Oil Pressure Gauge and ticking

Dummy99

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Hey ya'll I've been lurking here for some time and I finally bought a 1986 F250. I've had the truck for a few weeks now and have been lovin it but two things have shown up.

First, my oil pressure gauge reads low at idle but immediately jumps back to normal with any additional rpms. Truck still runs normal so I believe it's the gauge, any recommendations on a gauge that I could hook up to make sure? I'd like to get an actual gauge in there anyway.

Second, after running the truck over 50mph for any length of time a ticking noise shows up and is pretty audible in the cab. I took the truck to a shop and they said that it was normal and the injectors may be gunked up. I've been running a pretty liberal amount of diesel kleen since I got the truck. Am I barking up the wrong tree or am I crazy and it's just a normal noise.

I hope those questions weren't too stupid I just want to make sure I'm not about to kill my new truck.
 

Philip1

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Is your oil pressure gauge the factory dummy gauge or a real aftermarket one?

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nostrokes

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Welcome to the forum, lots of good info and folks here to help out.

Ignore the factory gauge and get a good aftermarket one. Factory gauges are just moving dummy lights. These engines are low pressure/high volume, I believe the minimum psi is 7-8.

Do you know the history of the truck? Has it been sitting for a long time, or driven regularly before you got it. May just need some run time for the ticks to clear out if it's been sitting. Keep on with the diesel kleen, and you can do the atf in the fuel filter trick and see if it clears up or quiets down. Mine ticks off and on but I'm pretty sure I need injectors.
 

Dummy99

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Is your oil pressure gauge the factory dummy gauge or a real aftermarket one?

It is the factory dummy gauge.

Ignore the factory gauge and get a good aftermarket one. Factory gauges are just moving dummy lights. These engines are low pressure/high volume, I believe the minimum psi is 7-8.

Do you know the history of the truck? Has it been sitting for a long time, or driven regularly before you got it. May just need some run time for the ticks to clear out if it's been sitting. Keep on with the diesel kleen, and you can do the atf in the fuel filter trick and see if it clears up or quiets down.

I’ll get an after market gauge for sure then. Would something like THIS work? I believe these trucks have 1/8th NPT threads.

I think I’m the third or fourth owner of the truck but the previous owner used it occasionally to move his boat around so it would sit for a while between uses.
 

saburai

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It is the factory dummy gauge.



I’ll get an after market gauge for sure then. Would something like THIS work? I believe these trucks have 1/8th NPT threads.

I think I’m the third or fourth owner of the truck but the previous owner used it occasionally to move his boat around so it would sit for a while between uses.

Do yourself a favor and buy a quality gauge! AutoMeter, Issapro, VDO or the like.
 

Philip1

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It is the factory dummy gauge.



I’ll get an after market gauge for sure then. Would something like THIS work? I believe these trucks have 1/8th NPT threads.

I think I’m the third or fourth owner of the truck but the previous owner used it occasionally to move his boat around so it would sit for a while between uses.
The factory gauge is a dummy light disguised as a gauge. It will not show proper oil pressure and will move to one spot as long as oil pressure is at a minimum threshold or greater. The only way to tell true oil pressure is an aftermarket assembly.

Edit: that gauge should work. I prefer the mechanical bosch gauges myself they are cheap and effective

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nostrokes

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It is the factory dummy gauge.



I’ll get an after market gauge for sure then. Would something like THIS work? I believe these trucks have 1/8th NPT threads.

I think I’m the third or fourth owner of the truck but the previous owner used it occasionally to move his boat around so it would sit for a while between uses.

I prefer mechanical autometer gauges. Not terribly expensive and they've been around a long time. I put a set of oil psi and temperature gauges in mine, only regret is I didn't get bigger faces for where they are mounted, under the ash tray on a 91 brick nose. Here's a video of what my gauges do and where my aftermarket ones are mounted...

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As for the tick I'd try the trans fluid in the fuel filter. If you search this forum there are several write ups on it.
 

Dummy99

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So I changed the oil last night and it was several quarts low. I think you need oil before you can get oil pressure lol. The oil pressure gauge is happy now.

I filled my fuel filter with atf last night, ran it for about 45 seconds and let t sit over night. Came out this morning drove it a few miles down the road and it started throttling randomly then died. Now it’s very difficult to start and when it does run it dies almost immediately. I emptied the fuel filter of what’s left of the atf and same issue. What did I do wrong?
 

nostrokes

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Sounds like you have air intrusion. How did the seal on your filter look? Does it still have the separator bowl? If you push the schrader valve on the filter head do you get fuel or air?

If you have air you'll need to bleed it. Crack open all the injector lines and crank it over until there is fuel coming out. Tighten them back up and start it. May run like crap for a few but it should clear up. I have to do at least 1 injector if I run out of fuel, my rear tank gauge is crap and I don't always catch it before I run out..
 

Dummy99

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Sounds like you have air intrusion. How did the seal on your filter look? Does it still have the separator bowl? If you push the schrader valve on the filter head do you get fuel or air?

If you have air you'll need to bleed it. Crack open all the injector lines and crank it over until there is fuel coming out. Tighten them back up and start it. May run like crap for a few but it should clear up. I have to do at least 1 injector if I run out of fuel, my rear tank gauge is crap and I don't always catch it before I run out..

I’m using a brand new fuel filter. When I bleed the Schrader valve just a little bit of fuel comes out but seems to mainly be air. I’m a high schooler with no background so I couldn’t tell you how to go about cracking injector lines but I’ll look around more.
 

nostrokes

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5/8" open end wrench on the top nut of the injectors where the steel line is connected. Just loosen them about 1/2 turn doesn't take much.

Also check the line from your tank to the lift pump. It's on the passenger side underneath. There is a rubber hose in a loop that goes from your tank line to the pump. Common spot for air to get in.
 

Dummy99

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5/8" open end wrench on the top nut of the injectors where the steel line is connected. Just loosen them about 1/2 turn doesn't take much.

Really dumb question do i need to turn the motor over when the lines are cracked or is there no need? I’m not getting any fuel from them.
 
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Dummy99

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Only dumb question is one you don't ask..

Yes you need to turn it over, only takes a few seconds
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Cracked too much too little? I’m not getting any out of it

I cracked all the lines and cranked a little each had very little come out. Still no luck.
 
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