low oil pressure

[topdogg]

i have a 92 ford with a 302 recently my oil pressure has dropped , im not hearing any engine noise , we put another gauge on it to check and i still have low oil pressure , anyone have any ideas why this just happened, it does have a lot of miles on it, but i have had no issues in the past .

[xjs3667]

Could be oil pump going bad, or just some sludge on pickup screen, but if your guna go thru the trouble of pulling the pan to check the screen you might as well just replce the pump

[topdogg]

i should have had it done when i had the oil pan gasket changed i guess do u think when they put the oil pan gasket on they could have got something in the screen?

[J.C.]

What filter are you using?

[xjs3667]

yea have you changed filters recently like different brand??  that could do it.

also if they used permatex for or on the pan gasket some could of oozed into the pan and got sucked onto the screen....been there before

[Eroq]

also if they used permatex for or on the pan gasket some could of oozed into the pan and got sucked onto the screen....been there before

thinking the same thing....

[Jjay78]

also if they used permatex for or on the pan gasket some could of oozed into the pan and got sucked onto the screen....been there before

thinking the same thing....

new pump and pickup never hurts anyway, everything wears out over time

[Disturban]

What is low? You only need 5psi per every 1000 rpms.

[topdogg]

i used a fram filter  what i use everytime but i can change that. it is running about 40 pounds when cold and as i drive it , it goes down to about 24 to 25  pds when driving and about9 lbs at idle, seams to be a little low but i just put this new gauge on it , it could have been running the same for the last 2 years for all i know.  as far as the oil pan gasket i dont believe they used anything but the gasket.  when should i be concerned with the oil pressure? thanks

[topdogg]

 also im not seeing or feeling any difference in the motor seems to run really strong with all kinds of power

[Squirell]

Could be bearings are giving out

[topdogg]

i seen someone said that , would that give any sign what should i look for?

[Eroq]

sounds like you got a pretty light weight oil in it? 

[topdogg]

well thats what my boss said so yesterday i put 20 50 in it to see if that would help and it did , but i dont know about leaving it in there?

[big red]

what oil do you normally run?

[topdogg]

valvoline 10 w 30 high mileage

[72 Bogger]

What is low? You only need 5psi per every 1000 rpms.

This is so true I went threw puting an oil pump in it checking the pick up screen and everything else and it never ran above 5 psi at idle.
Most people flip when they change from the electric opg to a wet line.

[topdogg]

so you guys think im ok with this oil pressure? i think it still runs as good as  when i got it. i have put just about 6000 dollars in this truck and this had me concerned. i guess if it blows up ill just put a new motor in it

[J.C.]

Put an stp filter in it and see if that does anything for ya. $4 may or may not be it

[xjs3667]

idk what ford engines run for oil psi   but I know if it was my sbc I would deffinately be concerned,  ive never seen it drop below 25psi at idle   and even for the 5psi per 1000 rpm rule.... if its lower than what you know it usually is there's somthin wrong imo