oil gauge not rising when engine is cold

[alltimes]

Hi everyone. Bought a used 2003 sport trac this early summer. Been an excellent vehical so far except for one thing that is now scaring me to death.
In the mornings The oil gauge remains does not move untill about 4-5 mins warm uptime or untill I slowly drive it about 1/2 mile. I did not have this problem during the hotter part of the summer but now that it is getting cold at nights it has started doing this. The check gauge light also comes on which is refering to the oil gauge. When the gauge does come on it does not rise slowly it just jumps right up there where it should be. SEnding unit, oil pump? Afraid to drive it with it doing this as I dont know if the oil is picking up or not. Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[rwenzing]

Odds are that the OP sending switch is sticking. It screws into the side of the block near the front on the D/S with a single green/white wire going to it.

However, there is a small chance there is a real OP problem here. I wouldn't run the engine again until this is resolved.

 

[alltimes]

Thanks for the info. I will check the switch out, and I do agree 100 % about not running it. Just use it part time but sure dont want to burn it up.

 

[aut1jlt]

oil guage sending unit resolved?

alltimes - did you resolve your oil pressure guage issue? I have a 2000 XLT SOHC that is exhibiting exactly those symptoms now that it is getting colder here. Did you change out the OP sending switch?

 

[jmath2]

Oil pressure not rising on start when cold.

1) Do you hear any chatter on cold start?
2) Do you hear any chatter in the 2000-3000 rpm range when cold?

If the answer is yes, get to the shop soon! The 4.0 V6 has a design flaw. Ford issued a TSB, but no recalls.

Long story short...same thing happened to me, but the slight chatter went from common noise to a blown engine!

I am swapping for 302 5.0 L.

 

[BlackedOutEXPO99]

That is scary

Oil pressure not rising on start when cold.

1) Do you hear any chatter on cold start?
2) Do you hear any chatter in the 2000-3000 rpm range when cold?

If the answer is yes, get to the shop soon! The 4.0 V6 has a design flaw. Ford issued a TSB, but no recalls.

Long story short...same thing happened to me, but the slight chatter went from common noise to a blown engine!

I am swapping for 302 5.0 L.

I have the same symptoms and want to know when you took the truck to the shop what did they do and how much did it cost?

 

[Project_Sparta]

Had the same problems, Store says its either the extreme cold or just the sending unit.. ive been running it like this for months now, no chatter, runs fine. I think it may be the oil weight and how cold it is. I dont think its any big deal..

 

[btexpress]

My Ranger had been doing the same with the oil gauge, a new sender fixed it. As long as the engine is not knocking when cold it should be a gauge problem. Cheap fix...........

 

[jmath2]

Well,

I went in around 34000K. The dealership said it was nothing. IT IS something and it is important. If you have ANY chatter, or light knocking when cold, the sending unit is NOT the fix. Oil pressure guage not registering CAN be fixed by a sending unit.

My '04 has 49k, and slung a rod...and it started as a chatter that the dealership siad to ignore.

 

[jmath2]

You will interested to learn that it's not really pinging but timing chain slap that is due to tensioner wear!!!! THat is the referenced TSB on the subject mentioned earlier. The repair is in the range of $1500 to $2400 depending on whether it's front of both front and rear chains. The sound is very much like a knock or valve train sound and it occurs mainly under load in the range of 2500 to 3500 rpm. Or cold

 

[ttbit]

Great. The '01 ST I bought yesterday ran fine at 60 degrees, but now that it is in the 20's today, it barely starts and showed no oil pressure once I got it running. I datalogged and the sensors are fine and the warmer it got, the better it ran. The oil pressure magically came back too. I didn't hear signs of rod or valve chatter as I checked while it had no pressure.

Basically I believe I have bad O rings, and tensioner. The info on this forum is GREAT!

We (a friend of mine and I) did notice the "pinging" sound that we did not believe was spark knock but something we never heard before.

Also has noise at low idle that sounds almost like a fan hitting the shroud (it's not). Not coming from top or bottom of engine, but front (checking with a long screwdriver to my ear). Does the tensioner fix the noise, or do I have broken cassettes too? I don't mind throwing $50 at it to get it running, but I'll have to ramp up the 5.0 install if it is more major. Also, I don't want to "hurt" this engine as I will sell it to someone who could use it when I get the 5.0 in.

I plan on putting a 5.0 in this thing and is why I bought it, but it would be nice to drive it "4.0 style" for a while as I need to prepare for the project.

 

[2001SportDude]

I'm having same exact problem as the thread starter. Just bought an '01 Explorer Sport Friday and the same thing happens.

When staring cold there is NO oil pressure, after 3-6 minutes in a split second it just pops right to normal. Last night I figured it was safe to rev it a little bit (heard no knocking or chatter) and while I was revving it I notice the gauge trying to move (like 1-2 psi) then again...jumps back to normal pressure. Does this sound like a sending unit or actual pump problem?
Thanks in advance.

 

[BlackedOutEXPO99]

my 99 4.0 does the same thing in the cold and when i rev it a little bit it pops up

 

[GPNyce]

i have had the same problem with the gauge for going on 2 years now. only happens in the cold, when the oil is thicker.

 

[atlranger]

Same deal with my 2000 EB 4.0 SOHC it have been doing it since 90k now at 151k. Only happens when the engine is completely cold mostly during the winter but sometimes on a cool summer night when I would leave it outside. Sometimes the needle will shoot up then drop for a few then come all the way back up, other times it will raise 1/4 the way after a minute or two then go to it's 1/2 way resting place. No issues wit a hot or warm start regardless of outside temps. (Of course I live in GA now instead of NH)

I have been told by the dealership it is probably sludge in the narrow oil passages and they did not want to deal with it at all, but they would "try" and diagnose it for their standard hourly rate.

I think I am going to pick up and new sender and try it after I put the front end back into the Ranger.

My 99 Ranger 3.0 FF, with the same gage panel, does not have the issue at all.

 

[BlackedOutEXPO99]

how much is a new sending unit?

 

[yourpalmike]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//showthread.php?t=210435

 

[cfowler]

I've got the same issue. 1999 Ford Ranger XLT - 4.0 ltr. Through the summer the oil pressure gauge was fine, never had an issue. Recently when the temperature drops to around 0 Celcius, I noticed the Check Guages light come on. I saw that the oil pressure gauge needle was registering no pressure. The truck had run for about 1 min when I noticed this and shut it off. Upon restarting the truck, the needle appeared fine. Recently, as the colder weather has set in, this is a normal occurrence. As one poster wrote, I am able to rev the engine slightly and the needle then moves to the normal position but fluctuates slightly until the engine becomes warm. The truck runs fine, no odd noises, tapping, knocking or otherwise. I'm glad I checked here first to find that replacing the sensor will most likely resolve my issue.

Thanks all for the info!

 

[john jnr]

oil gage

Hi,mates, I bought a 2000 xlt about 3 weeks ago with 105,000. on the clock (kilometers) The first two weeks were fine now im having the oil pressure gage probs, yea the check gage light i9s on and zero pressure on the gage, HHMMM,Oil level fine ,restart and hey presto ,pressure, next day, no pressure,turn on right indicator and gage shoots up to normal and works all day no matter how many off and ons i do. next morning ? well you know the rest, tomorrow i will try tjhe horn to see if that gets it up. Im guessing its a bad sender unit and the use of other electrics is enough to trip it on HHMMM maybe.also engine is 4.0 SOHC and is so quiet i keep thinking ive stalled at the lights,no rattles no vibrations no shudders no bangs, bloody no worries.

 

[BIGHVM]

As long as the correct grade of oil is used it can only be the sensor getting lazy- I think- may be an engine flush and new oil would not hurt any...very very nervous if it was mine acting that way...will keep an eye out on this thread and see what you all do- Good luck guys.