This (no oil pressure coupled with valve lifters suddenly ticking) is a very serious situation. Either your oil pump is not pumping or you have a spun bearing. Either way, you have to drop the pan and take a look at things. Do not run the engine at all until you do this. If you're very lucky, you'll find the oil pickup float has fallen off or the screen is blocked. More likely, there is a spun bearing - since you don't hear any rod knock, it is most likely a main bearing. While you may be able to patch this up and get a few more miles out of the engine, the right way to do this is to plan on a complete engine rebuild. Sorry, this is bad news (unless, like me, you enjoy rebuilding engines!) Dick Benjamin ----- Original Message ----- From: <Merc1Doc@xxxxxxx> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, December 25, 2002 12:23 PM Subject: IML: re:81 no oil pressure > my 81 imperial oil pressure light came on oil is up to level, tappes loud, > sat for about three weeks..... help!!!!!!!!! >