Melling oil pumps are a waste of time and money.

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762mm

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The FoMoCo oil pump is garbage and the backing plate distorts under load, thus restricting the supply of oil at a critical time. I think over 2,000 RPM if I remember what I've been reading about it....

For what they cost, I will give Melling a shot (already bought one, ready for an install this summer). They are regarded as the upgrade FoMoCo was never ABLE to achieve : 20% higher oil volume flow + stable pressure in all RPM ranges. It's an UPGRADE, like putting a Ford Racing component in your stock Ford.


To each their own. If you like the OEM oil pump that much, I'm gonna have a 2014 unit for sale real soon, haha! PM me form pricing...


:D
 
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07navi

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The FoMoCo oil pump is garbage and the backing plate distorts under load, thus restricting the supply of oil at a critical time. I think over 2,000 RPM if I remember what I've been reading about it....

For what they cost, I will give Melling a shot (already bought one, ready for an install this summer). They are regarded as the upgrade FoMoCo was never ABLE to achieve : 20% higher oil volume flow + stable pressure in all RPM ranges. It's an UPGRADE, like putting a Ford Racing component in your stock Ford.


To each their own. If you like the OEM oil pump that much, I'm gonna have a 2014 unit for sale real soon, haha! PM me form pricing...


:D
Restricts oil supply at over 2,000 rpm? Funny how thousands of 5.4's are running just fine all over the U.S.
 

TobyU

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The FoMoCo oil pump is garbage and the backing plate distorts under load, thus restricting the supply of oil at a critical time. I think over 2,000 RPM if I remember what I've been reading about it....

For what they cost, I will give Melling a shot (already bought one, ready for an install this summer). They are regarded as the upgrade FoMoCo was never ABLE to achieve : 20% higher oil volume flow + stable pressure in all RPM ranges. It's an UPGRADE, like putting a Ford Racing component in your stock Ford.


To each their own. If you like the OEM oil pump that much, I'm gonna have a 2014 unit for sale real soon, haha! PM me form pricing...


:D
Restricts is probably not the appropriate word. It might not supply quite as much as an aftermarket one but plenty of oil is getting there. Even though it leaks a little bit, plenty of oil is getting pump to the system. Oil supply issues have really not been a problem on the 5.4.
As a matter of fact, there was just a post yesterday from someone on here who decided not to go with the aftermarket pump because of the extra volume or pressure might make the chain tensioner o-ring more likely to leak. These gasket leaks on the tensioner, spark plug design issues, valve train issues from the roller cam followers failing at the bearing, and cam phasers are your problem areas on the 5.4 3 valve. Lack of oil supply or proper lubrication has really never been an issue.
 
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07navi

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If the cover plate on the stock pump distorts (and I doubt it) why didn't Melling just stamp out a 1/8" thick steel plate and drill holes in it as a back up? Or why didn't they just make a thicker cover plate? Because they can't make much money doing that.:emotions34: And why would Ford let something that simple slide...…...they didn't.
 
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07navi

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Restricts is probably not the appropriate word. It might not supply quite as much as an aftermarket one but plenty of oil is getting there. Even though it leaks a little bit, plenty of oil is getting pump to the system. Oil supply issues have really not been a problem on the 5.4.
As a matter of fact, there was just a post yesterday from someone on here who decided not to go with the aftermarket pump because of the extra volume or pressure might make the chain tensioner o-ring more likely to leak. These gasket leaks on the tensioner, spark plug design issues, valve train issues from the roller cam followers failing at the bearing, and cam phasers are your problem areas on the 5.4 3 valve. Lack of oil supply or proper lubrication has really never been an issue.
I doubt if it would have any more effective pressure anyway since they must have a pressure relief valve built in. I have never seen one though (and never will). It might try to force more oil in but it is still controlled by the clearances in the engine.
 

762mm

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Restricts is probably not the appropriate word. It might not supply quite as much as an aftermarket one but plenty of oil is getting there. Even though it leaks a little bit, plenty of oil is getting pump to the system. Oil supply issues have really not been a problem on the 5.4.
As a matter of fact, there was just a post yesterday from someone on here who decided not to go with the aftermarket pump because of the extra volume or pressure might make the chain tensioner o-ring more likely to leak. These gasket leaks on the tensioner, spark plug design issues, valve train issues from the roller cam followers failing at the bearing, and cam phasers are your problem areas on the 5.4 3 valve. Lack of oil supply or proper lubrication has really never been an issue.


Makuloco and the Car Wizard on YouTube (both claiming to have worked on dozens of these 5.4L) seem to disagree.

The biggest issue with these, apparently, is oil passages being too restricted and the resulting lack of lubrication. The lack of lubrication is what is said to cause the cam phaser tick and roller-follower wear + cam wear, consistently on the passenger side because it is the furthest point along the oil path.

It's no accident that the updated Ford roller-followers have a different size lubrication hole in them, presumably to better lubrication (3L3Z-6564-A).




 
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JExpedition07

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So he shows a worn oem pump with 150k that is still well within pressure spec and compares later to a brand new one that exceeds spec...yep I’ll stick with my oem.
 

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So he shows a worn oem pump with 150k that is still well within pressure spec and compares later to a brand new one that exceeds spec...yep I’ll stick with my oem.


It is your choice. I'll be going with the Melling myself and ditch Ford's piss poor design... just for the added peace of mind, if nothing else.

I'm fairly sure I have a collapsed roller-follower tick on the passenger side too at 132k miles, after viewing this (at 11:27 mark)... due to poor OEM lubrication :

 
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TobyU

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No denying that there are some issues. Maybe it's just one of those where the design is barely adequate and when the pump gets a little weak the perfect storm hits.
Even though I can armchair quarterback it from here everytime I built one of my old hot rod engines, I always put an aftermarket high volume pump in it. Lol
 

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No denying that there are some issues. Maybe it's just one of those where the design is barely adequate and when the pump gets a little weak the perfect storm hits.
Even though I can armchair quarterback it from here everytime I built one of my old hot rod engines, I always put an aftermarket high volume pump in it. Lol

Exactly. It is also why I find this thread's title completely stupid and baseless :
"Melling oil pumps are a waste of time and money."

It's quite a bold statement for someone who never used one. It's kind of like the folks who claim with absolute certainty that "Man never went to the Moon". Proof please! :rolleyes:


Melling also makes cast iron upgrade tensioners to go along with the pump btw... that are specifically designed not to blow seals. I got those too as a part of my planned 5.4L 3v upgrade package, as well as new Melling timing chain guides.

Once installed along with new rocker-followers, it should pretty much bulletproof that engine.

:)
 
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