Poor Oil Pressure

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Apr 24, 2003 | 09:18 PM

Monster 78 F-150 4X4

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Joined: Apr 2003

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From: Norton Ohio

Poor Oil Pressure

I have a 78 F-150 4X4 with the 351M. I bought truck about 1 month ago. When i replaced the exhaust valve on #3 i noticed the enging has a good lip at the top. The engine has 220,000 on it. It is all stock and I put an oil pressure gauge on and when the truck warms up it only has 10 to 12 psi. It will hit a little over 20 psi during accelerating. Also the other day when I drove it to school for the fist time and when i went to leave the pump stuck and nothing showed up on the gauge and the rods started nocking It ran for maybe 15 seconds i shut it off, checked the oil, then restarted it and i had its normal pressure. Im running 10w-40 with a can of restore in it. What do you think I should do???

Apr 24, 2003 | 10:39 PM

BentWheel

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Joined: Mar 2003

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From: around Salem OR

Poor Oil Pressure

Get the engine rebuilt.

Apr 25, 2003 | 03:45 AM

macguyver

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Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 1,214

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From: Minneapolis, MN

Poor Oil Pressure

Or drop in a (used?) 400. It depends on your budget. Sounds like she's just really tired. A rule of thumb is 10 psi of oil pressure for every 1000 RPM. You might try straight 30 or 40 weight oil to get you by. If you can find a decent used engine, that would be an option. If the replacement has a front sump oil pan, you can swap your pan (with your pickup tube, new oil pump etc.) onto it.
Just my 2¢

And welcome to FTE.

Greg

Apr 25, 2003 | 09:08 PM

Monster 78 F-150 4X4

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Joined: Apr 2003

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From: Norton Ohio

Poor Oil Pressure

Thanks for your advice guys. In a about 2 months im going to drop in a 460 ive got lined up. I just gota wait till shcools out (about 4 weeks) then go back to making good money working full time then ill do it. Also this isnt an everyday truck so i can afford to have some down time.

Apr 25, 2003 | 10:40 PM

macguyver

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Joined: Aug 2002

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From: Minneapolis, MN

Poor Oil Pressure

Put some 40 weight oil in it and enjoy.

Straight weight oil tends not to break down as much as multi-weight. And these 351M/400's will run almost forever with practically no oil pressure.

Apr 25, 2003 | 10:58 PM

BentWheel

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Joined: Mar 2003

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From: around Salem OR

Poor Oil Pressure

40???? Before the rebuild I ran 90 weight for a while.

Try 50 weight and ignore the gauge, tape over it if you have to.

Apr 26, 2003 | 10:02 PM

Monster 78 F-150 4X4

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Elder User

Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 551

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From: Norton Ohio

Poor Oil Pressure

So you guys think i should just run 50W oil. Also should i hold off with the engine swap and just lift 4" and put some 35" Mud Kings on it. Also the truck will rarly be offroaded hard.

Thanks