oil pressure gauge reads a little low, a big deal?

[blackflags]

My buddy had a K5 that read low, not on the L but on the low side of gauge...normal?

 

[RBuffordTJ]

My buddy had a K5 that read low, not on the L but on the low side of gauge...normal?

Broncos are infamous for their oil pressure gages reading lower than they actually are. I would say get an after market add on one for accuracy.

Rick in Orlando

 

[Big_Ford_POS]

Infamous because as the engine accumulates miles the main and piston rod bearings on the crankshaft wear and inturn the oil pressure lowers. It is normal.

Now as for too low, generally the rule of thumb is 10 pounds for every 1000 rpms so at idle you want 10 or more and so on. Now fixing it is two options, 1. is bottom-end rebuild ( a new set of main and rod bearins $80 form napa ) or 2. buy a high volume oil pump ( $40 anywhere). Both involve removing the oil-pan meanings either jacking the motor off the mounts, or (what I Did) pull the motor. $80 bearins + $99 master gasket kit, all kinds of other little crap also timing gear and chain... Total $600 to pull motor clean it install bearings, new oil pump (not high volume because it creates a ton of oil pressure with new bearings), timing set and gaskets all around. Result= no more oil leaks and healthy oil pressure.

 

[Ogeechee 4x4]

Since you're asking about a K5 and not a bronco, I'd invest in a cheap mechanical oil pressure gauge from the corner auto parts store and see what kinda PSI you're really looking at.

However, if it was a bronco, the 87-96 oil pressure gauges are basically idiot lights hooked to a needle. If there is as little as 2-5 PSI then the gauge will read "normal"