low oil pressure at idle 1999 7.3
 

Hello,
I thought I would reach out w/ a prob my mechanic and I are scratching our heads about . I have a 99 f250 turbo charged 7 .3 . 348 k miles . It runs like champ . Recently after an interstate drive when we got off the fwy the oil pressure gauge dropped to zero . It would come up to normal at a slightly above idle in the Rpms but at idle it drops to zero . My trusted mechanic did an oil pressure check w his equipment which showed. No more than two pounds pressure .he replaced sensor oil pump that had a mini scratch in it and the pick up tube that didn't show any flaws . Reassembled and now shows 4 pounds which is still shy of the 7 pounds required to activate the oil pressure gauge . The main bearing seals were checked while the engine was apart . And appear fine . Now I'm being told that the only thing left is the came shaft bearing seal . Which will require yet another engine removal charge of 2100 I would be very interested to hear your thoughts . As a further note the engine doesn't burn oil or leak and like I said before runs like a champ . I have been power braking since the engine has been reassembled and have found that at 750 rpms the oil pressure reads normal however the computer driven idle is set at approx. 600 rpm so I power brake to keep the rev's up and the guage ( and oil light ) from appearing .
Thanks Bruce

As a follow up , I have noticed that first thing in the morning when the engine is cold , the oil pressure reads just fine with no warning light . It does begin to fluctuate however when the engine gets up to temperature and after 10 minutes or so I am forced to use my power brake method when at idle . bruce