low oil pressure

[informationjunky]

Was looking at another 80 yesterday.
bad points
leaky birfield (I could fix),
cracked windshield (don't care mines been that way for 8 years)
needs new radiator

Very bad point
oil pressure gauge was about mid to low position driving, and almost pegged to bottom at idle. checked oil and was old but proper amount on dip.

any advise other than run away?

 

[lurker]

Was looking at another 80 yesterday.
bad points
leaky birfield (I could fix),
cracked windshield (don't care mines been that way for 8 years)
needs new radiator

Very bad point
oil pressure gauge was about mid to low position driving, and almost pegged to bottom at idle. checked oil and was old but proper amount on dip.

any advise other than run away?

Mide does the same thing if I put 5w-40, so I run around with 15w-40 and life is good.

I asked a Toy mec. about this and he said as long as it's barely above the bottom line or 7lbs your OK. I don't know if this is true or not, just regurgitating.

I have 248,000 miles and => 15w-40 is not just an option, it's the only option.

 

[photogod]

The PO's ran many miles between changes on my rig and I noticed the low pressure when I first got the rig. He used Mobile 1. It dipped to zero at times on the highway for short periods of time. I changed oil and got the same reading till the second oil change and two new filters. Now the pressure is at the second line at idle and mid way to just above midway at highway. I think there was lots of crud in the engine that the filters took out. I am using 10-40 now and it maintains very good pressure. 168,000 miles.

 

[lurker]

The PO's ran many miles between changes on my rig and I noticed the low pressure when I first got the rig. He used Mobile 1. It dipped to zero at times on the highway for short periods of time. I changed oil and got the same reading till the second oil change and two new filters. Now the pressure is at the second line at idle and mid way to just above midway at highway. I think there was lots of crud in the engine that the filters took out. I am using 10-40 now and it maintains very good pressure. 168,000 miles.

You are getting the same results as me, but I have to run 15w-40. I can only assume that your engine is in better shape than mine. ;p

My PO must know your PO because mine was a basket case also. I changed the oil every 1000 - 2000 miles the first 6 - 8 time just to get the results that I currently have. I also drop a can of Seafoam in every oil change to clean the crud out, but I don't think that it's necessary now to do it every oil change.

Good luck.

 

[informationjunky]

Thanks, I'll see what he comes backwith as far as price.

 

[mabrodis]

I wouldn't run away, but maybe try to get the vehicle for a bit cheaper because of it. IMO it means nothing, my gauge reads very low, while idling 4wheeling (engine hot, etc) it'll be maybe 1/8" off the very bottom, goes up if I rev it up. I run M1 10w30 and it's been this way for about 3 years and 78K miles. I was worried at first, but after seeing that it stayed there, didn't drop more or anything, and I knew it had good oil in there and after several oil changes I knew the engine was pretty well clean, I gave up worrying about it.

 

[cary]

With a light oil (i.e. Mobil 10w-30 which at 10.2 cst @ 100 is closer to 20 weight than 40 weight) on a higher mileage motor, I would not be suprised that the pressure is that low. How about getting the owner to let you do a prepurchase inspection. A compression test and leakdown test will tell you much more about the engine.

Cary