I just did a complete rebuild on my 400. 9-1 flat tops .020 over, comp cams 218/218 and a Hi volume oil pump.
The problem is a idle cold my oil pressure is 80 psi and warm is at 40psi. what can I do too fix the problem.

 

Which problem would that be? Your oil pressure looks fine.

 

What oil are you using? My engine was recenlty rebuilt, so I'm told. I pulled the pan and all was well. I had high pressure when cold, and really low when warm. I switched to 10w-40 valvolene.. My oil pressure now sits in the middle of the factory gauge. I'm pleased.

 

oh the problem is I keep blowing the rubber ring out of my oil filters upon start up.

 

After trying different oils to see if a different grade or manufacturer will make a difference, the next step would be to change the relief valve spring in the oil pump. When the oil's cold (and thick) this spring lets the excessive pressure bleed back to the sump, protecting the filter and anything else (gauges) downstream. A slightly weaker spring will still allow the pump to make pressure when it's warm but will bypass sooner when cold to keep the pressure from spiking. Of course, if the relief valve piston is stuck it will do the same thing. Either way, the pan comes off to access the pump.

 

Put a std volume oil pump on. The HV pump is not required on these engines if the bearing clearances are OK (which it sounds like yours are). The HV pump will cause increased wear on the cam gear and can shear the distributor drive pin.

 

In addition to the above, I think lowering viscosity to 10W-30 or even 5W-30 would help. Not to impose but my favorite oil for Ford engines based on experience is Penzoil or Valvoline. I use 10W-30 Penzoil myself and my engine loves it. But as far as pressure being slightly higher at cold start-up versus lower pressure at normal operating pressure is very normal.

Not trying to inflict harm cause I am a Cummins diesel man, but extreem fluctuations in oil pressure from startup though normal operating temperatures is normal. "80" startup, "20" warm idle, and "40" cruise mode is typical. But we also use a 15W40 viscosity motor oil that takes time to thin out. That's why I wonder if your using too thick a viscosity?

I do know a thing or two about motor oils and lubricants. My dad worked for Kendall Motor Oil Co., for 38-years before Kendall folded and sold out. They're oil is still available but not for much longer. But NEVER use Kendall or Quaker State motor oils in a Ford engine. They break down faster than Penzoil and Valvoline, and can leave harmful sludge in your engine.

Another thing, if you choose to use Kendall or Quaker State, change your oil at exactly or before 3000 miles or you'll learn about the damaging sludge I'm talking about. With Penzoil or Valvoline, there is a comfort zone that allows you to actuall go over 3000 miles without harm to engine.

And as always, never use silicone based oils in a new or freshly rebuilt engine. Give engine time to age and break-in before using those type of oils. Never add additives to engine oil!!! They are not needed, and may in fact hurt engine rather than protect it. As long as motor oil is changed when it should be, you'll never have any trouble from your motor.

If I upset anyone I'm sorry but these things must be said and one of the biggest failures in piston engines is the failure of the owner to use the proper grade of engine oils and change engine oils in a timely manner. That's all I have to say.

 

I have seen too many engines that were run with Penzoil that were full of carbon deposits. My present truck engine was so full that I thought I had two valve covers on when I pulled the driver's side to fix a gasket leak. The PO had used Penzoil since it was new. I also have NO oil pressure at 140,000 miles.

I use Valvoline tho... You can find more info about oils in the Lube forum here.

 

Torque1st, I was going to try to email you personally but that option is not yet available for me yet. How do you like my avtar? Look like we have something in common.

I am going str8 to the Lube forum from here because I'm real curious about this deal with Penzoil. I personally have been very happy with Penzoil and Vavoline for a long time running and have had absolutely no trouble whatsoever. If there is some news here I need to know about it.

As I have replied to another gentleman tonight about this same issue, I as well with only 103,000 miles on an engine that is 31 years old am starting to notice my oil light flickering while stopped and in gear. Engine sounds fine and gives no indication that there is any problems in the bottom though I know when an oil light comes on, the main bearing clearance has increased. I have already changed the sending unit and that put the light out but tonight it just started lightly flickering. But if there is a problem with Penzoil, I really would like to know about it and see if others are having the same problem with older engines. Off to the Lube forum I go.

_________________________________________________

1973 Ford Country Sedan station wagon 6.6L 400/V8

_________________________________________________

 

Did you know that pennzoil is recycled oil. Open a quart and you will be able to tell. Take a big whiff of it then smell another like valvoline or castrol these smell clean and pennzoil smells like it has been in your engine for like 10,000 miles. My father gave me this tid bit of info he is a diesel mechanic he works on semis and found this out from there oil sales rep.

 

Thanx Ncl. I was in another part of this forum earlier tonight and have decided to drop my associations and recommendations of the Penziol line of lube products. I will be adding Penzoil to the same list that I put Kendall and Quaker State in.

I am going to try something I saw mentioned in another forum of adding Mavel Mystery Oil to my existing oil and clean it out then I'm making an immediate switch to Valvoline MaxiLife 10W40. Judging by what I've read (and I have ready alot on this site), many many people are happy with that oil and give it strong recommendations.

In trucking there is only one oil that I have ever used with diesels and that is Rotella Shell 15W-40. I usually run oil for 10,000 miles or 1-month before changing oil.

I'm so thankful for the information I have found on the FTE site and am glad I have joined.


__________________________________________________ __

1973 Ford Country Sedan station wagon 6.6L 400/V8

__________________________________________________ __

 

you will like that max life. good stuff. so is plain valvoline. i use only valvoline in my cars. either max life or regular.

 

Texan 1983, you have a very good looking Ford Tough truck.

I appreciate your recommendation and am switching to it soon. I wish I had known before about Penzoil. I've been using that oil for years and didn't know that it was just like Kendall and Quaker State motor oils. The only reason I pushed Kendall in past years was for business reasons. I am the Kendall kid. My dad was working there before I was born in '66, and I have some cute pictures of me growing up around the company. But I always knew that Kendall was recycled motor oil just like Quaker State. So I never used it in my cars. But since Kendall doens't exist anymore except by name and products will cease sometime in near future, no sense going on and on about that name.

When I was 18 years old, I was a truckdriver for Kendall too just like my dad until Valvoline convinced me to come over to their side. I drove for them for awhile then quit. But continue endorsing they're product even to this day. I was also a gasoline tanker driver for Flying J truckstops and driver and oil tech for Chevron Oil on the west coast. Though today I pull a tanker hauling cement, I have nearly 20 years in the trucking profession. I spent many of those years working on trucks too but very little working on cars. Never liked cars. But I have one for now but as soon as it sells, thats probably it. My light truck of choice is the 1979 Ford full-size ranger. Maybe one day I'll have one. Maybe I can trade this station wagon for one. But needs to be like for like. Car is 90% and truck needs to be about same. I don't drive rust buckets.

__________________________________________________ __

1973 Ford Country Sedan station wagon 6.6L 400 V/8 Florida car

__________________________________________________ __

 

Let everyone know in the lube forum what you found out about Chevron oil. There is a new Chevron "modified synthetic" that everybody is interested in. So far all I have seen it available for is Diesels.

 

Well Eric, I don't want to let you down but as an oil tech at Chevron, I only messed with diesels and all I put in them was Chevron. Including all Caterpillars, Case, Hitachi's, John Deeres and a bunch of others and I never heard of any complaints. However for personal use, I only use Rotella Shell 15W-40. When I bought my Volvo VN-610 (semi-tractor), it had a 500Hp Detroit Diesel engine. And though I never changed the oil in that truck, all the Volvo dealship would put in the engine was Chevron Delo 1300. Apparently that is the only oil Detroit Diesel wants in their engines.

Ok guys, it's official. The divorce is final effective tonight. The Penzoil is out of my engine and was replaced by Valvoline Maxi-Life 10W-30. And I used a Motorcraft oil filter. But heres the funny part, and I blame it on this FTE website, when I went to Autozone to buy the oil, there was a line of guys just like me at the counter. EACH one of them had a case of Valvoline Maxi-Life. The rest of us were in the back of the store scavenging for what Max-Life that was left. Now read this carefully guys, all the other motor oils on the shelves including Valvoline Dura-Blend, and All Season were this on the selves completely full racks. The Maxi-Life shelves only had three cases left. I and the two guys behind me grabbed what was left which was 1- 10W-30, 1- 5W30, and 1- 20W-50. I grabbed the 10W-30 and ran to the front of the store. It was funnier than hell to watch.

When I asked the manager about the Maxi-Life by Valvoline, he exclaimed " I can't keep it on the shelves". He can't get rid of the other oil brands, and can't get Maxi-Life trucked in fast enough. So since it seems that all these guys including myself are members of this FTE website, way to go guys. And I'm truly sorry for bumping that one out of the way. If your reading this, I appologize but only until the next oil change then we're going to have to dance again. LOL, LOL, LOL.

It was just the funniest moment I've had in a while. I should've bought stock in Valvoline this past weekend. To the rest of you out there, the shelves are probably bare at the moment, but the next truck delivery comes in a couple of days. Then you better be there in front of the doors at least a couple of hours before the store opens if you want to share in the fun. Reminds me of the Cabbage Patch dolls when they first came out........