3.0 engine failure: how to prevent it?

[91stranger]

This is what I believe actually happens: Ford has always had a problem with a small piece of dirt seizing up the oil pump. This causes the distributor drive gear to shear. The cam gear is driven in a similar manner. A piece of material the size of a flake of tobacco will do it. Usually part of the rubber valve seals breaking off. You just take the oil pump apart and clean it. Of course with a complete engine failure, no one inspects the oil pump. I think this would work. Surprized Ford hasn't done it themselves.
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For real...… This made me laugh when I was reading it.... "ford always had a problem of dirt seizing up the oil pump". Stop putting dirt where the oil belongs then lol.

 

[Smog_Tech]

You can purchase a oil filter sandwich for your 3.0 from a place like Glow Shift. It goes between the oil filter and the block and gives you 4 ports to tap into oil pressure. The sandwich is made just for your purpose. I installed an oil pressure switch in my 05 Ranger's dash and used the sandwich to access my oil pressure. Works great!

Thanks! This will simplify things a lot.

 

[cbxer55]

Myself, I simply remove the sensor and drop some oil down in there. I use a syringe with a hose on it and put the oil, slowly into the area. Watch the level go down as the oil sinks in. Put sensor back on and motor on. I use a small wrench to loosen and tighten the two bolts. Never been a problem for me, I do it without seeing it. Have 166,500 miles on it now. When and if it blows, off to the scrappers for it. I've had it 20 years. It's done what I needed it to do.