Oil Temp 265 Degrees and Pressure Only 9 PSI -- Did Ford Say That Was OK for a 427?

[4pipes]

Yikes, my oil pressure light is set to go on at 30psi. On hot days, with oil temp around 100c, it will flicker at idle.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by 4pipes

Yikes, my oil pressure light is set to go on at 30psi. On hot days, with up oil temp around 100c, it will flicker at idle.

Well, you, too, would have lost that bet.

[1795]

Patrick,

I would have lost that bet too regarding the oil pressure It must be that the oiling system is so efficient that at 9 psi there is enough oil movement to privet total catastrophic failure? It would seem like it might be a possibility at low rpms, I cannot imagine the damage that would occur at high rpms with low oil pressure.

Where did you find that tie bit? You have too much time on your hands, go out for a drive!

[patrickt]

That is from the Ford Shop Tips, Volume 1 Number 2 (November, 1963) that Ford would send out to the dealer technicians. I think it's safe to say that the 9 PSI was at idle only. I have the owner's manual from the same time period that clearly states "occasional flickering" of the oil light while idling is normal. Old Ford techs that worked at the dealers have told me that "we would go as low as 6 psi at idle, but below that was usually bad."

[Bernica]

Wow. I would have lost the bet as well! Did that apply to all 427's? Center-oilers and Side-Oilers? Just curious..

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Bernica

Wow. I would have lost the bet as well! Did that apply to all 427's? Center-oilers and Side-Oilers? Just curious..

All I know is what I read in fifty year old Ford Shop Tips. But if you can believe what 80+ year old ex-Ford mechanics tell you, they didn't really care much at all about oil pressure at idle, on any of the FEs. I don't think you could get any of our favorite engine builders to now say "oil pressure at idle doesn't matter" simply because it's not politically correct. I think Barry's on record as saying he starts to get concerned when it's idling down around twelve or something, but don't quote me on that.