When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Well as i was backing up the snowmobile trailer today I noticed the check engine light come on in the bronco. when i was in reverse then I look at the oil pressure gauge and it was at th far left side of the L. When I put it into park the oil pressure goes back to normal. only under a load would it go to low
So what do I do now this thing was going to be my snowplower, what a pain in the butt.
Its a 1990 bronco, 302 on propane with aod eddie bauer
Pull codes and see why the CEL came on in the first place. The factory oil pressure gauge is about as reliable as a Trabant in most cases but it might be worth hooking up a mechanical gauge to make certain you don't have a serious problem.
Alright thanks for the help I think we have a code reader at work I will use, thanks for the help, I will let you know if any codes are picked up. also I found your bronco faq's very helpful
I have the same problem on a bronco I just bought. Was running low to ok oil pressure while driving. Then needle dropped way past L when I stopped at a stop sign, then back to normal when i started moving. My check engine light is also on, but goes off and then comes on later. Was told that it was 2 different problems. Possibly the engine is fixing to go and that bad bearings, or maybe rear main seal may be gone. Having just bought it, Can't be for sure, but it comes from a very reliable source.
like grey said install a mechanical gauge on there so you have an accurate idea of what the oil pressure really is. if you dont have a code reader check out Ford Fuel Injection, great site with tons of info including how to pull codes using a paperclip
Hey special_k, I had the same on my 90 w/302. Same deal, just bought it and everything. Changed the oil with 4 quarts of 5w40 and 2 quarts of lucas. She runs great now.
Thanks savageman, but 5w40 seems awefully light. I'm sure the lucas helped. But with 180,000 miles I'm thinking along the lines of 20w50, and some lucas. Any thoughts?
My 92 5.8 ran low oil pressure with over 200,000mi. I put Amsoil 10w-30 along with one of their filters in and my oil pressure stays right in the middle. I also noticed less noise from the lifters.
Nice. My uncle is an amsoil dealer, so that is the prefferred brand. The first in Synthetics. I plan on doing everything amsoil, oil, tranny fluid, differentials, and even antifreeze. After just getting the truck, I would like to put a cheaper oil in there to kinda clean it out, being as I don't know how old the old oil is. Also, I think it may be leaking a little and burning a little. A lot of money to spend oiling the ground and the atmosphere.
Also, I'm a huge synthetic fan, but I've heard that switching from conventional to synthetic can actually cause bloy by and leaks. The reason being that it can actually wash away deposits that stop oil from getting thru old seals and such. Has anyone else heard of this?
I've heared that synthetics can cause leaks, I've also heared that it's a myth. I run Amsoil in two vehicles and the only one that leaks is the bronco. It has a rust hole in the side of the oil pan that some one patched with J.B. weld. It doesn't leak any more than it did before. I haven't noticed any increase in oil usage.
Yes i have heard of it but have never seen it we have changed a lotta of vehicles over to syns. at the shop and the only one that leaked had bad seals anyways.If the leaked or burned oil the outcome was the same with the syn. but i would flush the motor with some sea foam and use some good ol dino juice to see how bad the problem really is. my guess is its a weak or faulty sending unit if its not makin noise. Is it?
Thanks savageman, but 5w40 seems awefully light. I'm sure the lucas helped. But with 180,000 miles I'm thinking along the lines of 20w50, and some lucas. Any thoughts?
Mine has 170,000 on the clock, and it has helped. I'm sure the 20w50 will be fine unless your in the super cold areas.
Oil pressure is normally highest just upon start up. After that the oil gets warmer and the engine gets warmer; the oil viscosity decreases due to the warming and the space between the engine parts gets larger. Both these physical changes cause the oil pressure to decrease.
The idiot light type of sender that Ford installs does not show this type of change. A mechanical gauge will. That's why a mechanical gauge is preferred over the "it's on or off" Ford sender.
Here in Butte MT I'm having trouble with my sender due to the cold weather. Ford's solution is to replace the sender. How smart is that?
our motors werent built to run on 5w30. use at least 10w30 and with a high mileage motor run regular dino oil. if it was a newer build then run synthetics after break in.
stay away from the fram oil filters as well these cause oil pressure issues as well.