SOHC oil pressure sender affected by cold weather?

[JB3]

On a couple day road trip and wanted to get some second opinions to give me some peace of mind.

Went uo to maine, great trip ,but relatively cold.

Overnights getting to decent negatives where i am, mornings single digits so far. Been doing a lot of driving in 99 explorer. Each morning when single digits started the truck and no idiot light oil pressure gauge movement.

Engine sounded fine, let it warm up, gauge has consistently popped to life once the engine temp started to move, however long that takes depending on use. Oil level is good, fresh oil change last month on the truck. Only started doing this below 10 degrees. Above seems to work fine

Wondering if this is a consistent thing people have seen in cold weather. 350 miles from home and a little concerned. Otherwise truck has performed great whole time

 

[J_C]

Drove mine tonight at 0 degrees, noticed the oil pressure gauge was working, at least after the first minute I let her idle before getting in and turning on the lights to see the gauges.

I would have thought low oil pressure or bad sensor or connector contact would immediately cause an engine check light. If this is not true then my following comment may be irrelevant.

I'm wondering if there is moisture built up in your instrument cluster and it's freezing the oil pressure indicator bearing or mechanism so it's stuck till it warms up a little. That might be a far fetched idea, you could take the connector off the sensor, inspect and clean it if needed.

 

[JB3]

Started today at -12 no problem, oil pressure idiot light worked immediately

Feel better as that would seem to indicate someting up with the gauge, maybe something like you say J_C

 

[koda2000]

Your oil pressure is at it's highest when the oil is cold and at it's thickest. The oil pressure sender is more of a mechanical device than it is electrical. A piece inside it has to move to change the ohms resistance, which is what makes the oil pressure gauge work. Your sender is just worn out and needs to be replaced. Easy to do and it's a cheap part.