Screwy Oil Pressure Gauge

[Joshs93four-oh]

My 93 Ranger's oil pressure gauge registers slightly above half most of the time. It goes through phases where it reads slightly below half for a few weeks then goes back to its usual spot. Tell you the truth, I don't understand how it ever registers actual oil pressure because it never fluctuates in any case. I know its not an actual pressure problem so what is causing this variation between below and above half? Either way, its always steady. I'm half tempted to put an aftermarket gauge in it. Thanks all!! Josh
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CHRYSLER LA ENGINE

 

[wanebell]

Josh

First off, your gage isn't registering actual oil pressure. It's not designed to do that. Your gage is connected to an electrical pressure switch installed in an oil gallery on the back of your engine. This switch closes when there is 8 psi or more of oil pressure in the gallery. When this switch closes, system voltage is passed through the gage winding and a series resistor to ground via the switch. Basicly, your oil pressure gage, (and all of your gages for that matter), is just a rudimentry voltmeter. How far the gage needle deflects depends on how much voltage passes through the winding. The amount of voltage depends on the resistance of the circuit and the supplied voltage. Both of these can vary depending on the weather, the condition of the circuit joints, the condition of the battery, heck, even the phase of the moon. Bottom line? If your stock gage needle moves off of the "L" mark be happy, that's the best you can do.

Now, if you really care about how much oil pressure your engine actually has, then by all means, install a good quality after market gage. It's the only way to get a true reading.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Could be a sender problem as well, the sender is located on drivers side of the engine just above the oil pan near the power steering pump. The small connector is also prone to corroding and making the gauge bounce around. I'd still put a mechanical gauge in so you know what the actual oil pressure is.

 

[Joshs93four-oh]

Thanks for the info, everyone. I think that I am going to put an aftermarket oil gauge in it. Thanks again! Josh
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Health store