Problems, problems, problems
I am new to this forum but any help would be greatly appreciated

Problem #1
Lost oil pressure completely so I put a new oil pump and pick up tube on my 1990 E150 Van with a 5.8L just about 1 month ago along with new valve cover gaskets. While I had the valve cover gaskets off I cleaned up some deposits around the rocker arms, and tried to clear drains. My engine has 172000 miles. When I started it back up one of the lifters wouldn't stop ticking for the longest time but eventually stopped and ran very good again with good oil pressure.

I thought everything was ok until yesterday I noticed the pressure drop to the bottom of my oil gauge everytime I stopped at a light and idled and when I give it gas I regained oil pressure. It has been about 1000 miles since the new pump was installed so I went home and changed the oil and filter last night. The filter seemed heavy when I took it off. I have always ran Havoline 10w40 in this van. Drove the van 25 miles this morning and the pressure stayed good. On the way home this afternoon it dropped again only when hot and idling. As long as I accelerate the pressure would come up well into the normal range.

Problem #2
Now to add to the list, I had to cut it off at a stop on my way home and it wouldn't start back. It tried at first but ran very rough then just turned over and over like there was no fire. It finally cranked about 45 minutes later and I drove it 20 miles on home. Turned it off after noticing the oil pessure drop. Tried to start it back and it wouldn't crank back again. Went in the house for a while and when I went back out and tried it it cranked fine and ran good. Oil pressure came up so I let it run until it reached full operating temperature and never lost oil pressure? So now when the engine gets hot and you cut it off it want start back . If you wait a while it will. Runs good as long as you don't cut it off.

Any suggestions or diagnosis. Thanks sincerely


__________________
Tim Barwick

 

Sounds like the ignition control module is going bad... That is causing you're dying problem. Do you have a real oil pressure gauge or are you going by the factory one? Look at the sender if it's a big bulky looking thing it's a pressure gauge, if it's a small one it;s just a swtich... Get a real gauge and see what your pressure is, you may consider putting new bearing in it, as no oil pressure tends to chew them up pretty bad.

 

I replaced the ignition module. Now it want crank at all. I put back the old ignition module and it still want crank. I checked and I am getting fire to the plugs. Any suggestions?

Also I have a real oil gauge, well it has a range of low to high and it does move. I probably will have to put bearings in it. For now I think I am going to change to 20w50 oil and see what happens. When the oil pressure drops when idling the motor doesn't make any ticking or pinging yet anyway. Ist I need to get it back running. (((((((Help)))))))

 

If it's not turning over at all I would start at the battery cables, get a big screw driver and cross the relay, if it cranks you may need a new starter relay or a new ignition switch.

 

It turns over and over like it has no fire but I checked while it was turning over and it does have fire to the plugs. Fuel problem maybe?

 

check the injectors, see if they are pulsing. Are you getting fuel? Can you hear the pumps run when you turn the key?

 

Your oil pressure switch might just be faulty. Replace it with another one. If you decide to get a real oil pressure gauge. I would suggest to use an electrical type oil pressure gauge that way there are no hose that could break and squirt inside.

 

Also, if you have a stuck injector the extra fuel pushes it's way past the rings & causes low oil pressure.

I'd be tempted to check the fuel pressure: there is a schrader valve on the fuel rails: hook up a fuel pressure guage to it, turn on the ignition & see what the pressure is: make sure it holds with the ignition on. If it drops away, you've got a stuck injector: you can disconnect them one by one until the problem goes away. Stuck injectors are commonly caused by one of the leads chafing & shorting to ground. Fuel pressure should be about 40psi, it's about 100psi from the frame pump, then gets reduced by the fuel pressure regulator.

Run the codes & see what the PCM has stored.

 

re: problem #1, 91 351. I had the same thing with the oil pressure happen to me.... It happened twice just like yours did.. It was the Motorcraft Oil Filter (FL-1A). the insides collapsed.
I was using Valvoline 10W-40.

Sounds like you have heat fouled spark Plugs.

 

Hello, I have had the oil pressure problem for several years. After several hundred searches and the oil pressure checked, I still had the problem till too much fuel got into a piston and I suspect a bent push rod. Anyway, I had heard at least 40 times that there is a wire short in the dash and for $700 and remove and replace hundreds of screws that it maybe could be fixed. My suggestion is get a real oil pressure gauge and wait on other problems. It seems there are problems from 97 - 99 , 4.2 especially. Good Luck