We have bought a 1991 4x4 7.3 IDI XLT Lairat...what i thought to be a simple headgasket job turn out to be...$3500.00 later -4 sleeves new pistons .30 over -cam/cam bearings lifters -main/rod bearings...my oil pressure when ideling @ 600-700 rpm is 10-20 pds and 40-45 pds @ 2100.. what is it supposed to run at...remember the only thing I havn't replaced is the oil pump...or the pressure relief valve...I'm I overly worried and just need to relax or are my concerns merrited...This older Ford represents the getaway truck for us to camp or haul with...by the way this is my first full sized pickup and she is a dream to drive...What should it be at its lowest and highest...I have know of fords running as low as 7 pds but those were gas poppers...

 

those numbers seem accurate. are you taking your reading from stock oil sending unit location?

by the way, where in washington are you?

 

yes back of the block...I put a tee so I could keep the sending unit for the dash and stock guage working...however the stock guage never moves after start up it holds at mid rang all the time...warm or cold...I have heard the the oil pump is more about flow rather than pressure...but I'd still like to know what pressure a new 7.3 IDI can deliver considering mine is new...all but the oil pump and relief valve...

 

ohh but the way I'm about 20 miles from Ocean Shores and 20 Miles north of Hoquiam....Humptulips

 

Numbers seem ok, I wondnt even worry about it. Use good quality oil and change it as specified and you should be golden! And welcome to FTE!

Edit: did the block get the cavitation? Is that rebuild reasoning?

 

yes it did get"electrolisis" running a zinc filter with a water stabalizer...as for oil delo 15/40...I'm still considering changing oil pumps ...can I get a high pressre pump for my 7.3 IDI...there must be some way to get more pressure...

 

Try the search feature, you might like what you find.

Here is some info on oil pressure number https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...fications.html

 

ok so I'm stubborn there has to be away for a bit better oil pressure...all rods have them...so do the power stroke why cant our IDI's get the higher pressure for better engine protection??

 

that is stock oil pressure for a new engine. there is no reason to make it any higher.
these engines have high volume oil pumps, not high pressure pumps.
my 88 has 493,000 miles on it, and still maintains those numbers.

the stock oil pressure sending unit in the head is an idiot light pressure switch. anything over 7 psi will show oil pressure on the gauge in the dash. the sweep of the gauge needle is determined by the instrument cluster constant voltage regulated.

 

The stock gauge can be modified to work like it used to. Use an older round sender, and remove / bypass the resister behind the cluster. Now the oil pressure gauge will move, be higher on cold start, etc. Still wont tell you what pressure you have either way. Did this on my 91'