just wondering if any of you can help...my 97 5.2 loses oil pressure when it gets warm, the check guages light comes on and the oil pressure is on the lowest tick mark. ive been checking the oil and its not low. valve covers, oilpan, plug, filter are all tight. the only thing i can think is the head gasket. any suggestions?

 

oil level is good? head gskt not likely if level good

check level when light is on oil may not drain back to pan

is it ticking and or knocking?

if eng quiet get a mechinical gauge to confirm pressure.dash gauges suck.

oil weight is? maybe try some "risoline" to address any sludge issue

then oil and filter change use LUCAS oil suppliment and advise us

 

What oil do you use? If still using 5W-30 I think that's too light for a 12 year old car with 1xx,xxx miles.

Try half 10W-30 and 20W-50, that'll give you about 15W-40. Or 2 x 20-50 and 3 x 10-30 will give you about 14W-38 or even 1x2 20-50 and 4x 10-30 (12W-34). (yes, you can blend the stuff and average out the numbers as I have here)

The 318, in my experience with several vans using that lump does often exhibit low oil pressure. The 318 in my 97 Dak doesn't (yet, with 143,xxx miles)...but sometimes it dips below what i like to see so I'll add a bottle of STP in the next day or so. Next oil change it will be blended about as I described above.

above suggestion for Rislone...

The v6 and v8 lumps are noted for devloping a leak in the valley cover (I think ) which generates an internal vacuum leak and sucks oil into the intake. Oil consumption goes up quite a bit, and sludging is an issue.

If you are loosing oil try this check:

get a piece of 3/8 hose, an inch or two, and a coule 3/8 bolts. Pull the PCV line out of the side of the throttle body (right side of the engine, by air cleaner) and stuff a bolt into it plugging it. Stick the short piece of hose on the port on the throttle body and plug it with a bolt. Pull the vent hose from the back of the throttle body (it comes from the back of the LH valve cover). fire up the engine. put your thumb over the hose end. do you feel "suck" or "blow". If a little bit of "suck" you have a bad gasket and it needs to be fixed. It will cause a check engien light and result in lots of problems down the line. If a little bit of pressure (blowing out of the hose) then that is correct. Make sure you reconnect everything properly.

If you have pressure, I don't know that I'd go with the Rislone or Sea Foam (my choice).

 

you can put all the oil you want in it, but your oil pump might be going out, if it doenst improve much with heavier oil, expecially with lucas i would take a look at the pump

 

Drop engine pan- replace oil pump and main bearings.
Problem solved

 

ill take a look at it and let ya all know thanks for your input

 

it may just be the pickup screen in the oil pan thats getting plugged up.