on the way home tonight my oil pressure gauge dropped off to nothing. regular ford gauge. when i got home i hooked a gauge to the oil rail gallery where the sender for the oil pressure goes. it showed about 18 psi at idle, the pressure increased but wouldn't go over 35 psi when rev'd to 2500 rpm. when the truck is driving at speed the ford dash gauge shows normal, when at a light or a stop the gauge goes to no pressure. truck doesn't stall and the power seems normal. I have noticed that lately when i start the truck (when its cold) there is more smoke than usual. i thought it was just poor diesel, it goes away in a few minutes. could this be an o ring problem at the injectors? could the oil pump actually be bad? the truck now has 310000 kms. oil was changed about 2 months ago and the level is still fine? has any one had this happen to them?

 

I think it might be a bad gage sencer. That has been a commen problem with the gas jobs that I used to own.
Good luck let me know what you find.




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2000 f350 power stroke 4x4 drw 6spd 9ft rackbody 4.10


and others

 

I've got an 84 351c bronco xlt that is showing exactly the same symptoms... only I had my engine reco'd to 350hp with all new insides & reboring 4 months ago at 200,000km ... my oil pressure gauge goes to zero now and then while I'm driving, no change in engine power, noise or revs that I can detect. it will come back to normal oil pressure reading when I'm idling at the lights... I'm wondering if a change of oil pressure sensor is the way to go... but I dont know where the sensor is, or how to change it.
:/

- Sean

 

This isn't a gas engine forum....but.... it's at the very back of the block on top, right behind the intake manifold. Points straight up with the electrical connector on top.

 

35 is more than enough, a good rule is that you only need 10 per 1000 rpm

 

farmerphilco is right, 10 psi per 1000 rpm.
I have about 12-15 at idle and maybe 37 running down the road (once warmed up, higher when cold)

 

Hook up the gauge at the port on the oil filter housing instead of the galley rail and see what you get there.

 

The point I was trying to make was that it might be the same problem as some of the old gas jobs. Ford has been known for bad sencers & gages.

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2000 F350 SD power stroke 4x4 6spd drw rackbody