I've had a problem with my oil pressure gauge since I bought the truck. It would always show minimal to low pressure even at 4250 rpm. I always suspected the sensor but never got around to checking it.
I decided today I was going to try a thicker oil since I was due for a change anyway. So I decided to go with castrol gtx sae 20w50.
The results were nothing short of astonishing! I had pressure up to the first mark and it actually responded to the gas pedal! I drove it normally and at 3000rpm it went all the way to the second mark and held with the actual pressure I was giving her. When I let it come back to idle the needle never fell below the first mark.

Also, the truck runs smoother and even has a touch more response and pick-up. I also noticed that I can get 75mph out of her at only 2800rpm when I used to get 73mph at 3050rpm so I'm sure that's going to help my gas mileage as well!

Just thought I'd put that out there since I've seen a few people here ask the same questions I have about the oil gauge. Try a thicker oil if you have really low oil pressure it might just make the difference.

 

Wow, better MPG with thicker oil? What were you running before?

 

The oil pressure gauge in mine also shows me very low pressure, especially at idle. When i drive, it goes up to a bit above the middle. (which is where i assume its supposed to be) I thought about using a heavier weight oil, but since the motor sounds good (no taps or anything) i just ran regular 10w30. It makes sense to run a heavier weight and i think ill give it a shot next time around. thanks!

 

I was running castrol gtx sae10w40. I didn't expect any improvements at all but it was a totally pleasant surprise

 

My guage was doing the same thing but at idle my needle was pretty much past the Low mark and unresponsive.
I don't know how thick they make engine oil but I asked the guy at oriellys what the thickest stuff they had was and he said 20w50 so thought I'd give that a shot.

 

In my F150 i run 5 quarts of 10w40, and i bring the rest into the crosshairs on the stick with lucas. its a little less then a quart usually. this makes my truck run so much smoother, and i have peace of mind for some reason knowing the lucas is there. I just got the yota so im still kinda feeling it out haha.

 

I would stay with a lighter oil. Think about forcing say 90 weight oil through a straw, high pressure low flow, now a 5 weight, low pressure lots of flow. Flow = cooling. Good read....> Ferrarichat .com (D.R. Ali E. Hass) motor oil article

 

Oh and think of how oil responds at start up, where most your engine wear occurs.

I'll take light oil for a thousand Allex?

 

His logic is sound Spock. But think about what happens to that lighter, thinner oil when it gets heated to OT for periods, it turns even thinner and becomes more fluid like water and doesn't coat or stick well well to the hot and constantly moving parts that cause the most friction during driving: the cam shaft, the pistons... I'd rather have the protection of something more like grease than water covering those elements.

 

Well, you guys are talking about Castrol.

I don't think its ever appropriate to bring up "Castrol" and "Protection" in the same sentence.

 

what oil do you run?

 

Winter, Mobil1 0w-30 and lucas...

Summer mobil1 10-40 lucas.


I was just trying to start an oil war. Those are always amusing.


Since I work in the oil change industry, I've learned something. People tend to run whatever their grandpa used.

"Well, my grandpappy always ran penzoil 10-40 and had no problems never so i'll just use that..." yada yada.

its amusing.

 

=) I used to use the cheapest stuff I could find until I started trying different brands.

 

you should have gotten a real oil pressure guage.. its always good to know...

 

if your oil pressure is going up you have too much restriction from the thicker oil...but thicker oil does "stick" better, so during start up it will stay on the barrings.. just drive it around and find out, then post the results..

 

From what i've read the the 20w 50 oil is when cold it performs as a well as a 20sae oil and when at operating temps it flows at the 50sae so it may be a bit thick during the operating temp setting, 10w 40 i think is what i run. just do a search on oil viscosity and you will find some good information.

 

oil does not thin out further at op temp, and remember flow. I did a 5/30 blend switch and i have high miles and a main seal leak of sorts. I will run that all year here in sunny Commyfornia,man i miss NH.

 

Love oil wars, and I ran Castrol for 20 yeard

 

oil wars, egr wars, ifs/sas wars... Good times =)

commyfornia... Sad but troublingly true.

 

10W40 and a little bit of Lucas is all you need!