Hi, I have fairly recently purchased a series 2 EA s pack sedan which has been a great car. Had a few minor problems so far due to previous owners neglect but nothing I havent been able to sort out, except for this oil pressure problem.

The engine for the most part runs fine and smooth, blows no smoke at all and is not lacking in power, it goes quite hard. At startup oil pressure takes a few seconds to build during this time there is some tappet noise and a rattly sound which I believe is the timing chain, but as soon as pressure has built it runs silently. Previous owner had the wrong oil in the car and since getting the correct grade oil and doing multiple oil system flushes this problem is far beetter but not quite eliminated. Recently however on long trips the oil pressure has been steadily dropping off as you drive, after about 1/2 an hour the guage will be showing in the red and after an hour or more of driving the oil pressure is nearly gone and the motor starts making the kind of noises you would expect from low oil pressure. When making short trips around town there is no problem at all.

I suspect its the oil pump, but I'm not familiar with fords at all (holden man), I have the gregories manual and I know where I can find the oil pump (unfortunately, given its location) but I want a second opinion on the symptoms I've described in case its not really something more sinister. Is it going to be an easy thing to fix??

Davo, it may be the oil pump or it could be a few other things. If the engine is making noise there is a good chance damage may have already been done to the engine, as in the big end bearings etc. Does the car use oil at all? Changing the oil pump mig