302 Oil pressure problem
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 78
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From: Dearborn Heights, Mi 4812
302 Oil Presure
Ok heres the prob now I have a nice F-150 seems to run great but the oil Presure gage has been all over the place as of late 
I thought it was just the sender so I got a new one. Same deal Fine cold then all over when warm.
So I got an Autometer Mech. Oil presure gauage and it has 30--50 psi Cold then drops as it warms up. At a stop light it droped to almost 0 but Ideled fine no noise or anything bad. Then only went up to 10 PSI at speed still no bad sounds or nocking nothing.
Now Im worried . I have 5-30 Semi-synthetic oil in it for winter also.
Could it just be a bunch of crap in the oil galley? Or is the oil just to thin? I have never seen anything like this ever. Iv seen oil pressure go low but not below 10PSI. Engine was rebuilt about 50,000 miles ago
Any help would be great thanks
I thought it was just the sender so I got a new one. Same deal Fine cold then all over when warm.
So I got an Autometer Mech. Oil presure gauage and it has 30--50 psi Cold then drops as it warms up. At a stop light it droped to almost 0 but Ideled fine no noise or anything bad. Then only went up to 10 PSI at speed still no bad sounds or nocking nothing.
Now Im worried . I have 5-30 Semi-synthetic oil in it for winter also.
Could it just be a bunch of crap in the oil galley? Or is the oil just to thin? I have never seen anything like this ever. Iv seen oil pressure go low but not below 10PSI. Engine was rebuilt about 50,000 miles ago
Any help would be great thanks
New User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17
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could be a number of things, but if you r losing oil pressure due to a bearing you should hear it, could be a worn oil pump? sometimes if they r worn they lose prime and have poor pressure, but i never run any less than 10 w3o, try dumping a quart of heavier oil in it like sae 30 to see if it helps. other wise a galley plug could have come loose or something is worn bad to have that kind of loss, but you would hear that, so my bet is on the oil.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 78
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From: Dearborn Heights, Mi 4812
Thanks Ill try that. Just got in and was driving it again to night not one sound from the engine no knock nothing. Oil pressure still droped to like 5lbs at idle and never broke 10 when warm.
Needs a pan gasket so Im thinking I my just change the pump to see if it helps or fixs it. I can only hope I have been saving for a solid axle swap hate to have to get an new engine insted!
Needs a pan gasket so Im thinking I my just change the pump to see if it helps or fixs it. I can only hope I have been saving for a solid axle swap hate to have to get an new engine insted!
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36
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From: Indiana
What type oil filter you running? I was having similar problems running a Fram filter...got on this board, read all the problems with Fram filters on Ford trucks, so I went and got a Motorcraft and switched it. Problem eliminated! 
Also, I don't know what region or climate your in, but 10w30 is the thinnest I'd run and only if your temerature is going to be below freezing for extended periods, other than that I'd use 10w40. I use a 10w30 Syn. blend in the winter, but only because my truck sits outside all the time. If I had a heated garage...10w40 year round!
Also, I don't know what region or climate your in, but 10w30 is the thinnest I'd run and only if your temerature is going to be below freezing for extended periods, other than that I'd use 10w40. I use a 10w30 Syn. blend in the winter, but only because my truck sits outside all the time. If I had a heated garage...10w40 year round!
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 78
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From: Dearborn Heights, Mi 4812
Well Im in Mich. And my truck doesnt fit in a Garage! So Its out side. We get way below freezing here like -22 or more windchill.
But I did USE A FRAM FILTER!! Thanks I will try and change that first!!
Thanks again !!
But I did USE A FRAM FILTER!! Thanks I will try and change that first!!
Thanks again !!
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Remsen, NY
The stock oil pressure gauge is probably the idiot gauge (90 and newer) where it's just a switch in the block that triggers at 6 or 8 psi, and the gauge is wired so that it shows nothing or just past halfway when the switch comes on. That explains the gauge all over the place if your pressure is right around the trigger point for the stock switch.
There's a fairly easy way to cure that and make the stock gauge actually follow pressure to some degree but you already put a real gauge in so it probably doesn't matter...
There's a fairly easy way to cure that and make the stock gauge actually follow pressure to some degree but you already put a real gauge in so it probably doesn't matter...
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Dearborn Heights, Mi 4812
Gauge is an autometer Sport comp I already had. I changed the filter (put on a motorcraft) and put one Quart of 20w50 oil in with the 5w30 that was in there. Pressure went up cold and huvers at about 5-10 at idel at operating temp.
Im thinking it needs a new oil pump? That would be easy and cheaper than a new engine!
Advice??
Im thinking it needs a new oil pump? That would be easy and cheaper than a new engine!
Advice??
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 78
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From: Dearborn Heights, Mi 4812
89 F-150 Oil presure still low to me
Ok I change the filter as someone recomended and put one quart of 20w50 in and presure went up but not much, I am seeing 5-10psi at idle and no more than 20 (usally less) at speed warm.
Still good cold always 40 to 50 or more then just drops off. Still no noise from the engine even at start up ice cold.
Will a new oil pump help? Someone said that it is probly worn badly.
I dont think the guy that rebuilt this engine had a clue either every seal on it leaks! So I have a sneaky suspition they didnt replace the oil pump when they rebuilt it.
Any help would be great
OH and I know the moderators says this is the wrong forum and moved my last post but NO ONE RESPONDED IN THAT ONE So please dont move this THANKS
Still good cold always 40 to 50 or more then just drops off. Still no noise from the engine even at start up ice cold.
Will a new oil pump help? Someone said that it is probly worn badly.
I dont think the guy that rebuilt this engine had a clue either every seal on it leaks! So I have a sneaky suspition they didnt replace the oil pump when they rebuilt it.
Any help would be great
OH and I know the moderators says this is the wrong forum and moved my last post but NO ONE RESPONDED IN THAT ONE So please dont move this THANKS
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 78
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From: Dearborn Heights, Mi 4812
Also I checked all the plugs and did a tune up yesterday (Plugs wires ext?.) Not one plug was even a little dirty all perfect, no oil in any cyclenders and Compretion was good on them all also. (had a friend check it) Hes cluless on the oil pressure thing to. says the truck wouldnt run as well as it does if there was 0 pressur. Help its getting cold and I need to figure this thing out before I cant work on at my house 
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 100
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From: new jersey
i know you say the oil pressure is low. are you running a mechanical guage or the stock electric. ford trucks gauges and ford gauges in general suck..before you go crazy check your oil pressure with a mechanical guage..
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: new jersey
you say that all the seals leak..is the rear mail seal leaking also,
and also. i have an 87 f150 5.0 i have 260,00 miles on her..i run nothing but 20w50 in it..(allseason long) when i used to run 10w40 or 10w 30 i had crappy oil pressure. but i know that my rod bearings are probably worn..mine makes no noise with the 20w50...maybe you could try it..see if it works, let us know what you find.... good luck
and also. i have an 87 f150 5.0 i have 260,00 miles on her..i run nothing but 20w50 in it..(allseason long) when i used to run 10w40 or 10w 30 i had crappy oil pressure. but i know that my rod bearings are probably worn..mine makes no noise with the 20w50...maybe you could try it..see if it works, let us know what you find.... good luck
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 78
Likes: 1
From: Dearborn Heights, Mi 4812
Thanks so I need to replace the rear main bearing then.
I ordered a pan gasket today from jegs. The sender is gone replaced by the automerer oil gauge. So that could be it. Sounds like fun to
I ordered a pan gasket today from jegs. The sender is gone replaced by the automerer oil gauge. So that could be it. Sounds like fun to