Oil pressure dropping - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

XR8GN3 · 09-06-2004, 01:23

My XR8 is dropping oil pressure when I drive it hard and it gets worse on hot days.
The oil gauge goes all the way down to 1 and sometimes drops into the orange and the red warning light comes on and the buzzer starts beeping.
Normally the oil pressure would stay at around half way and would never drop below 3 1/2 even after a lot of hard driving.

I've tryed using thicker oil Castrol GTX2 from GTX3 and changing brand filters Ryco,Valvoline and Motorcraft but none of these make any difference.

Im starting to think the oil pumps f@#$d and im going to have to pull the engine out to replace it.

Any suggestions on what it could be.

ebxr8240 · 09-06-2004, 01:30

Unfortunatly Windsors don't have too many issues with oil pumps..
Check guage?? Check bearings by reving up and down when hot with no load to 3500 rpm if bearings are r/s then you'll hear a rattling noise....

MKII240T · 09-06-2004, 02:20

Mate i had the same issue with my EL XR8. Mine even started beeping at me!
I found it was the sender unit that shit itself. I still havnt changed it as yet but i had a fiddle around with it and found the problem resolved itself. Common problem. Do a search on some threads and you'll find a few posts about this one

XR8GN3 · 09-06-2004, 04:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Unfortunatly Windsors don't have too many issues with oil pumps..
Check guage?? Check bearings by reving up and down when hot with no load to 3500 rpm if bearings are r/s then you'll hear a rattling noise....

Yeah there is a lot of rattling going on in my sump, so i wouldnt be surprised if it was the bearings.

Thanks for your help ebxr8240.

XR8GN3 · 09-06-2004, 04:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas

Mate i had the same issue with my EL XR8. Mine even started beeping at me!
I found it was the sender unit that shit itself. I still havnt changed it as yet but i had a fiddle around with it and found the problem resolved itself. Common problem. Do a search on some threads and you'll find a few posts about this one

What is the sender unit you are talking about...Dont you mean the oil pressure sensor.

302_supra · 09-06-2004, 04:28

thats hes referring to yes :) As the sensor is the sender unit for the gauge/ warning light as well

XR8GN3 · 09-23-2004, 04:46

My oil pressure is still dropping after a few squirts here and there and on hot days
so I've made the decision to leave it be until i have the money to pull the engine out
and check/replace the oil pump and bearings.

The good newz is....if the engine comes out...im ganna make the most of it.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

012 · 09-23-2004, 07:00

Some of the series 1 AU's also had this problem. Was a earthing problem apparently, and is a known issue with Ford. Click here for a thread similar to the problem your experiencing. The TSB Ford released was to fit an extra wire from the battery (-) terminal to the front alternater mounting bolt. I have attached a pic of what this wire looks like. Try it out, might just work, and let us know if or if it doesn't.

philstoj · 09-23-2004, 07:32

Mate, if your hearing rattles from the sump, it will only be a matter of time before the thing shits itself, better to be safe and rebuild it before the thing seizes up on you, and then you might have to replace everything, instead of rebuilding it.

You Yangs · 09-23-2004, 20:24

My AU rattles loudly at start up for a few seconds only when cold never when hot, can hear similar noise when under load at about 3000-3500 not as loud though. Could this be the bearings or something else. Done nearly 190K and is a little concerning.