wheres oil pressure guage sender unit located

[jdavis1420]

Hello I'm new here. I've looked around the site some but havent found exactly what I need. I have a 95 ford explorer 4x4 xlt. Recently the oil pressure guage has been jumping to high for a minute or two then dropping back to normal. From what I have read on here it sounds like the sender unit but dealership wants $120 to put on a ten dollar part so I was wondering if I could do it myself. Is it accessible, any special tools required, etc. My engine knowledge is limited so saying things like its right below the power steering pump doesnt help me alot. a photo source would be great for me preferably indicating the sender unit. Is this a job for the pros or can a novice handle it? thanks for any advice.

 

[SoNic67]

What engine?

On a V8 is on the driver side - accesible after you take the wheel and plastic shroud out. You need a 13/16 deep socket, extensions and... small hands.

 

[jdavis1420]

Thanks for the great photos, sorry I didnt mention the engine its 4.0 6 cylinder, does that change things? The second photo looks different than the 1st and 3rd is it the same vehicle? If I understand you correctly I need to remove the tire (front driverside) and the shroud. I'm also wondering since its not a true pressure gauge do I even need to change it?

 

[SoNic67]

All pics are from my vehicle (V8, 5L). On second one I just showed the camera closer in that space (notice the orange Fram oil filter for reference).
And yes, it is just a pressure switch (bad/good pressure - the limit is set at 5PSI). The analog transmitter can be purchased in my case for a 1985 F150, but the cluster instrument needs to be slighty modifyed for that - I didn't get the time to do that.
In that port I did installed latter a true mechanical reader - to measure the real pressure (the old switch that I replaced was ok, the new one was fluctuating too like the old one). And I found out that my pressure was really low.

In your case, with the needle going "up" could be a cluster defect. The switch can make the needle to move only at 1/2 scale (closed circuit, reading value set by internal resistors in the cluster) or at bottom of the scale (open circuit for pressure less than 5psi).

 

[Maniak]

On the the 4.0 ohv motor the oil pressure sending unit is on the driver side, pretty much between the back of the power steering pump and the block. Its actually mounted on an adapter instead of right on the block.

If you need to replace it, look into making your fake oil pressure gauge into a real gauge. Its simple to do. You use a different sending unit and a jump over a resistor.

There is a thread about converting the oil pressure gauge in the useful thread forum.

~Mark