but to show 50 psi and normal pressure then nothing and then back to 50 psi is strange to me. The design doesn't look like it could be on/off/on. I would think off means busted and total fail. Parts are ordered.

 

Not sure what year Disco you have, but Rock Auto used to carry an entire new Front Cover for like 250.00 for the 03-04 engines.

 

It really comes down to another ****ty design on these another problem money etc I’ve never had a vehicle that the oil pump doesn’t last the life of it. I beat the crap out of my 22 year old Subaru and nothing fails lol
but that why we love these things all the time we spend on them.

 

No covers at RockAuto anymore. They appear to be in the $400 range now. If I get into this over the weekend I will roll the dice the cover is not mangled.

 

Just curious what oil filter have you been using?