Topic: Any automotive mechanics on here? I sure could use a little help.

[avking]

I have a 1985 Ford E350 with the 460 gas engine. Bought it from a real old timer early in the winter and it has 55k original miles. He was original owner and only used it two to three times a year for camping with an in bed camper. Anyway, it developed a SIGNIFICANT oil leak and the oil pressure was showing right close to red line. I found a bolt right above where the oil filter is that was very loose and oil was pouring out of it. I tightened that bolt and the oil leak seems to be pretty cleared up. I still have low oil pressure. At 2k RPMS and above the oil pressure shows about half way between low and high. In neutral and park it shows a little less than 1/4. When in gear and driving very slowly or coasting it is almost on the low line (VERY close to the line).

The oil pressure has never gone below the low into the red but it is hovering very close. This is now my only car I can drive and need it for Iron Man. If you are a mechanic with a shop that can offer a decent discount I can have it towed to your shop by AAA. Or what I am really hoping for is someone that can come to me and at least do the diagnosis. If you can come to me, I can pay a little, but am out of work and can not dump a lot into it, just to find out what it is going to cost to repair. Otherwise, I am just going to have to let it sit until I have a job. I am in Wilderness Ranch, about 30 minutes from the Boise airport. In addition to some cash, I have guns, ammo and accessories I could trade.

Thanks in advance to anyone that can assist.

[SEVERED]

Well first thing I would do would be to get a mechanical oil pressure gauge and see what psi you really have. as a good guide line you need 10psi for every 1000 rpms so most run more then that but its a good place to start. Those ford gauges and senders are not the best so I wouldnt panic from that reading. Any parts store should have the gauge.

[carracer]

Also change of oil to 20w-50 will probably help. Synthetic may even help a little on the gas mileage.

[madsent33]

Lucas Oil treatment helps. Put that in my old (230k miles) 4Runner before the rebuilding started, helped the pressure quite a bit. Severed has the right idea though, I would make sure the gauge is right before trying to fix anything else, since that's the thing telling you there's a problem.