'03 Disco oil pump issue

Blaewen Draca

Blaewen Draca

Active member
Oct 23, 2008
39
0
Rome, GA
Before you say anything else, yes, I know that '03's are prone to this issue. Now, on to my issue. I was receiving a low oil pressure indicator on my dash, so I ordered an entire replacement front cover from Will Tillery. Before installing the replacement, I opened the service panel for the oil pump gears and made sure that they were in good shape. Everything looked good, so I proceeded to install the front cover. I got everything back on this afternoon, cranked her up, and everything looked and sounded good. Later, as I was working on bleeding the coolant, I looked in on the temp gauge and noticed that the oil pressure light was on at idle. I lightly revved the engine and it went away. This is exactly the same issue I was having before replacing the front cover. Any and all help is appreciated.
 
seventyfive

seventyfive

Well-known member
Jan 3, 2010
4,280
100
over there
5w50 engine oil and a good oil filter., then check oil pressure with a gauge. If you don't have a gauge or the ability to properly check oil pressure then pay someone to check it.
 
Blaewen Draca

Blaewen Draca

Active member
Oct 23, 2008
39
0
Rome, GA
Would any of these issues be RPM dependent? The light comes on at idle, but with just a little bit of throttle, it goes off. That makes me think it's not the pressure sensor itself.
 
roverover

roverover

Well-known member
Feb 27, 2005
3,819
28
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Lancaster PA
www.UsedLandRoverParts.com
The pressure light only comes on below 6 PSI so as soon as you rev it the pressure rises but it is still way low through the range just not low enough to set off the light
You will find the rod bearings are shot and possible a cam bearing
 
seventyfive

seventyfive

Well-known member
Jan 3, 2010
4,280
100
over there
Blaewen Draca said:
I used Valvoline 5w30 high mileage with a K&N HP-3001 oil filter. I'm leaning towards installing a mechanical oil gauge.
Click to expand...

It's good to hear you're using a 5 weight oil, instead of 15 weight (cold start up with a 15 weight stresses the oil pump).
I've found a 30 weight oil in 03/04 engines will only give you about 6 psi at idle. If you look you will find that Land. Rover finally started suggesting 5w50 in the Mk2 Range Rovers....they would suggest a 0w60 if anyone made one!

Your bearings most likely are shot, but try 5w50, a good filter Mann, Wix, pure later, and then check oil pressure with a mechanical gauge. With 5w50 you should have at least 10-12 psi with oil at 200 degrees. If you don't have that at idle then either start looking for a gems block and rebuilding it, or start saving for a different vehicle.
 
jafir

jafir

Well-known member
May 4, 2011
1,628
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Northwest Arkansas
Mobil 1 and castrol syntec both come in a 5w50, for the VW tdi engines. The castrol was actually OEM for vw. Back in the early 2000's I remember it being not much more to buy than to buy the wrong weight of castrol at a parts store. I'm not sure how they price it today.
 
F

FB111

Well-known member
Jun 7, 2004
475
0
This is a an early 60's designed engine for heavens sake! I have run 20/50 year round in every old design V8 I have eveer owned and never an issue.
 
Blaewen Draca

Blaewen Draca

Active member
Oct 23, 2008
39
0
Rome, GA
Upon start up after changing the front cover, with a fresh fill of Valvoline 5w-30 high mileage, the engine sounds great. This truck did sit for a while last year and this year, only got cranked up and moved short distances as I have a work truck to drive daily. I'm really frustrated with this truck right now. Im trying to sell it, but don't want to sell someone a lemon. I'm almost to the point of parting it out or taking to a scrap yard and see what I can get for it. I'm literally at my wits end, and can't afford to just throw parts at it.
 
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