1987 Ford Econoline Van, 4.9L I6 with only 82,000 miles, nearly all highway.
It was bought new and belonged to my dad used mostly as a camper for summer vacations. I used to drive it sometimes during its first 7 years of life. I clearly remember that the oil pressure gauge used to read at slightly above the midpoint.
Then I didn't drive it for many years until the last year or two.
I notice that the oil pressure gauge now reads much lower... say about "25%" instead of the old "50%+". This with a couple of oil and filter changes, various brands (ST and Purolator, I think)
I was worried about the oil pump maybe going bad and I watch the gauge like a hawk. But, although the pressure fluctuates a little bit in use, it doesn't seem to be getting any worse.
It's been running 10w30 since I started driving it again. The manual also says that 10W-40 is acceptable.
Do you think that maybe it used to run 10W-40 in the old days when I remember the pressure was much higher? Or maybe today's filters are less restrictive? Truthfully, I don't even know where the oil pressure sensor is located in the system.
I'm thinking about switching to a 10W-40 high mileage oil. Maybe I'm just crazy, but I like the warm fuzzy of the oil pressure not leaning out of the "normal" range. Plus, I'm going to sell the van in a few months and I don't want any buyer questions about the oil pump going bad.
Thoughts?
It was bought new and belonged to my dad used mostly as a camper for summer vacations. I used to drive it sometimes during its first 7 years of life. I clearly remember that the oil pressure gauge used to read at slightly above the midpoint.
Then I didn't drive it for many years until the last year or two.
I notice that the oil pressure gauge now reads much lower... say about "25%" instead of the old "50%+". This with a couple of oil and filter changes, various brands (ST and Purolator, I think)
I was worried about the oil pump maybe going bad and I watch the gauge like a hawk. But, although the pressure fluctuates a little bit in use, it doesn't seem to be getting any worse.
It's been running 10w30 since I started driving it again. The manual also says that 10W-40 is acceptable.
Do you think that maybe it used to run 10W-40 in the old days when I remember the pressure was much higher? Or maybe today's filters are less restrictive? Truthfully, I don't even know where the oil pressure sensor is located in the system.
I'm thinking about switching to a 10W-40 high mileage oil. Maybe I'm just crazy, but I like the warm fuzzy of the oil pressure not leaning out of the "normal" range. Plus, I'm going to sell the van in a few months and I don't want any buyer questions about the oil pump going bad.
Thoughts?
