low oil pressure
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: hershey, PA
low oil pressure
i have a 89' f-150 with 4.9 straight 6 and it seems to have low oil pressure. It is believed to have about 100,000 miles on the engine. When i start the engine in the morning it reads about 45-47 psi oil pressure. After a drive to school and the engine warms up it starts to drop. When warmed up, and the rpms are around 2500-3000 the psi is about 25. At idle the psi reads just off of zero maybe 5 at the most. I have a mechanical gauge installed. On long trips (30 minutes or more) the psi drops to about 20 at 2500-3000 rpm.
I just changed the oil and the original gauge started to read low so I installed a mechanical gauge. Do you think this would be caused by a worn out oil pump? clogged pick up? Worn bearings? I am hoping i dont have to install a new oil pump because i have heard you have to take the motor out of its mounts.
Do you think using thicker oil would help bring up the pressure? Right now i dont seem to hear any mechanical noise coming from the engine from the lack of oil. thanks for the help , Jim
I just changed the oil and the original gauge started to read low so I installed a mechanical gauge. Do you think this would be caused by a worn out oil pump? clogged pick up? Worn bearings? I am hoping i dont have to install a new oil pump because i have heard you have to take the motor out of its mounts.
Do you think using thicker oil would help bring up the pressure? Right now i dont seem to hear any mechanical noise coming from the engine from the lack of oil. thanks for the help , Jim
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 892
Likes: 3
From: Quinton NJ
im sorry to say this but it sounds like its your oil pump. but if you catch it early...you can save it. those pumps are notorious for going at 100,000-150,000. my next door neighbor was driving and he lost oil pressure. instead of pulling over and calling for a tow...he kept driving it for another 20 minutes. he got home went to start it up later that day and wondered why it wouldnt start. so out to the front lawn it went and i got it for $200 its an 87 f-250 nice straight body no rust good paint nice interior. the motor was wiped so i pulled it. it was worth it to me. i rebuilt it myself and am currently putting it back together. good luck
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: hershey, PA
ok, i'm going to go get a oil pump and gasket kit. Will i have to raise the engine to remove the pan? i have a 2wd model? What weight of oil do you suggest using? right now i have 10w-30. Thanks
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Wewa,Fl near Panama City
Originally Posted by jimbo81587
ok, i'm going to go get a oil pump and gasket kit. Will i have to raise the engine to remove the pan? i have a 2wd model? What weight of oil do you suggest using? right now i have 10w-30. Thanks
I hope this helps, did this to my '86 about a month ago. I put melling high vol. oil pump and new oil pickup tube. I made a critical mistake not pulling trans. back out of the way, and Yes you do have to lift the motor for the pan to clear. also put k&n hp3001 and mobil delvac1300 15w40. btw have some other posts about this same thing in this forum. good luck!
Paul
