Oil Gauge/Pressure

[rdgibby]

I just purchased a used 1996 Explorer. The oil gauge is causing me some concern. It will ride low and then all of a sudden move up to a mid-range. When I am accelerating at higher speeds (i.e., highway) is starts moving back and forth erratically and then stabilizes when the desired speed is reached. I have flushed the system twice. Has anybody else had this problem? Is it a gauge/sensor problem or do I have an oil intake problem? I would appreciate some help. I am nervous to drive the car until I have this figured out.

 

[DocVijay]

The factory oil pressure gauge is notoriously bad. You might try replacing the sending unit, as it may be clogged up. I actually installed an after market gauge, as on cold mornings, the factory one would read zero pressure for the first five minutes of driving. The aftermarket one showed 50 psi.

 

[Opera House]

And it doesn't really read pressure

It is really just a switch that closes when the pressure is more than 5#. So there are only two positions, L and 3/4 scale. The connector, drivers side front corner of the engine near oil pan, sometimes gets corroded. Most likely the switch is bad. I've replaced two. Only about $6 but inconvient to get at.

 

[Maniak]

If the gauge isn't reading, it "thinks" you have < 5psi of oil pressure. If that is the case, your motor will be loud (lots of rapping/tapping etc)...

If the motor is quiet, you most likely have bad sender or similiar. I would spend the $15 and get a mechanical gauge to find out what the pressure really is... (you hook up the mechanical for now, remove it once you "know" that you really do have good pressure).


btw.. search for "fake oil pressure" and you will find a nice big/long thread about changing your gauge to a real gauge (instead of an analog idiot light)

~Mark

 

[rydinhigh]

My 95 did the same thing. I replaced the oil pressure sending unit and now it works like a champ. Mine was around $10 from ford.

 

[rdgibby]

Thanks for the help. I replaced the sender unit. It is working great now.