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New guy here. Owner of a few Superduties and a long-time reader but not poster on this forum. I was on another car forum and a mechanic at a ford dealership posted up a recall letter from Ford for Superduties with 7.3 gas engines that was sent out yesterday. Reading this recall made me think of the folks on this forum. The recall letter noted a software update to increase the engines oil pressure at idle. We all have heard about the cam lobe and lifter problems a few have had with this engine. I would post the memo up, but I am not sure if that's acceptable on this site. Between the issues with the 7.3 gas engine and the cost of the 10 speed trans I will buy the extended warranty for my 2023 Superduty.
Straight from the manual. If there is a reference voltage and a signal circuit, that says to me there is an ability to monitor changes in pressure rather than just a binary value. Yes, the PCM derives the pressure from the signal voltage.
Engine Oil Pressure Sensor - 6.8L,7.3L Gas, 7.3L DieselThe engine oil pressure sensor is hardwired to the PCM through VREF, signal and return circuits. The PCM provides the sensor voltage supply on the VREF circuit and monitors the voltage changes through the signal and return circuits as the engine oil pressure changes.
Pinpoint test M to determine whether the oil pressure control solenoid is functional, which I understand defaults the oil pump to maximum output by removing the hydraulic control and allowing the spring to swash the vanes to max. This also tells me you can in theory permanently defeat the variable output functionality. It's also sad to see they decided to reduce idle oil pressure by at least 40psi.
The other thing that tells me the oil pressure sensor is a variable sensor and not just a switch that opens and closes, and that the PCM oil pressure is not made up....with the "key" on and engine off, the EOP_PRESS PID reads 14.7 psi and the sensor voltage is just under 0.5V. What does 14.7psi correlate to? Atmospheric pressure at sea level which jibes because I am on the left coast of FL. The PCM reports the oil pressure as abs. It just stands to reason in my mind the PCM needs to know what the oil pressure is if it's going to control it via some unknown to us operating parameters.
I'm not trying to argue, I don't personally care how ford did it previously. Just reporting what I found based on reading the factory manual for my truck, and then doing some experiments with forscan with the hopes that it provides some small benefit to folks like myself who are here because they're genuinely curious about this stuff.
So, the 7.3 has a variable displacement oil pump? What, is that electrically driven? If so, then wow, had no idea they'd tie engine lubrication to an electrical vector of failure...
Not a recall by any means and probably isn't anything of much concern to owners. This is simply a PCM update/flash and will likely be performed during PDI. Othes who have already purchased can simply have their PCM updated if they choose. Some can likely have it done by a mobile tech at their home or work.
New guy here. Owner of a few Superduties and a long-time reader but not poster on this forum. I was on another car forum and a mechanic at a ford dealership posted up a recall letter from Ford for Superduties with 7.3 gas engines that was sent out yesterday. Reading this recall made me think of the folks on this forum. The recall letter noted a software update to increase the engines oil pressure at idle. We all have heard about the cam lobe and lifter problems a few have had with this engine. I would post the memo up, but I am not sure if that's acceptable on this site. Between the issues with the 7.3 gas engine and the cost of the 10 speed trans I will buy the extended warranty for my 2023 Superduty.
You can post it up. We allow those as long as freely distributed letter
Huh. I wonder what my oil pressure is at idle in my 2022. Is there any way to check with a scan gauge or does a mechanical pressure sensor need to be installed somewhere?
What does the software update do? Cause the oil pump to provide higher pressure at idle, which will keep things lubricated better, which will extend the life of the valvetrain? Ford was foolish not to do that to begin with on trucks they KNOW will be used at idle on job sites.
