Oil light
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 25
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From: Frankfort, KY
Oil light
'78 F-150 2WD 351M C-6
Hey guys, do any of you know at what pressure the oil idiot light comes on? My light comes on when the engine is warmed up and idling in gear. (I know! worn bearings!) but if I rev it just a little it goes out so I'm hoping that maybe even though the light is on it's still in the safe zone. (I've heard some of you say as little as 5psi) I should connect a mechanical gauge, but I can't reach back there. So at what psi does it come on?
Hey guys, do any of you know at what pressure the oil idiot light comes on? My light comes on when the engine is warmed up and idling in gear. (I know! worn bearings!) but if I rev it just a little it goes out so I'm hoping that maybe even though the light is on it's still in the safe zone. (I've heard some of you say as little as 5psi) I should connect a mechanical gauge, but I can't reach back there. So at what psi does it come on?
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis, MN
I think it's in the range of 3 to 8 psi. I know that's not much but there isn't a lot of load on the bearings at idle and even though the pressure isn't there, you're still getting oil flowing by those worn bearings. It's not a lot of protection but I've seen these engines go a long way with low oil pressure like that. Connect a mechanical gauge to make sure of what you've got. Using the rule of thumb that says 10 pounds of pressure for every 1000 RPM, if you're anywhere close to that, don't worry. Sometimes replacing the pressure sender will keep the light off.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, Indiana. USA
I can relate directly with what your saying. I had that exact same problem with my 400 but the engine runs fine. So I replaced sending unit and the light quit coming on, for a while that is. Just tonight my light came back on lightly flickering while in gear at idle. So as soon as time and money permits, I'm going to schedule my engine for a teardown or replacement.
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73 Ford Country Sedan station wagon 6.6L 400/V8, 103,000 actual miles.
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73 Ford Country Sedan station wagon 6.6L 400/V8, 103,000 actual miles.
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