tomringler

I have a 1997 supercab 4x4 with a 4.6L with about 136,000 miles on it. The oil pressure willdrop to 0 and the light comes on and it will jump around while I drive around I have had the sending unit replace and it seemed to work for alittle bit but then the problem came back and I have change the oil and I am running 10w30 oil in the engine. I need to know what I need to do cause this is my only vechicle and I need it for work. I need to know what I need to do to fix the problem. I was thinking of adding triple gauges to the engine to see how it runs but I was wondering if there was anything that might be the problem that might be an easy fix.

sumbody75

Does it ever build pressure?

Is it dropping to 0 once its been running for a bit?

tomringler

yes it builds pressure but it seems like it does it more when its hot or has been ran awhile. cause i got in it today and the pressure is fine but i only drove it for a few miles

sumbody75

Most of the time when a motor builds pressure then loses it once it's warmed up, points to it needing bearings

It's certainly possible that your pump is bad. Either way, not a very fun fix.

Also I wouldn't continue driving it until its been troubleshot. You'll just end up costing yourself more money down the road.

My 2 cents

tomringler

Update today I got in the vechicle today with the temp outside at 36 and there was alittle. Pressure but the little was on so I drove it to see if it would build more pressure but it didn't so I cut it off and restarted it and it had good pressure and no light

josh_ec_wi

Motor start knocking or lifters get loud? Have you put a oil gauge on it to check see what your pressure is at on ideal and higher rpm?

tomringler

No noise from the motor and no I haven't add a gauge to it yet but I was also thinking of putting a motorcraft filter on it and see what it does but I don't know if I should stay with 10230 or go with 5w3p like it calls for

josh_ec_wi

10w30 is all I run I know the thicker oil well help little on low oil pressure I would put mechanical gauge check it that way. Not sure about the filter tho someone else on here might have some good knowledge.

tomringler

update i have replaced the oil filter with a motorcraft and it was running fine till i washed the truck and then later that day i got in it to go to the store and the light came on and the pressure was low. so i shut it off and the light went off and the pressure was good. could i have a short in the wire since when i turn the vechicle off and back on that it is ok.