Low oil pressure, new engine.

[89PSD]

Ok guys I just put in my new engine (thread here http://www.fordtruckfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14831 )
And Fired it up for the first time today in 3 years and...

Theres a pic of it working. Shouldnt the oil guage be more centered??? Bad oil pressure sensor???

 

[Skandocious]

I think anything other than pointing at the L mark is considered normal. The oil pressure sender is just a switch, not a sensor; meaning that it simply detects if the oil pressure is above or below some acceptable pressure. If it is above, the switch closes and gives the gauge a normal (non-low) reading. If the pressure falls below the acceptable value the switch will open and show a LOW reading on your gauge. There is nothing in-between. See the diagram below:

The only thing that I am not sure about, is that the notes indicate that when the oil switch opens it will give a LOW reading on the gauge-- but it doesn't indicate what exactly LOW means. Does that mean it's pinned on the low end of the gauge or does it just mean that the needle is justified more towards the left? My guess is the former-- it'd probably be pinned.

 

[Truckin4life]

Considering the engine build, why not take a little more time and put a true mechanical gauge on there, or just put one in to check?

 

[lil_dq]

I have put an aux guage on my oil pressure and it is nice to have. Just remember that at idle you run about 20psi and cruising you run about 70psi. In town driving varies.

 

[Truckin4life]

New motor build i am puttin one in...

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

I got a mechanical one in mine too.

 

[dustybumpers]

never trust a factory guage, put in a mechanical one for a true reading.

 

[89PSD]

Yeah Ill guess ill check out getting a guage for it.