The powerstroke High-Pressure Oil pump ( HPOP ) or the high-pressure oil pump is a swashplate-style pump that pressurizes the engine oil with more than 3000 psi pressure. You may already know that the high-pressure oil is basically for compressing the fuel that is in the injectors. Usually, the biggest symptom for 6.0L powerstroke high-pressure oil pump failure is leaking seals.
It would help if you also kept in mind that the pump will wear over time, and it should be replaced when the time comes. The funny thing is that 6.0L pumps need replacement sooner rather than later compared to most other pumps. You can use much equipment relating to the electronic diagnostic and find out 6.0L Powerstroke HPOP symptoms and if your pump is operating the way it should work.
With a load oil pressure at wide-open throttle, the reading should stay between 3000 – 4000 psi. You should get 600-700 psi when the car is idle. For firing the injectors, you will need a minimum of 500 psi, and the engine will stall if the pressure does not reach that mark.
High-Pressure Oil Pump Failure Symptoms on Ford 6.0L Powerstroke
There are quite a few symptoms that you can look for to understand if your 6.0L powerstroke high-pressure oil pump is failing or not. However, it will take some time to notice them and ensure that your higher pressure oil pump has problems operating.
But you can find out if that is the case. As I have already mentioned, the 6.0L needs to be changed sooner than most other HPOP; it is your profit to be aware of the symptoms.
Losing Oil from Exhaust
You may notice that there is blue smoke coming out from your exhaust which can mean that your engine is burning oil because there might be an oil leak. When the valve seal or a problem with a piston ring. Behind the scene, the engine seals malfunction and are not efficiently sealing the oil from getting into the cylinders, which may be because your HPOP may be losing its pressure. You may need to check up on your HPOP pressure and see if it is between 3000psi to 4000 psi.
Weak Engine
Weak engines can be a sign of your high-pressure oil pump having problems. Now how will you know that your engine is weak? There are several ways you will be able to find that out. First, you may hear knocking noise from under your hood, and the speed will rise and fall with the RPMs.
You may also see that your exhaust pipe will release more smoke than usual. Again, the importance of engine light comes into play here. Your engine light can indicate small problems which will blow up if kept unchecked. So be sure to check that as well.
When you have a weak engine, you will notice a decrease in the car’s overall performance. In addition, you may notice a drop in fuel efficiency. Your car will have a hard time getting up to speed and may even need warm-up time. These are some good indications of a weak engine and should be taken care of by checking out the high-pressure oil pump.
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Starting After Long Cranking
Many people have faced this issue is that the cranking for starting takes longer. No, your 6.0L powerstroke will usually take longer than 2.5 seconds when you are in 32-degree temperature. This may happen because the temperature is causing the air to be trapped in the High-Pressure oil system. In cold temperatures, your cranking may take from 3-5 seconds, which is completely normal. If you notice any difference from what I have mentioned in both cold and hot temperatures, then you should look into your high-pressure oil pump to make sure if that is the cause of your long cranking start or not.
Engine Valley Oil Leak
Oils are essential for your engine and the piston specifically. In addition, oil is necessary for lubrication. This will ensure that the pistons are working smoothly without a hitch.
But if your HPOP is not working correctly, then you may see that there is oil leakage. Be aware of a burning smell and sizzling sound.
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High EGTs
You need to know that 1200 – 1300 degrees can be a safe number when towing. It may spike up to 1500 degrees occasionally. The concept of EGT is similar to putting something in the oven where you can put your hand for only one or two seconds, and you will see nothing happen.
Now high EGTs can happen because of reasons like having too much fuel for the available air. So if you see your EGTs rising over 1300F, you will want to decrease the fuel that goes to the engine by backing off the accelerator pedal. But if that does not work, then you should check on your high-pressure oil pump.
How to test HPOP on a 6.0L Powerstroke
You will need to find the normal pressure for your engine from the vehicle’s manual. Then you can take off the oil pressure sender from the engine block using a wrench. Be careful not to remove the sender when your engine is hot. Then attach an oil pressure gauge to the sender pot of the engine. Finally, take a reading meter and turn on your vehicle.
After it warms up, take a reading. Then, test the pressure in 2-3 RPM levels to find out the difference. This how you test your high-pressure oil pump on a 6.0L powerstroke.
How to Replace a High-Pressure Oil Pump 6.0L Ford
Firstly, you will remove any component that will block you from reaching the pump. For instance, intake, exhaust. Turbo and alternator. No need to disconnect the battery or drain any fluids. Then you will have to remove the old pump. Finally, remove the end plug from the attached port.
Then collect the oil in a container. After removing the old port and the O-ring, remove both of the high-pressure oil horses. Use needle-nose pliers for removing spring. Then clean up space and put the new oil pump. Then reassemble one by one the way you took them out.
Last Words
For fords, their high-pressure oil pump is one of the things that made them tough. Every engine has it. It is essential for the circulation of oil throughout the engine.
6.0L powerstroke high-pressure oil pump failure symptoms will guide you to find out if the toughest component of your car is having a hard time functioning and is hampering the performance of your car. If that is the case and you do find out that your car needs a change on the high-pressure oil pump, then that is what you should do. Neglecting it will cause you to pay big time, and you will lose your precious car.
Well, once you get the hang of 6.0L Powerstroke HPOP symptoms, you can easily crawl out the problem and fix it within no time. But if it persists, it’s time you should let a professional take a look at the engine and figure out the solution.
James is a certified auto technician specializing in commercial vehicles. With 30 years of experience under his belt, James has encountered almost every type of automotive issue there is! Besides his day job at the repair shop, he is also an amateur race car driver.