Oil Pressure Problem

[tundrayetti]

My oil pressure light is staying lit at less than approximately 3000 RPM. Once above 3000 RPM it goes out. I'm pretty sure it's my bearings.

I want to install an oil pressure gauge to get a better idea of what type of pressure I'm getting befor I tear into her. My question is, is there a different gauge cluster that shows oil pressure? I know that there's a gauge cluster available that has an RPM gauge.....just not sure if it also has an oil pressure gauge.

If not, what type of stand-alone oil pressure gauges do some of you have installed? And where did you mount it?

I'm not looking to be very high tech, but I'm not just going to throw something in without thinking it out before hand either.

 

[awbartley]

Id start with an oil pump for good measure.

 

[tundrayetti]

No doubt. But before I come up with a plan, I need to find out how much pressure I'm getting. I hope it is just an oil pump, but I'm a little suspect since I have 372,000 miles.

She's never been rebuilt......and here's to hoping she doesn't need it now :cheers:

 

[awbartley]

Ahh, I see...I wouldnt know what to recommend, could be build up in the oil journals? Have not worked much on these motors.

 

[tundrayetti]

Next question for the group:
Can I replace the oil pump without lifting the engine? Will removing the radiator give me enough room to get the job done?

 

[tundrayetti]

I removed the oil sending unit and installed a manual pressure gauge to see exactly what my psi ranges were. Turns out, my oil pressure is good to go. I think my oil sending had gone bad.

I drove around for a few days with the gauge installed and after everything checked out, I decided that I wanted to keep the gauge installed. I ended up installing an 1/8" tee on the block, which allowed me one spot for my gauge and one spot for a new sending unit. This way, if the light comes on in the future, I can glance at my gauge to verify whether or not I actually have low pressure.

I haven't yet decided where to permanently install my gauge. Any ideas?

 

[Bad_Vision]

ummm did you try just replacing the stock sensor? i would do that before hacking up the interior to put a gauge in, that your truck already has.

 

[GonOvr]

Plus if that line on the manual gauge breaks on the engine side it could cause a fire. On the interior side, a BIG F-IN MESS. Use a manual one for verification as you did and remove it. There is a reason why they dont use manual oil gauges anymore.

When I was 18 my '76 chevy pickup burnt to the ground because of a broken oil gauge line. This was before i knew the importance of a fire extinguisher.

 

[tundrayetti]

Thanks for the advice. Bad ideas usually don't occur to you until:

1. **** happens to you
OR
2. You hear about **** happening to someone else

I'm going to remove the gauge and just keep it handy until it's needed again.

 

[blackchild]

No doubt. But before I come up with a plan, I need to find out how much pressure I'm getting. I hope it is just an oil pump, but I'm a little suspect since I have 372,000 miles.

She's never been rebuilt......and here's to hoping she doesn't need it now :cheers:

wow...that's awesome