Noisy 302
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 16
From: Kuna ID
Noisy 302
The guys and I are back to tinkering with this 302 again. 1993 F150, swapped in a supposedly good salvage yard 302. Bearings and cylinders looked good, you could tell it had probably missed and oil change or two due to some baked on oil but nothing like the charcoal briquette of a block we replaced. Installed new comp cam, seals, gaskets and oil pump. There was a rattling noise coming from what sounded like the passenger side valve train. Installed new ford performance lifters, sound moved to the other side. Oil pressure is only at the “O” in normal on the gauge. Pulled intake again to verify oil flow through lifters and push rods. Oil is a little slow to reach the first rocker on the passenger side but does get there. Buddy wants to install a high pressure oil pump to see if that helps, his truck his call but thought I would see if anyone has other ideas. I was wondering if the rockers could be worn out. Mileage on this motor is unknown but it was sold with a warranty and lead slugs so I assume it was tested before it was sold. That was probably 10 years ago though.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 1,894
Likes: 416
I would check actual oil pressure with a gauge first to see what real readings are. I can twist the wire on my sender and it change the readings. Once I realized that, I added an electric oil
pressure gauge.
pressure gauge.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,929
Likes: 1,199
From: Mojave, Ca
Anyone with a 9th Gen ford truck will tell you that the Oil pressure gauge is just a dummy gauge. Anything over 9 PSI will cause the gauge to move to the middle position. Anything less than 9 PSI will move the gauge to the RED position. Anyone who claims their oil pressure gauge is fluctuating usually has a dirty oil pressure switch or a loose electrical connection.
You need to install a real mechanical or electrical oil pressure gauge on it if you want a real reading.
You need to install a real mechanical or electrical oil pressure gauge on it if you want a real reading.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 16
From: Kuna ID
We put a mechanical gauge on it last year to check and I can’t for the life of me remember what the reading was. I can’t imagine it was bad but I will toss it on again to double check.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 1,894
Likes: 416
If it moved to driver side after replacing lifters, check for play between rockers and pushrods. Maybe one of the lifters isn’t fully pumping or just a tolerance problem with non adjustable rockers. With my pressures, I have a slight tick on passenger side. I have roller rockers, but I can tell middle of passenger cover that’s where it’s coming from. New heads by the end of the year will solve my problem since ill be changing to adjustable rockers.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,929
Likes: 1,199
From: Mojave, Ca
8th gen trucks had real oil pressure gauges.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,569
Likes: 2,678
From: Near Salt Lake City
A few things
5 psi will illuminate the idiot light
There was a TSB to add a resistor to the circuit to make the gauge read higher but that did nothing for low oil pressure
If your engine is noisy, check the "direct or actual' pressure at hot idle
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