Oil Pressure High RPM
- Thread starter enriquei
- Start date
.... No. I went off of what the computer told me. I'll check at lunch.
driller
El Presidente
If you wait for the computer to tell you that you are low on oil, it's too late.
Low oil pressure at high rpm is either low oil level, low viscosity or worn engine components.
that should be the first thing you check, 1 qt low can set off the light.
tixer
Lincoln Evangelist
Assuming it registers as being full on oil, it may also be worth looking underneath the car to be sure that it has the correct oil pan.
Another recent new member had one where the previous owner had replaced it with a lower capacity pan off of a 16v 4.6.. Ours has a "bulge" on it that allows the pan to hold an extra quart of oil.. it's important.
There's a decent photo of the stock pan in this thread:
http://www.lincolnsofdistinction.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?34691-Sneaky-Leaky
and this one.
http://www.lincolnsofdistinction.or...5156-Oilpan-and-Oil-Filter-adapter-gasket-R-R
Another recent new member had one where the previous owner had replaced it with a lower capacity pan off of a 16v 4.6.. Ours has a "bulge" on it that allows the pan to hold an extra quart of oil.. it's important.
There's a decent photo of the stock pan in this thread:
http://www.lincolnsofdistinction.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?34691-Sneaky-Leaky
and this one.
http://www.lincolnsofdistinction.or...5156-Oilpan-and-Oil-Filter-adapter-gasket-R-R
SCTBIRD1173
Mark my Bird!
^ That's a great representation of the dipstick imo. Nicely done! I wouldn't think that would cause the light to come on but try adding 1/4 to 1/2 of a quart, I'd be shocked if it takes more than that.
While we are on the subject... When I bought my car it had "6.5 qts" written on the LH shock tower cover. My buddy has an '03 Cobra and says the Cobra guys run 6.5 to 7 quarts all the time. Someone even showed where 6 quarts sat in the pan compared to 6.5/7. I've always ran 6.5 in mine.
While we are on the subject... When I bought my car it had "6.5 qts" written on the LH shock tower cover. My buddy has an '03 Cobra and says the Cobra guys run 6.5 to 7 quarts all the time. Someone even showed where 6 quarts sat in the pan compared to 6.5/7. I've always ran 6.5 in mine.
Thanks. I'll throw a bit of oil in there and see. I doubt the engine's been abused. I purchased the car from a 30 something year old college educated guy who owns an early 2000's cobra. The car was his grandma's (original owner, the car was even still in her name), and she passed away 13 months ago. He and his mom have put maybe 2,000 miles on it in the past year, and oil was put in at firestone/pepboys/midas in march. There was a layer of dust on it when I went to see it at the grandma's condo, which I'm guessing they're about to sell. There's a binderful of receipts, etc, so it looks like it was well maintained. It doesn't leak at all. Maybe "namebrand store" only put in 5 quarts?
SCTBIRD1173
Mark my Bird!
Sounds like a nice solid car! It calls for 6 so no place should be putting 5 in it but anything is possible. I'm pretty sure from how you described the oil level it isn't a quart low.
Yeah it's nice and quiet. Like I said, even when revving up to the redline it's smooth and no noises. I read a couple of other places (http://www.markviii.org/htdocs/dc/d...orum=21&topic_id=47800&mesg_id=47800&page=345) that it could be the sender or a bad connection (hence my assumption, because there's no mechanical symptoms). But, I've never blown an engine, so I don't know what I should keep an ear for
SCTBIRD1173
Mark my Bird!
I'm no 4.6L expert by any means but I would think if you had oil pressure issues the timing chain tensioners would be the first thing to get noisy. To be safe I'd get it up to max on the dipstick and troubleshoot further.
No fears about frothing oil? I guess 1/2 a quart isn't that much. Would being a little low like I am make the sensor go off?
tixer
Lincoln Evangelist
I wouldn't think so? Mine has been as low as the "add" line and I have never seen a light of any kind. I've never allowed it to go lower.
The "Low oil" light on my '86 Lincoln wouldn't illuminate unless I was well below the "add" line.
Another thought.. when the regulator started going out on my alternator, it caused all sorts of electrical glitches.. I don't know how you'd test for this.. I'd just keep it in the back of your mind.
SCTBIRD1173
Mark my Bird!
As far as the Cobra guys say the pan holds much more than Ford specs it for. I wish I had the link for you from the Mustang boards that went into the detail and showed what 7 quarts looked like in the pan and it's relation to the crank etc.
Driller knows his stuff so if he says 6.5 I'm happy that's what I run too
opalescent 96
New member
I wouldn't put another half a quart in there if it's that high on the stick. Overfilling it isn't going to help anything. The oil doesn't have to be filled to the brim to have enough oil pressure. I would change the sender like you said.
This is a shot in the dark but some quick lube places put a mini oil filter on to make things easier on themselves. They are also extremely cheap crap filters. I don't know if that would have an effect?
Can you tell if the engine has had regular oil changes? Does the back of the oil cap look sludged? Does the head inside look oil caked?
This is a shot in the dark but some quick lube places put a mini oil filter on to make things easier on themselves. They are also extremely cheap crap filters. I don't know if that would have an effect?
Can you tell if the engine has had regular oil changes? Does the back of the oil cap look sludged? Does the head inside look oil caked?
The low oil light isn't illuminating. Just the pressure light at high RPM. The alternator looks newish, but not super new. Maybe replaced 2-3 years ago?
I'll take a look inside the head / in the cap. I think it has been regularly changed... I'll go through the paperwork and take a look. Is the oil filter visible from viewing top down, or do I have to crawl under to take a look?
opalescent 96
New member
Yeah you'd have to look from underneath. The filter isn't really easily accessable, that's why they use a smaller filter.
I didn't see the second page about the 6.5 quarts oil capacity, I'll have to take that into consideration...
- - - Updated - - -
I didn't see the second page about the 6.5 quarts oil capacity, I'll have to take that into consideration...
- - - Updated - - -
I thought the cobra has a different oil pan then a Mark?As far as the Cobra guys say the pan holds much more than Ford specs it for. I wish I had the link for you from the Mustang boards that went into the detail and showed what 7 quarts looked like in the pan and it's relation to the crank etc.
Driller knows his stuff so if he says 6.5 I'm happy that's what I run too