took my daughter to LAX this morning, and while climbing the hill out of Bakersfield was in fourth gear running about 2700ish revs valve train was clanging and rattling like someone pushed over a rack of fine china. I know the 439,000 doesn't help but I saw a drop in oil pressure(about 15LBs, once warm runs 40 to 50LBs) w/o a temp increase? any ideas?
Oil level was still good when I got to the airport. On the trip home stayed under 2500ish revs in 4th with no issues. Last oil change was 1300mi ago +/-. Am I starving for oil at that RPM range, or valve train issues?

 

The oil pressure dropped 15 lbs, or the gauge was only showing 15 lbs total?

Also, is the oil filled to the top of the range on the dipstick, when cold?

 

I'm assuming you're talking about the grapevine? What oil and oil filter are you running? How fast were you going up the grapevine? A/C on?

 

A/C not working so that wasn't it.
Saw a 15LB drop from 50LBish to about 30.
Purolator filter and Penzoil 5/30 with a MMO kicker.
Checked cold before I fired up, just a hair over full. oil is still slightly transparent.
roughly 60/65ish in 4th at the before mentioned RPM range.
Checked the top end through the valve cover and have oil getting up top.

 

Thinking about it my oil pressure went kinda nuts last week bouncing between 30 and 40Lbs...... could be the oil pump is getting tired.

 

Is it the original pump?

 

If it is I need to bronze it when I change it. Just to think how many times that thing has spun in 439Kmi.

 

I would be amazed if it was the original lol. Even so, if you don't know when it was last replaced, it wouldn't hurt to drop the pan and take a look.

 

A long shot but what brand oil filter do you have on it?Some brands are known for oil starvation at start up and sometimes in higher rpms. If its not that seafoam or a engine flush kit might help clear it out some.

 

not a seafoam fan I use 1 quart of kerosene(old school) every other oil change, so this last one is the one that got it done. The filter thing IDK... for the most part I use purolater or NAPA never had this problem before?