Oil Pressure a bit low

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

Ok well I just bought this mustang and well I love it so far. All it needs is a new radiator and well the oil pressure is reading a bit low, and I would like to take care of this before it gets bad. My friend was telling me these 5.0's have external oil pumps and well I was just wondering how hard will it be to replace the oil pump, and would it be ok to use a high volume oil pump on a bone stock engine?

 

[Guero]

How are you reading your oil pressure?? If by a stock gauge, those aren't accurate at all. Get an aftermarket gauge and then youll know your real pressure

 

[SeventyMach1]

Guero hit it dead on.

The stocker is a dummy gauge. If it has pressure, it moves. If it doesn't, it doesn't move. That's it. No in between. So there's NO way to tell if you have GOOD or BAD oil pressure using the stocker.


Now, if you were using a real gauge ..... the oil pumps in our cars are not external. They are internal. They're not EXTREMELY hard to R&R, but it's something that alot of people don't want do themselves.

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

So I guess I need to get an aftermarket oil pressure gauge, lol. I Just want to be on the safe side, because this car has to last me 2 or 3 years without problems and I am already pist that the radiator is blown.

 

[Hef5.0weisen]

if you really want to see what the oil pressure is, go with the aftermarket stuff as mentioned...
but, if you're only concerned because the needle isn't where you think is should be, try replacing the sending unit, it tucked away right by the oil filter...may be what you're looking for as far as "fixed" goes...
by the way, it is a very simple process to replace one of these, but they can be a PITA, pending on tool availability, awkward location, aptitude...
good luck

 

[94-302-vert]

Don't bother with an aftermarket gauge if you plan to stay stock or kinda stock....

This is how I look at it:
My engine has 153k miles on it. Gauge still moves therefore I still have pressure. Should I lose pressure and toast the engine I can get a 70k mile explorer engine, add a cam and a tune for like $1300 total and make a LOT more power than I do today...

Why spend $100 on a guage... that is almost 10% of my next upgrade...

 

[SeventyMach1]

You don't think you could save the $$$ and hassle by getting a gauge for security?


FWIW, the pump went out in my Mountaineer engine @ 68K miles.



As far as the stock sending unit ..... if you're going to try to replace it .... definitely get a sending unit removal socket from the parts store. I wasted too much time without it, and had my old unit in a million pieces when it came out.

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

Ok well I replaced the one on my 3.8 so i dont imagine it to be more difficult on this one besides maybe the akward position. But yea I do want to save the time and money so I want to make sure my oil pressure is where its supposed to be. So what should I expect as far as PSI for a good pump? And well the motor is going to stay stock but would going to a high volume pump do any good or would it do harm?

 

[gcomfx.com]

Did you change the oil? Perhaps they took it to a oil change place that put crappy oil that was the wrong weight?

I wouldn't get too worried about the pump until you get a good reading or try a quart of thicker oil to see if the guage comes back up.

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

The oil it had in it was way too thick so on cold starts the rockerarms would rattle till pressure went up so i changed it to 10w30 and the rattle went away. The needle is between o and r.

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

Ok well I have no idea what this could mean, but I just noticed when i started the car to check if I got the radiator fixed, the oil needle was low yea but as the car started to warm up the needle got a little higher and higher, then it stopped at the end of m. What could this mean?

 

[Car Nut]

Most likely it doesn't mean anything.

My guage always moves a little higher when it warms up. On long interstate trips it will point straight up, but in normal driving around town the needle is between the O and the R.

I've got all my stock oiling eqiupment and have only replaced the oil pan gasket and rear main seal. Over 156,000 miles now.

 

[SeventyMach1]

Hmmm ....



Oil pressure will rise as your car warms. But since that's a dummy gauge, who knows. Mine doesn't do that (I have both the stocker & the aftermarket one hooked up). Maybe yours isn't so dumb, lol.

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

Hmmm ....



Oil pressure will rise as your car warms. But since that's a dummy gauge, who knows. Mine doesn't do that (I have both the stocker & the aftermarket one hooked up). Maybe yours isn't so dumb, lol.

I hope it is dumb and i dont have a problem

I dont know man, I just dont want any problems with the car, should I just replace the oil pump and sending unit to be on the safe side? I really want this car to last me a good while. And well I got the radiator fixed, for now till I can just replace it, but yea. Car Nut so you have 156k and that on the original motor right? And also you have never had any problems?

 

[Car Nut]

Car Nut so you have 156k and that on the original motor right? And also you have never had any problems?

Yep, I have never had a problem...........but that doesn't mean others haven't had issues. The motor is still original and I still drive like I did the first week I got it.

I don't think an oil pump is a major expense to get replaced.........at least it hasn't sounded so from those who've had it done at a local shop or by the DIY method. You can get it tested at a local shop for the pressure or something like that which will verify if the pump is flowing well or not. If not, get it replaced. I will get the test done the next time I'm getting stuff done locally.

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

Well I am a level one certified Chrysler Tech, but this is a ford of course, once I can get the car to the shop I will just test it there but right now I have no choice but to let it sit in front of my house torturing me begging me to drive it but i can because it has no tag or insurance. So yea anything that has to be done I can do. But yea I dont want to end up having to replace the motor. lol I want to original block in there.

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

I FIGURED IT OUT!! lol apparently i could have saved time if someone had told me these things have 2 oil drain plugs! So I Had WAY too much oil in it. So anyway I drain them both and filled it and it went back to behaving normal, and revved up a bit smoother sounds better. I am going to go ahead and change the sending unit anyway in a cuple of weeks and then change the oil pump after christmass. I really do love this car!! I cant wait to get it insured and registered Thanks for all your help guys. And another thing though that no1 answered. Would putting a high volume oil pump in it do any good or would it do harm or would it do nothing at all, lol.