How is a base oil test performed ? Where is the gauge installed? This is on a 2005 fx4 5.4l

 

No clue what a base oil test is but if you are looking to hook up an oil pressure gauge you have to put a tee in behind the oil filter housing where the stock sender is.

 

Looking to see how much oil pressure I have at idle, what can I undo to put the mechanical gauge in to check ?

 

I assume you have a 5.4, if not then this info may not apply. Locate your oil filter, behind the housing that the filter screws to is the oil pressure sender. It is small and has an electrical connection going to it. One wire I think but could be two. Unplug the sender and remove the sender. If you have 4x4 the front axle makes it a little tight to get your hands up there. You can add a pipe fitting tee so you can reinstall the stock sender and install a fitting for your gauge or another sender if you are using a electric gauge. I believe the pipe fitting tee is either 1/8 or 1/4, can't remember.

I wouldn't be too concerned about oil pressure at idle. You need to measure pressure at cold start idle and hot oil temp at 2000 rpm. Remember oil pressure will go down as the oil temp rises.

 

My oil pressure guage has adaptors to hook into the oil filter.

 

Does the factory oil pressure gauge on any bodys truck actually work. This is my second f150, and the oil pressure gauge on both of them never moved. It went to just above half way at start up and stayed there, didn't matter what the temp or rpm, never moved. Are they all this way??

 

They are not precise they work in a small range of resistances. They are basically dummy lights with slightly more accuracy. People always complained about low oil pressure so Ford made them less sensitive, pretty much anything over 5psi will read correct oil pressure. Under 5psi the check gauge light will illuminate.

 

Huh, seems like a wast of a gauge. That's one thing I liked better about my Toyota more accurate gauges and they actually had some numbers on them, not just red and green zones, it gave you a little refferance. Oh well I will still never buy another Toyota. Ford all the way!!

Thanks for the info

 

Ok so I can just remove the sender thread in a mechanical gauge and remove and install sender when done ? Any one have cold idle and hot 2k specs for pressure ?