Bad guage...or something worse?

[Jspafford]

For the last couple mornings Heather has been calling me as she leaves for work. Her 'check gage' light comes on as soon as she starts the truck and stay on until the oil pressure comes up...which has been taking a while. I am not sure how long because I am always at work when all this takes place. She says it doesn't sound any different but today when she called the guage still read down in the red area. I told her if it sounded the same to just drive it to work. I don't have the time to drove 20 miles back home to check the POS, with any luck it will blow up. I hate the truck, I really do..

But I guess what I am asking is, if the oil psi was really that low, low enough not to register on the guage, there should be other symptoms right? Ticking, Knocking, CEL, Low Oil light, etc?

 

[fastpakr]

What vehicle is this?

 

[Jspafford]

Sorry,

1999 Ranger
3.0L Flex Fuel
105K
4R44E, 1354E

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the switch for the factory guage closes at 8 PSI. if she drove it with 8 PSI, it wouldnt still be running. 8 PSI is the minimum pressure to float the crank at idle.

sounds like a flunky guage to me. time for a real guage (c'mon, there only $15...).

 

[aaron_ariens]

Mine too. Like, after its warmed up, or i've been driving for a bit, it shoots up, and the check gauge light goes off. I don't like it, I'm always worried.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

if your worried, varify oil pressure with a real gauge...

 

[aaron_ariens]

Ugh. They are fatty. I don't like aftermarket gauges.

I think I need a sending unit or something.

 

[Jspafford]

the switch for the factory guage closes at 8 PSI. if she drove it with 8 PSI, it wouldnt still be running. 8 PSI is the minimum pressure to float the crank at idle.

sounds like a flunky guage to me. time for a real guage (c'mon, there only $15...).

I think I will, I put one in my B2 a couple years back. Funny the in dash guage never moves, but the mechanical guage moves constantly when varying the throttle and at different speeds.

Mine too. Like, after its warmed up, or i've been driving for a bit, it shoots up, and the check gauge light goes off. I don't like it, I'm always worried.

Your's does this too? She called and said it "Finally went up when the truck got warm"

if your worried, varify oil pressure with a real gauge...

I paid more than $15 for mine? Hrm

Ugh. They are fatty. I don't like aftermarket gauges.

I think I need a sending unit or something.

I am trying to think of where I can mount it in her truck!

 

[fastpakr]

Got a Harbor Freight nearby?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41017

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

Ugh. They are fatty. I don't like aftermarket gauges.

you dont have to leave the guage in. drive around with it for a day to varify your oil pressure meets min. spec. then take it out.

but mini guages are only 2" in diameter. if properly placed, they arent even noticeable.

and the way i see it, i can either deal with the added "bulk" of a reliable guage...or a can rebuild my engine when something goes tits-up. the guage sure sounds easier.

Funny the in dash guage never moves, but the mechanical guage moves constantly when varying the throttle and at different speeds.

the factory gauge isnt a gauge, its just a glorified dummy light.

I paid more than $15 for mine? Hrm

i got mine for free

HERE is an oil pressure gauge for under $15....

 

[Jspafford]

you dont have to leave the guage in. drive around with it for a day to varify your oil pressure meets min. spec. then take it out.

but mini guages are only 2" in diameter. if properly placed, they arent even noticeable.

and the way i see it, i can either deal with the added "bulk" of a reliable guage...or a can rebuild my engine when something goes tits-up. the guage sure sounds easier.



the factory gauge isnt a gauge, its just a glorified dummy light.



i got mine for free

HERE is an oil pressure gauge for under $15....

Yeah I know the stock guages suck, I was just saying how it NEVER moves, even thought at any blip of the throttle the mechanical guage shoots up. Stupid design, but w/e.

The guage you show is a electrical. I want mechanical with the doomed plastic tubing.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i didnt even scroll down far enough to notice it was electric, i just copied the first <$15 guage i found.

how about THIS ONE for less than $10 (doomed tubing sold seperatly...so probably $15ish installed).

 

[Bob Ayers]

There are electrics that will show variation in oil pressure. They have an analog type of sending unit (variable resistor) instead of a N/O switch, that's
OEM. Matter of fact, the older OEM oil pressure gauges were built this way.

 

[Jspafford]

Can anyone tell me where the sending unit is located? On my 2.9 it was on the driveside lower block.... I ain't finding it on the 99 3.0?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

its behind the passenger side head (yeehaw).