Low oil pressure once warm????

[wildbill23c]

My 84 Bronco 2 is the same way, I think its pretty normal. Most people don't notice it because they just have the idiot light or the idiot gauge in the dash. I have an aftermarket gauge set I installed because none of the dash gauges work other than the fuel gauge somewhat LOL. So At start up and around town for the first few miles of driving I'm running about 45psi, then once the oil warms up and thins out I'm running about 10psi at idle and about 20psi while cruising.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

As long as it is not getting a loud lifter noise the upper end is getting plenty of oil. It has solid lifters so you would know if it wasnt getting oil up there. How high does the water temp guage go when fully warm? Take a long screwdriver and listen to the lifters just touch different areas on the valve covers and put your ear on the handle its a good way to listen to bearings also. Just be real careful of moving parts. If you want an accurate pressure put in a mechanical guage mounted under the dash
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...ure-gauge/_/N-4ark?itemIdentifier=255972_0_0_

 

[Lil-Pony]

Yah i would love to have any psi at idel.

Already have a mechanical gauge. And have no lift tick, so i just have huge holes in the block allow little pressure to build then.

 

[swampy]

My 2.8 has always had low oil pressure idling, but registers at least 40# driving down the highway. I have a mechanical gauge because the original gauges were all screwy.

And the pressure at idle always goes up after a fresh oil change for some reason.

Must be a Ford thing...

 

[Lil-Pony]

10w40 did nothing but 20w50 pushed my pressure up about 10pounds now i dont know if that because its fresh oil, new filter, or if it the oil itself

 

[RonD]

It is the oil.

Oil pressure is from back pressure at the bearings.

The thicker the oil the harder it will be to squeeze out thru the bearing surfaces.

This is why 6psi is fine at idle, any psi means there is more oil than can be squeezed out at the bearings, so a back pressure builds up.

But below 3psi is when gravity comes into play as far as pushing oil up to the valve train, you start getting the ticking of lifters at around 3psi at the oil sender.

High oil pressure is bad because the oil starts to spray out at the bearings, this produces less lubrication and cooling, so higher bearing temps

 

[Lil-Pony]

Well i have the same pressure while crusing 2-3k rpms as the 10w30 but know i have roughly 10psi at idel compared to less than 3 before. Engine doesn't act any different than before doesn't tick never did it before though.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

If you put a quart of lucas oil stabilizer with oil changes will help but yea a new oil filter will bump the pressure up a little also. I am gonna put some seafoam in here in the near future just before my next oil change to try and quiet the chatter but I think a long block would be the best solution.