302 Oil pressure problem
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
oil pump
Sounds to me like your oil pump might be worn out. I had almost no oil pressure in my old 289. I installed a new pump and my pressure at warm idle went from 5 PSI to 25 PSI.
My 88 F150 has the exact same oil pressure woes that you described. It shows 50psi cold, and about 10psi at idle when its hot. After seeing my old 289 run with 5psi and not make any noises I'm not too concerned about the 5.0 in my truck. I need to put a new oil pan on it soon so when I do I will put a new oil pump in it then and maybe a set of main bearings too. I would also check to see if your engine builder put the gasket between the block and oil pump, this could cause a problem too.
On a side note, the 1994 roller 5.0 HO ( from a Mustang GT ) in my 63 Mercury runs 60psi cold and 32psi when hot at idle. It has about 75,000KM on it with a stock oil pump. I only use 10w30 in all my engines, and a little Lucas oil stabilizer too.
My 88 F150 has the exact same oil pressure woes that you described. It shows 50psi cold, and about 10psi at idle when its hot. After seeing my old 289 run with 5psi and not make any noises I'm not too concerned about the 5.0 in my truck. I need to put a new oil pan on it soon so when I do I will put a new oil pump in it then and maybe a set of main bearings too. I would also check to see if your engine builder put the gasket between the block and oil pump, this could cause a problem too.
On a side note, the 1994 roller 5.0 HO ( from a Mustang GT ) in my 63 Mercury runs 60psi cold and 32psi when hot at idle. It has about 75,000KM on it with a stock oil pump. I only use 10w30 in all my engines, and a little Lucas oil stabilizer too.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 78
Likes: 1
From: Dearborn Heights, Mi 4812
I am thinking the same as you and just got back from the store. (I own my own auto/motorcycle Vinyl Graphics company) I got a new HV Meling oil pump and I have the gasket I got form Jegs. Im off to install it right now. Oh I also got 10W30 Semi synthetic oil. SO In a few Hrs I should Know if its fixed or at least better. Im also going to check everything all of you recomended to see if there are any other problems while I have it apart.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
WHOOOOOOAAAAA!!!!! Don't use a high volume oil pump, just a std volume. Ford small blocks don't like HV oil pumps unless they are going to see high rpms and this could cause you even more problems like blown oil gallery plugs. Just my 2 cents worth......I've seen this happen before.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 78
Likes: 1
From: Dearborn Heights, Mi 4812
Well I talk to the guy at the store and he felt HV would be best being the engine probly has a larger gap on all the bearings.
Now Im worried lol this is becoming a royal pain in the a$$. I do drive on the freeway alot to make deliverys I have no clue now maybe I should sell it and buy a chevy lol.
Now Im worried lol this is becoming a royal pain in the a$$. I do drive on the freeway alot to make deliverys I have no clue now maybe I should sell it and buy a chevy lol.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
how many miles on the truck? You may be ok with a HV pump if your oil pressure sucks anyways, but I think a std volume pump would increase your oil pressure quite a bit. Stock pumps bypass at 60psi. If you are going to use a HV oil pump then make sure that you use a FORD oil filter, they have a valve in them to protect the filter from too much oil pressure.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 78
Likes: 1
From: Dearborn Heights, Mi 4812
Im using motorcraft only on it it from now on. Engine is said to only have 50-60,000 miles on it. Like I said yesterday the plugs look great and has really good compresstion. Runs great other than the oil presure being $h*t I will know more once I have it apart. Ill post what I find maybe it will help others out there also.
Thanks for your info
Thanks for your info
New User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17
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Originally posted by Thunderace31
Liberty what did you do to fix it??
I wouldnt sugjest leaving like that
Liberty what did you do to fix it??
I wouldnt sugjest leaving like that
Nothing actually
just keep oil in it.. She aint a young filly any more 210k+ but seems not to be worse for wear.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 184
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From: Knoxville United States o
I just replaced the oil pump in my '87 F150. I was guaging the oil pressure off the stock dummy guage. The gauge did work, kind of. It doesn't tell me how much oil pressure, but I did see the pressure drop considerably after getting warmed up. I thought the engine was going to die soon. I purchased a HV pump and installed it. Now the engine is showing the perfect amount (right in the middle of the guage). It was a worthwhile investment. My engine has 170K on it though.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 236
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I replaced my oil pump about 2 months ago with a melling std volume because my oil pressure had been pretty low lately. Even after installing it my guage showed the same. Only a few weeks later did it show normal again. Im starting to think my gauge is crap and need a mechanical one. Do you guys that run 20w50 think its better than 10w30? (sorry if im hijackin the thread lol)