Is my oil pressure high?

[Will]

I had a major oil leak on my car. I found out it was the sending unit. Busted and it would spin like a top. Changed it out and now my oil pressure reads high, but still in the normal range. I know its possible the new sender maybe faulty. Its an Anto-Zone piece, but I was just wondering if this was maybe normal. I am going to change my pcv valve just incase its pressurizing my crankcase. I hate oil leaks.

[kiwi]

Mechanical?

Maybe borrow/buy a cheep mechanical gauge with a little tubing & check it out in your driveway (cold then warm)..........

LOL/ I'd figure it this way that as long as I had pressure that I was good; but if it went real low that I had a problem (sender or not)........Know what I mean?

[Pat_in_L.A.]

I have 4 SVO's. Three actually run. All three read towards the high side all the time, so I'd say high is normal.

If by chance the gauge dips on you one day, check the other gauges. The instrument voltage regulators on any ford tend to freak out once in a while and the coolant temp, oil pressure, and fuel gauge will read bogus for a few minutes. Once you know to check these other gauges it will reassure you as to what is causing the problem, since it is highly unlikely that your coolant temp, oil pressure and fuel level would all drop 25% at the same time.

If you're handy with electronics and a soldering gun there's a way to make up your own IVR that is far more reliable than the Ford replacement part with <$10 spent at Radio Shack.

[SVOeric]

if the pressure was too high, it would either strip the distrubutor gear, or pop off the oil filter---

Reading on the high side is normal, mine stays on the line just before H 90% of the time... it only drops a bit when idling.

[ediii]

Will,
It was the old sender that was faulty. As they age they can read lower, especially at a particular pressure. They're really just rheostats and they eventually wear out. The one in my 5 liter would drop below the normal range (which is most of the gage) at 70mph in 5th gear (about 2000rpm). Slow down or speed up and it would be fine. Mine reads a little high too. I'd say it's normal.

ED

[Will]

thanks for all the replies, I can hook a mechanical gauge up but I don't know what would be high oil press. On V8's I usually use the 10 psi per 1000 rpm rule. Not sure if it applies to 2.3's.

[Pat_in_L.A.]

It's a 4-cylinder so divide by 2.

(no, don't! I was just kidding!)

[Ken Potter]

I'm an original owner and mine has always stayed pegged since day one. I know it's not the sender as the original went bad overnight at about 75,000. I replaced it with an original Ford and it still stays pegged.