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Last week I finally put a real oil pressure gauge in my truck. My old gauge used to read pretty low but it was in The "normal", whatever that means. The new gauge reads 35 cold idle, and can see up to 45-50 psi accelerating cold. When I get the truck on the highway I see 20 psi at 70 mph...now this is where it gets scary, when I hit traffic and stop it drops to usually 5-10 psi. I figured this was ok, because the truck runs fine, and apparently iv been running it like this for awhile, I just didn't know because of the crappy ford gauge.
So now a week later, I drove to work and saw normal oil pressure, no problems. On my way home oil pressure was good. Until I looked up an saw that my oil pressure dropped to 3-4 psi cruising at 70 mph. Holy ***** right?? So, is there some kind of pressure relief valve that I don't know about? I just don't think it's the oil pump because of the sudden drop, like a valve is stuck open or something. If I let the truck cool, an fire it up it'll be normal again until it gets hot
If there are any ways to raise my oil pressure please let me know. I have to drive this truck to Oklahoma Monday for college...so yeah I'm in a bind
Throw some Lucas in there. I find it raises the oil pressure signifigantly.
Also, if you're too low on oil(as in, significantly below the min-mark), you get this too - it'll start fine, but after pumping a lot more oil into the channels, it'll (likely) start sucking air and have really low oil pressure. I now check my oil level more often.<_<
I actually bought a bottle of Lucas today on the way home. The oil is full all the way to the top if the hash marks, ill have to drain a quart or so to put the Lucas in. Glad to hear I actually works lol
There is a mod to increase oil pressure. It will require you to pull your Cooler off to reach the oil pressure regulator in the filter head end of the cooler. You will need to remove the regulator and shim it about .035 to .070 to raise the hot pressure. If you are going to pull off the cooler you might as well replace the O rings when you have it off.. After the mod you will pick up 10 to 20 psi over what you have now. If you have a lot of miles on this engine I would go with .070.... I went with .034 and I have new bearings throughout and I have 25 to 30 Hot...
i once had a ford 300 that had a problem in the oil pump relief valve, pressure would drop out suddenly and randomly. i don't think thats what your problem is here.
i would guess your oil is a little too thin for the temps around you. we all know that hotter oil is thinner than cold oil, and thus produces less pressure. adding the lucas, or changing your oil from 15w40 to 20w50 would raise the pressure enough to do the trick with no mods at all.
my personal preference is to add an oil pressure idiot light to supplement my gage, so i can't help but notice if i am low on pressure. yes, i know most people do the exact opposite.
my personal preference is to add an oil pressure idiot light to supplement my gage, so i can't help but notice if i am low on pressure. yes, i know most people do the exact opposite.
I wish I had done that... and maybe a loud siren as well. Maybe I wouldn't need a rebuild right now if I had (done that). I still can't get over the irony that it was my pressure gage feed tube that lead to the ruin of the engine in the first place. $2,000 lesson learned...
Got it good and hot this mornin, pressures normal until I got about 20 miles down the road. It fell on its face again. This time I see 1-2 idle psi. Shut the truck down just to be safe. I am gonna try Lucas when the truck cools off. I had to try to get to work this mornin, otherwise wouldn't have drive the truck
Got it good and hot this mornin, pressures normal until I got about 20 miles down the road. It fell on its face again. This time I see 1-2 idle psi. Shut the truck down just to be safe. I am gonna try Lucas when the truck cools off. I had to try to get to work this mornin, otherwise wouldn't have drive the truck
How much lucas did you get? I use a gallon at a time on my worn motors.
I've seen many guys, just throw in a quart and say it didn't help, read the bottle.
When was the last time you changed your oil filter and what brand did you use?
I wish I had done that... and maybe a loud siren as well. Maybe I wouldn't need a rebuild right now if I had (done that). I still can't get over the irony that it was my pressure gage feed tube that lead to the ruin of the engine in the first place. $2,000 lesson learned...
a light is enough. i've saved a few engines with one - and one was a gage pressure tube just like yours. man, that sucks!
How much lucas did you get? I use a gallon at a time on my worn motors.
I've seen many guys, just throw in a quart and say it didn't help, read the bottle.
When was the last time you changed your oil filter and what brand did you use?
I changed the oil with a motorcraft filter and rotella 15w40 392 miles ago. Changed it when I put the gauge in. I only bought a quart, maybe I oughta go buy another bottle
Oersonally I would try verifying the oil pressure with another gauge before panicking too much,preferably a mechanical one. It could be the gauge, sender, wiring or a bad ground throwing off the readings.
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