The Ford Barn

Bob NH · 03-22-2021, 03:19 PM

When I first start up the truck, I have very strong pressure but after driving a while, it reads close to O. Should I be concerned ? Fresh 15-40 and filter and no leaks.

petehoovie · 03-22-2021, 03:28 PM

For peace of mind, check it with a mechanical gauge or install a known good sender...

Bob NH · 03-22-2021, 03:37 PM

NOS sending unit

petehoovie · 03-22-2021, 03:44 PM

Did this low pressure problem just start - what's the history?

Bored&Stroked · 03-22-2021, 04:12 PM

I'd be concerned - as low oil pressure (if it was an accurate reading) means you are probably starving the bearings - so how long will they last? As noted by others, first put a mechanical gauge on it - just to be sure of your readings.

Tell us what the engine is, how many miles on it, what do you know about the internals, etc.. The more you can give us, the better we can diagnose the problem (hopefully).

What are your pressure readings - cold start, warm start. At idle, at RPM on the road, etc..
Did this just start happening - all of a sudden?
Did it slowly get worse over a long period of time?
Have you changed anything on the oil pressure system - like the installation of a filter that wasn't there before, etc..

oldskool · 03-22-2021, 04:19 PM

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i had a 46 ford pu with same issues drove it 4 years no problem sold it the new 0wner drove it 2 more years no problem . he bought a rebuilt engine from H&H flatheads mainly because the old engine leaked and burned oil

Bob NH · 03-22-2021, 04:57 PM

I will start it up in the AM and pay attention to the readings. I have had the truck for 3 years but not driven it very much as it needed a lot of repair work. Came from Canada. Runs pretty well now but looking at that gauge makes me uncomfortable. I have another question ? The spokes on the steering wheel are vertical and should be horizontal I believe, Is the pitman arm splined or do I need to adjust the drag link to fix the issue ?

Tim Ayers · 03-22-2021, 06:28 PM

Regarding cocked wheel: What year truck? Dad has an ‘49 F1. When he got, similar condition. Turned out both front springs were broken.

Ken/Alabama · 03-22-2021, 06:42 PM

Remove the line that feeds the oil filter and screw a plug in the block then see what the pressure does.

Talkwrench · 03-22-2021, 07:18 PM

They can read low when well into temperature, the main thing is you see the pressure rise when the rpm goes up.

drolston · 03-22-2021, 08:25 PM

Regarding that steering wheel alignment; you probably need to get that straightened out with drag link adjustment, because the steering box adjustment to take out free play is designed to be made with the steering wheel dead center straight ahead. Check your steering wheel free play with the wheels tracking straight ahead (steering wheel off by 90 degrees) and then compare that to the free play with the steering wheel in the correct horizontal position. Report back what you find.

Regarding low oil pressure; first verify with a mechanical oil pressure gauge. If that verifies low pressure, replace the oil with 50 weight and see if the oil pressure comes up. If so, you can run it that way while you save up for the overhaul. If not, the rods will be knocking in a few hundred miles.

Tim Ayers · 03-22-2021, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drolston

Regarding that steering wheel alignment; you probably need to get that straightened out with drag link adjustment, because the steering box adjustment to take out free play is designed to be made with the steering wheel dead center straight ahead. Check your steering wheel free play with the wheels tracking straight ahead (steering wheel off by 90 degrees) and then compare that to the free play with the steering wheel in the correct horizontal position. Report back what you find.

Regarding low oil pressure; first verify with a mechanical oil pressure gauge. If that verifies low pressure, replace the oil with 50 weight and see if the oil pressure comes up. If so, you can run it that way while you save up for the overhaul. If not, the rods will be knocking in a few hundred miles.

We really need to know what year this truck is.

Tinker · 03-22-2021, 10:54 PM

I might ask also to Bob, what is very strong pressure at start. If I can.

Bob NH · 03-23-2021, 11:13 AM

OK guys, here is a followup. I started cold this AM and show at the red dot on oil pressure gauge between 30 and 80 if that makes sense ? idled for a full twenty minutes for temp to reach normal and watched it go down to just below the dot between 0 and 30. giving a fast idle it goes just above the dot. What do y'all say ? Someone asked for more info, it is a Canadian built Ford 1/2 ton and the engine heads say: C7RA-A, Made in Canada. I asked some time back if it might just have a 4" crank and was told probably not. Appreciate every ones input and am listening !

drolston · 03-23-2021, 11:27 AM

Sounds fine. "close to 0" is okay at hot idle. as long as you get some pressure. So, you have oil pressure at idle and the good news is that it moves up with RPM. Drive the wheels off of it, and don't worry. Maybe go to 50 weight oil.

flatjack9 · 03-23-2021, 01:19 PM

Ixnay on 50 wt oil.

tubman · 03-23-2021, 04:53 PM

Jack's right again.

Bored&Stroked · 03-23-2021, 06:30 PM

I'd still put a mechanical gauge on it so you can be sure that you have an accurate pressure reading.

drolston · 03-23-2021, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

Jack's right again.

What's the harm of 10w50 VR1 on an engine that is near worn out?

Bored&Stroked · 03-23-2021, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drolston

What's the harm of 10w50 VR1 on an engine that is near worn out?

Nothing - but by your previous post, one could think you were talking about straight 50W.

flatjack9 · 03-23-2021, 10:36 PM

That's what I thought.

cas3 · 03-24-2021, 11:31 AM

In my youth I had a 50 ford with the 6 in it. Oil ran out about as fast as you could pour it back in. Straight 50wt. helped a lot in that wreck! sorry, off track again

Bob NH · 03-24-2021, 04:37 PM

cas3, U made me laugh, my first car was a 1938 C - - - - it had a knee action front end. I started out with hydraulic oil and was all the way to GX 90 and still leaking ! Solved the problem by trading for a 39 Ford two dr.

drolston · 03-24-2021, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob NH

cas3, U made me laugh, my first car was a 1938 C - - - - it had a knee action front end. I started out with hydraulic oil and was all the way to GX 90 and still leaking ! Solved the problem by trading for a 39 Ford two dr.

My first car was also a C____, 1935. We name our cars. That one was named Pogo, because of worn out knee-action front suspension. Paid $50. for it and sold it a year later for $60, and splurged on an 1935 Ford coupe for $95. That was 61 years ago, and I am still hooked on flathead Fords.

tubman · 03-24-2021, 06:34 PM

I spent part of a miserable summer in 1961 underneath a friend's '38 Chevrolet Master coupe with a hammer and cold chisel removing the "knee-action" so we could install a straight axle for a Standard.

It was worth the effort.

Bob NH · 03-25-2021, 01:48 PM

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Tubman, I need to finish yesterdays story. Before I did the trade for the ford, the garage where I worked had a few old cars out back and 1 was a 38 Chevrolet convertible with a straight axle. At the time R.G. Watkins from Amesbury ,Mass was building a new road through our town and I got to know the maintenance guy pretty well. He said , cut out the knee action front end and crossmember and get the straight axle clamped in place where you need it, I will bring in the welder after work and weld the spring hangers in it. If it had not been for badly worn out king pin holes in THAT axle which caused a terrible "shimmy" when crossing diagonal RR tracks, I might still be driving that old bomb ! Basically a pretty good car for a 16 year old.

03-22-2021, 03:19 PM	#1
Bob NH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Meredith, N.H. Posts: 766	low oil pressure ? When I first start up the truck, I have very strong pressure but after driving a while, it reads close to O. Should I be concerned ? Fresh 15-40 and filter and no leaks.

03-22-2021, 03:28 PM	#2
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,111	Re: low oil pressure ? For peace of mind, check it with a mechanical gauge or install a known good sender... __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

03-22-2021, 03:37 PM	#3
Bob NH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Meredith, N.H. Posts: 766	Re: low oil pressure ? NOS sending unit

03-22-2021, 03:44 PM	#4
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,111	Re: low oil pressure ? Did this low pressure problem just start - what's the history? __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

03-22-2021, 04:12 PM	#5
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,064	Re: low oil pressure ? I'd be concerned - as low oil pressure (if it was an accurate reading) means you are probably starving the bearings - so how long will they last? As noted by others, first put a mechanical gauge on it - just to be sure of your readings. Tell us what the engine is, how many miles on it, what do you know about the internals, etc.. The more you can give us, the better we can diagnose the problem (hopefully). What are your pressure readings - cold start, warm start. At idle, at RPM on the road, etc.. Did this just start happening - all of a sudden? Did it slowly get worse over a long period of time? Have you changed anything on the oil pressure system - like the installation of a filter that wasn't there before, etc..

03-22-2021, 04:19 PM	#6
oldskool Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: shirley ny Posts: 992	Re: low oil pressure ? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) i had a 46 ford pu with same issues drove it 4 years no problem sold it the new 0wner drove it 2 more years no problem . he bought a rebuilt engine from H&H flatheads mainly because the old engine leaked and burned oil

03-22-2021, 04:57 PM	#7
Bob NH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Meredith, N.H. Posts: 766	Re: low oil pressure ? I will start it up in the AM and pay attention to the readings. I have had the truck for 3 years but not driven it very much as it needed a lot of repair work. Came from Canada. Runs pretty well now but looking at that gauge makes me uncomfortable. I have another question ? The spokes on the steering wheel are vertical and should be horizontal I believe, Is the pitman arm splined or do I need to adjust the drag link to fix the issue ?

03-22-2021, 06:28 PM	#8
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,177	Re: low oil pressure ? Regarding cocked wheel: What year truck? Dad has an ‘49 F1. When he got, similar condition. Turned out both front springs were broken. Last edited by Tim Ayers; 03-22-2021 at 06:54 PM.

03-22-2021, 06:42 PM	#9
Ken/Alabama Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,258	Re: low oil pressure ? Remove the line that feeds the oil filter and screw a plug in the block then see what the pressure does.

03-22-2021, 07:18 PM	#10
Talkwrench Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 2,687	Re: low oil pressure ? They can read low when well into temperature, the main thing is you see the pressure rise when the rpm goes up. __________________ *"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"*

03-22-2021, 08:25 PM	#11
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Re: low oil pressure ? Regarding that steering wheel alignment; you probably need to get that straightened out with drag link adjustment, because the steering box adjustment to take out free play is designed to be made with the steering wheel dead center straight ahead. Check your steering wheel free play with the wheels tracking straight ahead (steering wheel off by 90 degrees) and then compare that to the free play with the steering wheel in the correct horizontal position. Report back what you find. Regarding low oil pressure; first verify with a mechanical oil pressure gauge. If that verifies low pressure, replace the oil with 50 weight and see if the oil pressure comes up. If so, you can run it that way while you save up for the overhaul. If not, the rods will be knocking in a few hundred miles.

03-22-2021, 10:54 PM	#13
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: low oil pressure ? I might ask also to Bob, what is very strong pressure at start. If I can.

03-23-2021, 11:13 AM	#14
Bob NH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Meredith, N.H. Posts: 766	Re: low oil pressure ? OK guys, here is a followup. I started cold this AM and show at the red dot on oil pressure gauge between 30 and 80 if that makes sense ? idled for a full twenty minutes for temp to reach normal and watched it go down to just below the dot between 0 and 30. giving a fast idle it goes just above the dot. What do y'all say ? Someone asked for more info, it is a Canadian built Ford 1/2 ton and the engine heads say: C7RA-A, Made in Canada. I asked some time back if it might just have a 4" crank and was told probably not. Appreciate every ones input and am listening !

03-23-2021, 11:27 AM	#15
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Re: low oil pressure ? Sounds fine. "close to 0" is okay at hot idle. as long as you get some pressure. So, you have oil pressure at idle and the good news is that it moves up with RPM. Drive the wheels off of it, and don't worry. Maybe go to 50 weight oil.

03-23-2021, 01:19 PM	#16
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: low oil pressure ? Ixnay on 50 wt oil.

03-23-2021, 04:53 PM	#17
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,312	Re: low oil pressure ? Jack's right again.

03-23-2021, 06:30 PM	#18
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,064	Re: low oil pressure ? I'd still put a mechanical gauge on it so you can be sure that you have an accurate pressure reading.

03-23-2021, 10:36 PM	#21
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: low oil pressure ? That's what I thought.

03-24-2021, 11:31 AM	#22
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,571	Re: low oil pressure ? In my youth I had a 50 ford with the 6 in it. Oil ran out about as fast as you could pour it back in. Straight 50wt. helped a lot in that wreck! sorry, off track again

03-24-2021, 04:37 PM	#23
Bob NH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Meredith, N.H. Posts: 766	Re: low oil pressure ? cas3, U made me laugh, my first car was a 1938 C - - - - it had a knee action front end. I started out with hydraulic oil and was all the way to GX 90 and still leaking ! Solved the problem by trading for a 39 Ford two dr.

03-24-2021, 06:34 PM	#25
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,312	Re: low oil pressure ? I spent part of a miserable summer in 1961 underneath a friend's '38 Chevrolet Master coupe with a hammer and cold chisel removing the "knee-action" so we could install a straight axle for a Standard. It was worth the effort.

03-25-2021, 01:48 PM	#26
Bob NH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Meredith, N.H. Posts: 766	Re: low oil pressure ? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Tubman, I need to finish yesterdays story. Before I did the trade for the ford, the garage where I worked had a few old cars out back and 1 was a 38 Chevrolet convertible with a straight axle. At the time R.G. Watkins from Amesbury ,Mass was building a new road through our town and I got to know the maintenance guy pretty well. He said , cut out the knee action front end and crossmember and get the straight axle clamped in place where you need it, I will bring in the welder after work and weld the spring hangers in it. If it had not been for badly worn out king pin holes in THAT axle which caused a terrible "shimmy" when crossing diagonal RR tracks, I might still be driving that old bomb ! Basically a pretty good car for a 16 year old.