Mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge

[PANTERA]

Hi All,
What is all involved installing a mechanical gauge? Got a Sunpro gauge, but dont know how to hook it up to the motor. Motor is ticking loudly at freeway speeds, but slowly goes away when I get to town. I would like to see what sort of pressure I'm getting. Hoping it's not a failing oil pump or clogged pickup screen, as I fear the only way of replacing that it to pull the whole damn motor!

 

[bigfatloser]

The included adapters and a "T" fitting is what I used on mine, but I kept the stock gauge.

Photo is taken from underneath. Fitting is on drivers side near front.

 

[PANTERA]

Just the info I was looking for!!! Thank you!

 

[adsm08]

Hoping it's not a failing oil pump or clogged pickup screen, as I fear the only way of replacing that it to pull the whole damn motor!

Keep hoping because you fear correctly.

It could be worn cam bearings too, but that doesn't do much to improve the situation, still gotta take the engine out.

 

[PANTERA]

Thanks for the info. On the failing pump or cam bearings, do you think I can "limp" it along for another 2-3 months, granted I keep an eye on the oil pressure? I ask, because I really can't see pulling the motor for something I plan on getting rid of in that time (Gotta wait for the wife to get a job) It's now mainly a local driver and sounds fine, until I take it on the interstate, that's when she gets noisy! popping the hood, the knocking sound seems to come from both sides of the engine.

 

[dave2575]

The dreaded 2.9 tic! Its damn near unavoidable. But if you take care of it and your mindful of it you could drive it for years with the dreaded tic/dry lifter/compressed lifter/worn lifter/whatever else you want to call it. but not knowing your truck I cant say for sure.

 

[PANTERA]

Got the mechanical gauge installed. I started it up and the gauge went to 40 psi and stayed there. the oil travels completely through the line with some air in it. Will this affect the reading? Never installed a gauge before, so I want to make sure I'm doing this right before I take it on the road. BTW, no leaks!
Thanks

 

[bigfatloser]

Every oil pressure gauge I have installed ends up with oil in the line, only leaks were slow weeping leaks due to overtightening the fitting and buggering up the vinyl tubing.

 

[dave2575]

Ya that sounds normal, the oil is suppose to travel the length of the tube, just make sure the tubing is not kinked or isn't rubbing against anything (that could make a mess) Its normal to see air bubbles in the line before and or after you run the motor, but you shouldn't see any bubbles while its running though.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

What kind of oil filter are you using. Use the motorcraft oil filter and 10W40 with a quart of lucas oil stabilizer. Just before you change the oil drain off a quart of oil and add a quart of ATF and run it around 100 miles at medium speeds then do the oil change.

 

[4.0B2]

My idiot light used to tell me I had a problem at idles, but then I installed a manual gauge and found out there's no issues. Just the idiot light sensor was bad.

 

[PANTERA]

Got it back on the road today. when warmed up, the gauge read 35 psi at 2000 rpm and only 15 psi at idle. The condition of the truck, really isn't worth pulling the motor. Time for a new truck! After 18 years, it sure is going to be hard to say goodbye! Lol
Thanks for all your help and advice guys!

 

[dave2575]

Wooow! hold up partner. Don't go throwing away a perfectly fine old truck. those numbers are fine. Yes there a little low but not worth shooting it. And you don't have to pull the whole motor, You can take off the upper manifold disi cap or the whole disi. and then just lift it (with trans still connected) off the mounts as high as you can and you can take off the pan and get to the pump. if you dont have a cherry picker you can even use a jack with a good piece of wood on the front of the motor(harmonic balancer).