Driving without oil pressure

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Aug 31, 2007 | 07:45 AM

woodly1069

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Driving without oil pressure

The old F150 sure has me wondering... Everything I always heard about the old 302 must be true because for the last few days the oil gauge has been bouncing around in the dash but I attributed it to the stupid sending unit on the block. Some time ago I had the same issue but it seemes that a loose wire was causing the problem. Anyway the truck seems to have pressure at an idle but when you step on the accellerator the gauge drops to nothing or just bounces around all over the place. I have read somewhere that these old trucks have gauge problems but my Haynes manual doesn't say anything about how to test that gauge or the sending unit. I still don't know for sure but last night I heard the lifters start to tick and then this morning more of the same. Could I actually have a problem with the drive from the distributor or the pump itself? It just seems too inconsistant...Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Aug 31, 2007 | 07:54 AM

pfogle

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From: Oak Harbor, OH

It sounds more like you have a pick up screen on the oil pump that's clogging up with sludge. I'd be inclined to change the oil and see how dirty it is. Also you need to check the pressure with a gauge, the one in the dash is really nothing more than a glorified idiot light.

Aug 31, 2007 | 08:51 AM

quicklook2

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From: Lakewood, Ohio

i agree, clogged pickup screen sounds like your problem.

Aug 31, 2007 | 12:53 PM

94' 460 F350

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Joined: Aug 2007

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From: bellevue, washington

put some sythetic in too, and if you curious hook up a after market oil guage, the stock ones are very inaccurate and can show false readings

Aug 31, 2007 | 07:49 PM

woodly1069

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Thanks alot guys, everything you say seems correct to me. The only thing that bothers me is that I started to hear the lifters when I've NEVER heard a peep before. I pulled the distributor tonight and things seemed "wet" but the drive shaft looked a little chewed up in the middle. Also, I seem to remember something about a washer somewhere on the shaft. There was no such item. Any more thougths? I think I'll try the mechanical gauge on the block tomorrow and maybe go look at a new oil pump drive shaft...

Sep 2, 2007 | 12:32 AM

mebe2k

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Joined: Dec 2003

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From: Ford, WA

has a similar problem with my old 86 bronco.. would loose oil pressure and lifters would tick..changed the pump and it was fine for about a year.. then it blew a rod (had a rod knock for years so I was expecting that..) if yours goes "knocka knocka knocka" for a couple seconds after a cold start up, i'd think about a new engine.

Sep 2, 2007 | 12:44 AM

grizz3000

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From: SE of Bennett Colorado

mechanical sending units rule.

The PO of my truck didn't tighten it enough. Guess what happened? HA I was able to talk him down in price by convincing him it was a lower intake manifold leak.