2002 Explorer Oil Pressure Question

[zeke231]

Driving I noticed my check engine light go on, and I look down and my oil pressure guage is completely bottomed out. A couple seconds later it bounces back up to its regular pressure reading. About two weeks later the check engine light goes on again and I look down and the oil pressure guage is bottomed out. This time it doesn't immediately bounce back up to its normal reading. Being that I am following someone to a meeting that I can't miss, I just check my temperature guage to see if it starts creeping up to determine if I am going to overheat due to lack of lubrication. After five minutes the temp guage didn't show anything higher than its normal reading, so I figure it probably is more of an electrical thing.

All the times that this has happened the air conditioner has been on if that means anything. Can anyone give my a ballpark guess of what might be causing this. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Blee1099]

Couple of questions, hows the oil level in the truck? Does the gauge flicker when the truck is at operating temperature? If so, you could possibly have the wrong viscosity oil in there but unlikely. You could also have a bad oil sending unit/pump. Definately take it to a shop to have them inspect the motor.

 

[zeke231]

The oil level is where it should be. That is the first thing I checked. I did use 10w30 for a couple oil changes this summer. When the problem started I shifted back to 5w30 as recommended in the owners manual, but the problem has happened with 5w30. The oil pressure guage never flickered. It just bottoms out, then shoots back up to the normal oil pressure reading. I talked to a person at work yesterday and they said it sounded like an oil pressure sending unit issue as well, which he said I should get checked out, but there is really no damage being done by it not working properly.

 

[budwich]

Its probably the sender but also listen for "engine noise". If you are hearing things "louder", then it is a possible sign of poor motor lubrication and you might have a problem with the oil pump or possibly a plug tube on the filter.

 

[zeke231]

After the first time it happened I was listening for lifter nock rod nock sort of issues, but it sounds like it always has. The fact that my temperature guage stays at its normal reading leads me to believe that the engine was getting lubrication, but I could be wrong.

 

[awdrocks]

if your oil level is normal its MOST likely the sender acting up. If you had bad oil pressure due to bad bearings it would be constant and besides I dont think the stock oil pressure guage would sense it.

What ever it is get it checked out.

 

[awdrocks]

dont trust your water temp guage to much. I have an external water temp guage and it can climb 20 degrees past normal operating temp without my stock one even moving...

 

[IAmTodd]

Line going to the sender broke in our '02. So it didn't register pressure. The send in my '00 flat out died and the needle wouldn't move. Nothing to worry about, take it to the dealer I'd say. Or a good mechanic.

And if you had no oil pressure, you prolly wouldn't make it a mile.