Something in my engine has recently started to whine, almost sounds like a power steering pump whine. It's an 04 3.9L. I had it up on ramps today trying to track it down and it sounds like it's coming from the oil pan. What would be under there causing that kind of whine?
Thanks!

 

Well the steering pump on these mustangs do make a lot of noise, so that could be it

 

I think you answered your own question

 

I believe the only way to correct this problem is buying a "NEW PUMP" i bought a re manufacturer one but still made the same noise a tad bit quieter tho but still the whine is there. i believe the new one is 160 or 115 and 45 core charge for giving them yours.

 

But it's not coming from the steering pump though. It makes the same sound, but I had a stethoscope all over and it sounded loudest when I touched the oil pan with it. Would a main bearing make a noise similar to that?

 

It could just be transmitting through there as well though, the oil pan is basically a hollow open space and with a scope it will sound like a whine when what you're most likely hearing is the oil pump.

When you replaced the pump did you flush out ALL of the old fluid or just refill?

 

I haven't replaced anything yet. I'm just trying to figure out what's going on before I start tearing things apart and spending money I don't have on parts I don't need.. lol. I've got a 1,400 mile trip I'm gonna be making next weekend and it'd really suck to break down on the road so far from home.
I'm going to be changing the oil tomorrow, so I'll poke around some more while it's up on the ramps again and hopefully I can find the source of the problem.
Thanks for the replies!

 

Well, it does seem to be the power steering pump after all. I could hear it when I probed the back of the reservoir. It's strange because you can hear it really well inside the car, but if you open the hood to listen for it, you can't really hear anything. It also doesn't get any louder when you turn the wheel. I guess that's what threw me off. Hopefully it'll make it without any problems on the trip next weekend.

 

The reason you hear it in the car so well is bacuase it reverbs through the coulmn into the dash. Try to flush all the old stuff out before replacing it, see it that helps.