V8 5.0 Oil Pressure woes..

[Oversquare]

I have a 2000 XLT V8 (5.0) with 70,000 miles. In the cold mornings when I start it, sometimes the oil pressure "idiot gauge" reads 0, and the "check gauge" like is on. If i turn off the engine, and then restart it, the engine will restart normally and the gauge will show normal pressure.

Under hard braking, steep descents, and hard cornering the gauge doesn't move. When the engine has been run earlier in the day, it doesn't do it.

I have a feeling it is the sensor or the connector to the sensor. I doubt it is the actual oil pressure or oil pump.

Where is the sensor located on the engine block?

Has anyone had the problem before?

-Brad

 

[Turdle]

The sender is located on the driver side of the front timing cover, right behind the water pump.
It is probably bad.

 

[gr8scott]

The sender is located on the driver side of the front timing cover, right behind the water pump.
It is probably bad.

Where is it on the 00 OHV engine? Mine is doing the same thing.

 

[TheVarmit]

Mines been doing it for a year now, eventually it won't work periodcally even on warm days. My X is a 2001 Limited with 5.0 engine...anyone know where my sender sensor/unit/..whatever is?

 

[Turdle]

Mines been doing it for a year now, eventually it won't work periodcally even on warm days. My X is a 2001 Limited with 5.0 engine...anyone know where my sender sensor/unit/..whatever is?

I think it is same location on all 5.0 engines, post 2

 

[Viper81]

it is your sending unit... mine only worked when the outside temp was ~60 F. any hotter than that and it would go down to 0. replaced the unit (~$20) took me around 20 min for install (i have the 4.0L and to get to that one you had to take off the drivers side wheel)

very easy fix.

Viper

 

[LeKid302]

Mine is sticked on the mid range . when i turn the key on the needle goes to the middle and after i start the engine it stay in the middle .

My engine have 138k miles .

 

[IAmTodd]

My pressure sensor was replaced under warranty. $45.50 for the sender, $94.11 grand total.

 

[justin146]

to replace the sensor, take the front drivers side tire off and pull the flexible inner fender out. Look straight in towards the front of the block and you'll see the sensor. The replacement is $6 at Advance. You'll need a long extension with a flex joint to get it out, but it is a 10 minute job not including the tire.

 

[mace]

re

might need a special socket too. they have them at autozone

 

[justin146]

might need a special socket too. they have them at autozone

no special socket, just a regular deep-well or small spark plug socket.

 

[badazz89lx]

mine is doing the same...if i dont replace it will i be ok?

mine is a 4.0 however

 

[badazz89lx]

mine is doing the same...if i dont replace it will i be ok?

mine is a 4.0 however

 

[IAmTodd]

should be fine. But its not going to be that hard to replace.

 

[badazz89lx]

thanks man....ill eventually get around to it...

 

[jam234]

Just watch out it may be a low oil problem, for the longest time my friend who is a ford dealer mechanic said it was just the sending unit, but not I had him check it again and now there is a pressure drop. I have 82K on my 2001 XLT Sport AWD, always use motorcraft 820S filter and motorcraft semisynthetic 5W20, yes 5W20 is correct for the 2001 v8, for some reason ford changed the spec in 2001. Now he has to drop the pan to see if there is dibris/sludge, he said sometimes diff gasget parts break loose, or if the oil pump is bad. He said its a pain in the ass job so we'll see, I just can't wait to get my gibson cat back on.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Jam234- off topic, but how do you have a 4 door Sport that is V8???

 

[CDW6212R]

The oil pressure sensors are only on/off switches. They send one signal when there is oil pressure, any pressure, the gauge only shows two levels, pressure, or none. The gauge doesn't reflect any change in pressure, only a loss of pressure.

I have the issue with my 99 SOHC, and I know that it is the sensor or the gauge. I have an added oil pressure sensor for my headlights. My headlights always come on when I start the engine cold, because there is oil pressure, but the gauge will show no pressure, plus the check gauge light stays on. The issue quits after a few minutes for me, it's just an annoyance to have to go back in to change the sensor.

 

[justin146]

Jam234- off topic, but how do you have a 4 door Sport that is V8???

The same way I do... The "Sport" package on a 5.0 XLT 4 door.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Never heard of such- learn something every day. Seems strange that they would make a 2 door called a Sport, and make a V8 4 door with a sport package. What exactly makes one a sport package?