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

animal jim · 09-18-2010, 12:38

I recently bought a used 2004 F-350 4X4 Crew cab with a 6 L Power Stroke with 69K miles on it. When sitting several hours-especially overnight the oil pressure lags 3 to 4 seconds after it starts. It then jumps up to 3/4 on gauge and stays there. Sometimes I can hear the rods till it jumps up.

This condition cannot be healthy. It is worse since i bought it last winter.

Acts like when you first start up after oil and filter is changed. And could not fill filter first.

I have removed filter 15 minutes after shutting engine off and canister is drained down.

It has Ford oil flter and cap. I suspect the drain back valve is not sealing.

I have heard of this problem several times. But the Ford service manager where I bought the truck seems dazzled by it.

Anyone else out there have that problem?

**360ci** · 09-26-2010, 17:13

Fram is the only filter manufacturer that I know of that has had problems with drain backs on their filters. They've since improved quality but the mark still remains....

Diesels will always have a rough sound for a minute or so upon start up. Even for gas engines there is a lag in building oil pressure. The more miles, the longer it can take. If anything you can replace the oil pressure sensor, but I doubt you'll notice a difference.

Newer vehicles tend to have NO oil pressure gauge because it confuses some people that they have a problem, as the gauge reads 3/4 pressure until you drive it some then it should settle down to about 1/2 or around there at idle speed once the engine has a few miles on it and the oil thins out. If the oil is old it might show a consistent 3/4 on the gauge even at idle.

I wouldn't worry about it, but what would concern me is having no oil in the filter upon start up.