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Author Topic: 78 pinto 2.3 oil pressure and valve cover gasket  (Read 2172 times)

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Offline ToniJ1960

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78 pinto 2.3 oil pressure and valve cover gasket
« on: December 02, 2014, 08:47:05 PM »
 I just had the valve cover gasket replaced on my 78 pinto with the 2.3 in it.

 Before the oil pressure was always 40-44 pounds at idle depending on how hot the engine was, and it went up with rpms.

 Now it sits at 36 or so and doesnt budge up a bit. I do see some oil specks on the side of my white car battery.

 Can it be losing oil pressure if that gasket isnt sealed too well?

Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: 78 pinto 2.3 oil pressure and valve cover gasket
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2014, 08:53:52 PM »
VC gasket don't have anything to do with oil pressure, what else was done at the same time??, is the oil leaking from the gasket or the breather cap??, but if the new gasket is leaking you need to take it back and make them do it right..
Art
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Offline ToniJ1960

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Re: 78 pinto 2.3 oil pressure and valve cover gasket
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2014, 08:57:34 PM »
 I guess it might be just time for an oil and filter change? Im going to try to tighten the vc bolts first what order should I do it in? Middle out?

 Also if the oil pressure never goes over 40 is it ok to drive it or should I keep the rpms down to a certain amount?

Offline amc49

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Re: 78 pinto 2.3 oil pressure and valve cover gasket
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2014, 02:05:35 AM »
Could be something has gone wrong with oil pressure gauge. Disregarding the 40-44 previous figure per se, the pressure should still be increasing like it did before. The valve cover shouldn't affect it as it does not break into the oil system at all.

Oil specks on side of battery could easily be them blowing out the under cover area of scrapings trash before throwing the cover back on and may be no indication of bad gasket seal at all. Retightening after it was just done may work but the best way I know to squeeze gasket into uselessness right off the bat. If you can't trust the person to do it right then why pay them? A simple DIY job........... .............. ....

Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: 78 pinto 2.3 oil pressure and valve cover gasket
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2014, 06:53:04 AM »
If it's cork it always needs to be snugged up the next day after it's been run, BUT, it's very easy to blow them out, minimal effort is all it takes to snug them up, the rail also needs to be flat or it won't seal and if it's a metal cover they're usually dimpled down at the bolt area from over tightening,  I always turn it over and tap the areas flat with a small hammer before installing..
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Offline ToniJ1960

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Re: 78 pinto 2.3 oil pressure and valve cover gasket
« Reply #5 on: December 03, 2014, 04:07:30 PM »
 Im sure it was a fel pro rubber and cork maybe?

 The guy knows what hes doing I had him do other work on my Corvette.

 But something I didnt think about, when  he pulled the vc off it broke the plastic hose to my oil pressure gauge. He held the ferrule for the tubing in his pliers to get the old piece of tubing out of the ferrule, and had to do something to get it round enough to be able to put the tubing back into it.

 It could be scraped/gouged or not sealing 100% and losing some pressure there? Im going to check it tomorrow too cold getting dark now and no choice but to drive it this way tonight.

 So at 40 psi or a few pounds less I should keep the rpms down?

Offline amc49

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Re: 78 pinto 2.3 oil pressure and valve cover gasket
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2014, 06:47:13 PM »
The old school rationale..... ......you need 10 psi for every 1000 rpm.

Uh, you really don't know what you're doing if you're trying to rework a five cent ferrule. If leaking there oil will be coming out of it externally, the only way it can leak pressure. They sell them all day long at parts stores for maybe 50 cents each.

If gasket was cork it would be brownish in color. Like said you ALWAYS ding the metal cover rail back out at the bolt spot where it has pulled in. If not then cover leaks easily even if bolts are tight.