88 ranger 2.9L oil pressure


hilltopfarm

hilltopfarm

10+ Year Member

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Aug 30, 2011
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NW WA
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2003/1988
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OK, I just installed a oil pressure gauge on my truck. I looked at the specs for oil pressure and it says 40-60 psi hot @ 2000 rpm. When I am driving at 2000 rpm it is around 30 psi, and at stoplights it goes down to 10 psi. Does this mean that there is an issue with the engine? Is this normal??

Thanks
 
Sounds like low oil pressure to me. I'm not good at subtraction, but I think 30 is lower than 40.

Try some thicker oil at your next change and see what happens.
 
From all I have ever heard and read 10 psi per 1000 rpm is enough but you may want to do as adsm said and try some thicker oil. Mine seems to run best with 15W40,it has 169,000 on it.
 
Could be time for a new oil pump. When I rebuilt mine I put a meilings high volume pump in it. I use Shell Rotella 15-40 and warm idle I get around 30 psi and runiins down the road round 55-60 psi.
 
Depending on the mileage that may be ok pressure. That being said, the idle pressure is a little lower than I am comfortable with. New oil pump isn't too expensive.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I thought maybe the oil pump could be going. To take the pump out I have to basically take the engine out of the thing since it is 4x4. I guess I'll have to do that one of these days. First I'll try the heavy oil in it. See what that does...
 
The thing that really bugs me about those readings is the 2.9's over-reliance on the cam bearings to keep pressure throughout the lube system.

If thicker oil doesn't do it, a high volume pump would be a good next step. If that doesn't get you in range, your cam bearings are probably shot.
 
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