My Oil pressure is usually this lower idle. It will go up to normal when I drive but I know it seems to be very low. Is this an issue? Is there a quick fix?

 

It is normal unfortunately. The problem is you can't tell if it's normal for the gauge, or an actual indication of low pressure. Unlike many gauges of the past, our seventies vintage gauges were lucky to read a very narrow range. And even luckier when they did that accurately and consistently!
But I like to trust gauges because they're important. So the first thing I usually recommend is verifying the pressure with another gauge. Just a temporary one, perhaps electric or perhaps mechanical. Don't even have to mount it inside, as long as you can see it while you're driving and idling.
Reason for going the extra mile for me is that even though this is a common fault with the gauges, you don't want to ignore a possible engine issue because I said the gauges suck with these trucks!

My '79 F350 w/400 reads almost exactly like yours. Including the part about it going lower sometimes. No funny noises, not apparent damage.
But in spite of having no other symptoms of low pressure, I installed a high-volume oil pump anyway (what a pain to do with the engine still in the truck on a 4wd!) just in case my engine had loose bearing tolerances and was losing pressure internally. It had been overheated on at least two occasions according to the PO so I thought loose tolerances was a distinct possibility. Made zero difference in gauge readings.

Funky gauges is why I spent some big bucks (for me anyway) on a Dakota Digital instrument cluster. Of course, I did the old-school digital readout version and now they have those uber-bitchen VHX or whatever they're called. Look like analog dials, but better.
Even though I'm torn about upgrading, I actually like the look of the blue digital readouts. Strange coming from an old-school analog gauge lover like me, but it's true. Kind'a Buck Rogers, but so easily readable it's hard to not like them.

Good luck.

Paul

 

Nice illumination by the way! Did you swap for LED bulbs by chance?

Paul

 

If you had a 335 series engine with some miles on it that didn't have low oil pressure that would be more noteworthy.

I agree though, your factory oil pressure gauge should be called an indicator not a gauge. you just can't rely on it unless you've tested it against a real gauge.

 

Thanks! And, yes...swapped em out for led lights, super bright...cant seem to get the steering wheel lights on though. Also, the right turn signal socket broke and I can't seem to find suitable replacements.

 

If you're using a lower viscosity engine oil, you could switch to one with a bit more viscosity if it's appropriate for your environment.