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oil pressure problem

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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 01:22 AM
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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.
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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 11:32 AM
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Originally Posted by 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.
Does it ever build pressure?

Is it dropping to 0 once its been running for a bit?
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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 12:29 PM
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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
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Old Mar 6, 2012 | 06:50 AM
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Originally Posted by 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
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
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Old Mar 6, 2012 | 10:00 AM
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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
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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 12:03 AM
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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?
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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 09:52 AM
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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
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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 07:05 PM
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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.
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Old Mar 17, 2012 | 11:48 PM
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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.
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