O/T - Truck mechanical problem - thoughts welcome

denglish · Mar 15, 2018

I have an 18 year old 4-cylinder 2WD Nissan Frontier with 185k on the odometer. It has been a very dependable and rugged truck. The only things I’ve done to it is change the water pump, tires and brakes and new exhaust a few years ago.

Recently I noticed the oil indicator (dummy light) has started staying on for several seconds when it is started after sitting for a while. I also noticed that there is a slight rattling like noisy lifters until the light goes out. Once the light goes out, after 2-4 seconds, all seems fine.

Any thoughts on what the problem might be? Any checks I can perform? Oil is fresh and full and there aren’t any significant leaks. I’m suspecting the oil pump may need to be replaced. Thoughts, advice or suggestions appreciated.

old · Mar 15, 2018

If it has a fresh oil change and filter is the oil filter the same brand and type as before?? Oil pump also might be loosing prime so take a bit more time to get oil moving.

Plus being a idiot light one has no real idea of what is going on. so only way to know for sure is install a real oil pressure gauge.

Have a 1990 Toyota Corolla that the oil light came on but made no odd sounds and I just put a piece of tape over it and ran it for a long time after that and it would still be on the road the insurance company totaled it so many times they would no longer insure it

denglish · Mar 15, 2018

Yeah. I thought about the oil filter might be letting the oil drain back from the valve train. Maybe that is the best thing to do first, just put a different oil filter on it. I'm pretty sure it is the same brand and model I always use.

JDEM · Mar 15, 2018

Sounds like loose rod bearings to me, and/or a worn out oil pump.

rustred · Mar 15, 2018

you need to put a master guage on it and check actual oil pressure on start up. it is normal for the lifters to rattle when they are not getting oil pressure to pump them up. it all may be due to engine wear , so you need to start by checking oil pressure first thing. post later what you have found out, like the pressure and time it takes to max out. till then you are grabbing straws.

JDEM · Mar 15, 2018

4 cylinder Nissan has solid lifters and are NOT effected by lack of oil-pressure. My point is it is NOT normal for them to make noise at
start up. If you had a V6 it would be different.

I'd check hot oil-pressure at idle speed. I bet it is low because the oil-pump and rod-bearings are slightly worn. It is normal to have
near no oil pressure at start-up and with tight bearings - you don't hear the rods rattle. Once worn - they rattle at first start until the
oil-pressure comes up.

matthies · Mar 15, 2018

Dump the truck now, boss is going through the same issue on his. These engines have issuses and no fixing.

Steve@Advance · Mar 15, 2018

If it has a timing chain, the tensioner may have reached the end of it's travel.

Some will leak oil pressure if worn to the point of popping out.

Been many years since working on one of those, could be entirely different.

denglish · Mar 15, 2018

Yeah. I think I'll slap a new oil filter on it this weekend just in case the flow-back valve is not working or is defective. I'll have to borrow or buy a gauge to measure the oil pressure, but that does seem like the logical next step.

It's been a great truck and I'm a little attached to it. I don't mind driving it with some rattle at start up. The engine seems fine after a few seconds. I'd even consider another engine or bottom end if this one goes kaput before the rest of the truck. Still has the original clutch and everything else still works.

2002sliverado · Mar 15, 2018

My daughter drives a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu with the GM 3100 V6 engine. I don't like the way that engine sounds with the noise it emits, especially in a cold weather start up. We run Mobil One synthetic in the crankcase for a couple reasons. First, it flows better in cold weather, and secondly, my daughter doesn't watch the oil change sticker I put in there when I do an oil change. I have a bit more peace of mind with her running beyond my ideal service interval. When I first heard the noise it emitted after we bought it, I started reading up on the engine and they are known to be noisy like that. Your situation is likely to be quite different than ours, as I have not read up on the engine in your truck.

denglish · Mar 15, 2018

This engine was quiet sounding until recently. It's still not very noticeable, and I may not have noticed it if the oil light wasn't staying on. I too have faithfully used mobile one in it since I purchased it in 2003.

DoubleO7 · Mar 15, 2018

Maybe change out the oil pressure sending unit.
$11 at autozone, etc.
Maybe just getting old and weak.
While you install it, put in a brass tee so you can hook up a really pressure gauge too.

showcrop · Mar 15, 2018

(quoted from post at 11:33:19 03/15/18) If it has a fresh oil change and filter is the oil filter the same brand and type as before?? Oil pump also might be loosing prime so take a bit more time to get oil moving.

Plus being a idiot light one has no real idea of what is going on. so only way to know for sure is install a real oil pressure gauge.

Have a 1990 Toyota Corolla that the oil light came on but made no odd sounds and I just put a piece of tape over it and ran it for a long time after that and it would still be on the road the insurance company totaled it so many times they would no longer insure it

Old, how did that Corolla keep getting totaled?

Hobo,NC · Mar 15, 2018

(quoted from post at 01:56:57 03/16/18)
Yeah. I think I'll slap a new oil filter on it this weekend just in case the flow-back valve is not working or is defective. I'll have to borrow or buy a gauge to measure the oil pressure, but that does seem like the logical next step.

It's been a great truck and I'm a little attached to it. I don't mind driving it with some rattle at start up. The engine seems fine after a few seconds. I'd even consider another engine or bottom end if this one goes kaput before the rest of the truck. Still has the original clutch and everything else still works.

"but that does seem like the logical next step"

I can see you have a long row to hoe....

"I'm a little attached to it"

My next question would be are you attached enoufh to bless it with your pocket book cuzz you may be buying it again...

ohiodick · Mar 15, 2018

had a ford ranger doing that pulled pan found cork from valve cover gasket that was coming apart had plugged pick up screen. cold oil at start up was
slow to get through. cleaned screen no more problems.

2x4 · Mar 16, 2018

Oil filter acts like that if the wrong brand. Some brands don't have the valve to keep oil up. My '89 4 cyl. did that til I put the better filter on, Forget now which brand was good; wasn't the cheap brand.

TomA in CA · Mar 16, 2018

Oil filter.

denglish · Mar 23, 2018

It looks like all of you who said "oil filter" were probably right. I put a new oil filter on yesterday morning and this morning when i started it the oil light went out almost immediately after sitting over night.

Hopefully, that was all it was. Will report back if the problem returns.

O/T - Truck mechanical problem - thoughts welcome

denglish

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old

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