Posted this previously, but lost the replies. Please HELP. GETTING OLD, WIFE SAYS SO. My '66 FE 390 has great oil pressure, 60 psi when started, but goes to 0-5 psi at idle when when it warms up. There is a fix for this, but lost the answer. HELP. BTW, this is in a '57 Ford Custom TUDOR. Thanks Dan, the old guy Wife says so
Sounds like the bearings are a little worn. When the oil is cold and the viscosity is up it shows good pressure, but when the oil warms and the viscosity lowers the oil shoots out between the bearings and crank, not allowing much pressure to build. I've been wrong in the past and could be now. Did this just start overnight or has idle pressure been decreasing over time?
We race a 63 Galaxie in NSS...Running a 427 medium riser...sounds like a major problem with the loss of oil pressure...would like to know more...but for starters...Don't ever use a FRAM oil filter... Call me if we can be of any ***istance... Mark Artis Texas Thunder Performance 972.712.6558
A Melling high volume oil pump may buy you some time till you can replace the bearings... the part number is M57HV. Second that on the Fram filters. I use ONLY Motorcraft FL-1A filters on my Ford and MoPar engines.
Don't ever use a FRAM oil filter... why is that ? i have heard this a few times . but never knew specifically why ?
i might be mistaken but the FE had problems the cam bearing and the wear out causing loss of oil pressure
Is this a fresh engine or old one? If fresh, check cam galley plugs - may have worked loose & can give these symptoms (don't ask how I know ). If old, time for bearings...as mentioned, HV pump will buy some time...
I've used fram filters about forever, never had a problem with one. You no doubt had a problem with one out of the hundreds of thousands that have been cranked out over the years. Now onto the question, sounds like you lower end is getting some miles on it. Forget the multi visc and go to straight weight oil. 40 wt will probably do it. If it is your daily or you plan on driveing it like you stole it or both I'd start collecting pieces now to go through it, if you wait until it tosses a rod or some other catastrophic fialure its gonna be a lot more work to rectify it, and it may end up beyond repair.
I had a 75 Cougar that did the same thing, warmed up --0 oil pressure showing . It did that for years, still doing after I gave it to a fellow worker 2 years ago. I worried about it at first , then I realized I was getting NO LIFTER Clatter , so it must be oiling ok. Changing sender unit gave no help either, never figured it out but it gave me no grief. Do you have valve noise?
Thanks for the replies to my posting. The engine is 12 years old, with limited miles, probably 5000 miles. I have been told that there is a large oil galley going to the lifters, and a reduced size in the galley will help, well anyways, the engine is almost out, will have it broke down by Sunday. Let you know the verdict. thanks Dan
I have an old engine rebuilding book that tells about drilling the oil p***age from the oil filter mount to the oil pump.It says originally the oil p***age is 3/8",you should drill it out to 1/2".You do this by removing the oil pump and the oil fliter bracket from the block, don't know if this is the fix, but this book recommended it,also heard about making sure the oil gallies are blocked in the right places
Can you expand on you knowledge of this subject? I have run these sometimes & know that people in the racing circles also use Fram on hi-buck race motors. Just wondering if there is some substance to this theory. Did you have a blowout? Bad sealing?
Believe Me Dont Worry about it. FEs are notorious for that. You can do all the oil mods-high volume pumps ect ect and they still have low idling oil pressure. If it holds 40 lbs or more at running speed it will run that way for years. FEDER
I'll vouch for the no-Fram crew- my old 390 lost 12 pounds of oil pressure at highway rpm's following an oil change using a Fram filter. next day tossed the Fram, installed a Wix, got my 12 pounds back.
When redoing the Fe you want to get a book called "Ford Performance" By: Pat Ganahl It has a **** load of oiling tips for FE's We did them all to a buddies 390 and he has like 60 Psi Warmend up and normal running RPM It is somthing like 90 psi cold. With a hi volume pump not high pressure But remember when you get all that oil going up it has problems getting back into the Pan. You are gonna need an evac system. Run one of those cool Drag race only Exhaust pcv deals.
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