jcjones3

Have similar symptoms on my nephew's 2011 F150 with 5.0L. However, without raising the engine speed, the pressure gauge will eventually go back to normal at idle, and the ticking sound gets quieter and nearly goes away.

I'm going to take a peek at the oil pressure sender to see if it's wet.

It feels like there is a pressure relief valve that is not closing as the RPMs and oil pressure come down. Is there such a valve under the oil filters in these engines, or should I be looking to the oil filter as a potential culprit?

doctorschlachter

If you hear ticking, then you indeed have low oil pressure.

OP had no ticking, but showed low oil.

Your issue sounds like legit low oil pressure.

jcjones3

Yes, in an effort to rule out the simple stuff, I looked over the bottom and could not find any big leaks around the filter or sending unit. So I pulled the dipstick next...two quarts and counting. I have to run to walmart for more. Hoping this is just a motor with over 100K miles that is burning some oil between changes and the Valvoline guys that changed it maybe put 5 in instead of 7.

Thanks for your reply.

jcjones3

Well...ummm...decided to go ahead and change the oil rather than add more at 5K OCI. Only drained out 3.5 qts, after adding 2. Doing the math is kinda scary. With 7.7 qts of oil, the truck is running fine with no tapping or oil pressure light. Owner says the oil light was never on under load, so here's hoping that nothing was hurt in the bottom end. Now, to figure out what happened to 6 qts of oil in 5K miles. No leaks on the bottom side. Hmmmm...

doctorschlachter

Do you know who changed the oil last?

With no evidence of leaking or burning oil, perhaps it was low from the start.

jcjones3

Was done at a Valvoline quick lube joint that he uses regularly. They had the date and the tech's initials on the oil filter, but I can't be sure that they filled 'er up all the way. He's going to watch the oil level every couple of weeks. The engine is not new at 125K miles, but I can't imagine it losing that much oil without an obvious leak and no unusually dark tailpipe. Here's to hoping (???) that the tech put in 2.7 instead of 7.7 quarts.

Cjdauthier

Welp...I had to change it again. They mean that "1 year warranty" stuff too. But oh well. $15 part. Same procedure as before, except this time I didn't have my helper, aka wife, with me to hold the light. Solid 30 minutes this time, because, well, I'm experienced unfortunately. You can see and work if you put your head behind the radiator reservoir and look in at an angle with the light wedged just right to shine for you.

Between this, the calaytic converter going out, a "few" O2 sensors, the fuse issue with starting, and electrical issues with the radio/steering wheel controls, having to replace front rotors already due to warping.....I think I'm confident in saying this may be my last one. Depressing.

dstencil

Thank you Cjdauthier for your post, I'm having the exact same problem

Cjdauthier

Hopefully everything works out for you! The internet is a wealth of knowledge, but could be so much better if guys would take the 2-3 minutes to post the results of their findings when they have issues.

The wiring harness on the back of the alternator can be tough to get off. Just keep at it until you get it. The clip is on the backside so it makes it tough to push it and pull out at that angle. If I can be of any other help on this you can email me at my username at yahoo dot com. Good luck!

dstencil

Thanks again, your posts are in great detail and should make this much easier than it would have been.