oil pressure help

[jesse4887]

i just noticed it today riding down the road in my 88 mustang. i was driving and when i shifted to neutral coast the oil pressure would drop below 0 very quickly. but when in gear it would go up about 2 bars instead of 3. when say driving at only 45 in 5th the pressure would also drop to 0. at the same time the enigine doesnt run any different,no smoking, over heating nothing. could this be a problem with the pressure switch.or is the pump going.

[lowflyn]

I'd put a real oil pressure gauge in. The stock ones are known to go out.

Spend a few bucks and put a good gauge in, then you'll know what's really going on.

[silverstangboy]

the stock gauge on certain models also only work like an on off switch, either reading normal or zero, but not in between.. so basically if you go under a certain pressure the units going to peg out on you.

[MonteCitan]

get a mechanical gauge on there ASAP

Mine rarely drops below 45 PSI, even at idle..

[Zim]

sounds like your sending units goin bad

[svtlx]

uh oh, sounds like i need some cam bearings then...when mine warms up it drops to 30, and i'm run'n a high preesure oil pump, so u know it's bad.

[bullitt482]

/\ Yep, I'm running 10w 40 and it usually runs around 30-32 at idle after it warms up.

Agree totally with a aftermarket gauge.

[svtlx]

Quote: Originally Posted by bullitt482 /\ Yep, I'm running 10w 40 and it usually runs around 30-32 at idle after it warms up. Agree totally with a aftermarket gauge.

sooo, is 30 normal?....it goes close to 40 on the highway....i have an aftermarket mechanical on it. or should it be around 60lbs. like chevies?

[SpectorV]

On my 01 v6 my oil pressure would be around 75 just driving around... I looked around about it and others were as well.

[svtlx]

Quote: Originally Posted by SpectorV On my 01 v6 my oil pressure would be around 75 just driving around... I looked around about it and others were as well.

yea, but u got a totaly differnt engine....i'm try'n to find out for a 5.0.....it probably needs to be around 60 i bet....i need to pull some of my books out to make sure i guesse.

[bullitt482]

Quote: Originally Posted by svtlx sooo, is 30 normal?....it goes close to 40 on the highway....i have an aftermarket mechanical on it. or should it be around 60lbs. like chevies?

30-40 at idle(800ish rpm) is just fine. A rule of thumb is you want 10 psi of oil pressure for every 1000 rpm(ex. 5000 rpm at 50 psi). I know at about 3 grand I have well over 60 psi.


Some hi performance engines actually run a little less oil pressure since they tend to have super duper awesome flowing oil systems that have been bored out and fixed up by the engine builder.

[bbunt302]

My 5.0 idled around 35 if I remember right.

[MonteCitan]

high volume pumps ftw... usually around 60-65 when cruising or WOT

[bullitt482]

I hear a lot of guys don't bother with High volume pumps because at WOT, they sometimes get oil starvation from sucking the stock pan dry. I've always gone by stock pump, but hardened shaft.

I'm running a stock pump, but get that same 60 plus PSI at cruising speed(70).

[bbunt302]

Quote: Originally Posted by bullitt482 I hear a lot of guys don't bother with High volume pumps because at WOT, they sometimes get oil starvation from sucking the stock pan dry. I've always gone by stock pump, but hardened shaft. I'm running a stock pump, but get that same 60 plus PSI at cruising speed(70).

I've heard the same. From what I understand for a street car, high volume is fine, but high pressure is a waste. Plus, it takes more horsepower to operate a high pressure oil pump (believe it or not).

[lowflyn]

My truck runs 9 psi at warm idle...

And has been doing this for as long as anyone knows lol...

[Zim]

Quote: Originally Posted by lowflyn My truck runs 9 psi at warm idle... And has been doing this for as long as anyone knows lol...

My car did that a while back... just found out i have a blown rod bearing. ITS REBUILD TIME. 347 stroker here i come!

[svtlx]

Quote: Originally Posted by bbunt302 I've heard the same. From what I understand for a street car, high volume is fine, but high pressure is a waste. Plus, it takes more horsepower to operate a high pressure oil pump (believe it or not).

that's the whole thing guys...i'm run'n a "high pressure pump" and still only idle at 28-30lbs...now that i think about it...my idle is set @650rpm...it does go to 38-40 on the highway though....my friend said that if i had a stock pump that i would be lucky to see 20lbs at idle.

[MonteCitan]

Quote: Originally Posted by bullitt482 I hear a lot of guys don't bother with High volume pumps because at WOT, they sometimes get oil starvation from sucking the stock pan dry. I've always gone by stock pump, but hardened shaft. I'm running a stock pump, but get that same 60 plus PSI at cruising speed(70).

Stock pan???

who uses a stock pan anymore?