Oh crap oil psi

[1993Ranger4x4]

Alright heres the stats:

93 Ranger 3.0 5 speed 111,XXX miles

Drove around today no problem whatsoever, ran great as always.

Hopped in it to go get gas. Check Oil light stayed on when it started. Oil change less than 1000 miles ago, and its not an oil drinker.

Shut her down right away. Oil level is low, but its been sitting, and its cold, so not ideal conditions for checking oil level, was not smoking at all like a car that was burning oil would be. No leaks, and I can be sure because I parked over fresh white snow, and its still fresh white underneath.

Im thinking Oil Pump? Clogged Oil Pickup screen? No Clue. Any ideas?

 

[Big Jim M]

I'm thinking oil pressure sendor! If the lifters didn't sound off you most likely still have oil pressure. I'd start her up and see if the lifters are complaining.. If they stay quiet the pressure is there.
Big JIm

 

[RangerFabWorks]

also pull the dipstick while its running and see if oil climbs up the stick


but ford oil senders are known for failing early.

 

[1993Ranger4x4]

I hope the oil sender is all it is. Im just worried bout running it if there is no pressure, i dont want to screw up a good motor, if its just a minor problem.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

sounds like its time to install a manual oil pressure gauge, they can be bought for around $25 and will tell you exactly what you want to know. i agree with these guys, if you lost oil pressure on the stock gauge but didnt hear any ticking then i would say its just the sender, its on the back side of the block on the passenger side right behind the head. if youve got AC its a pain to get to.

 

[1993Ranger4x4]

Trying to find a Unit at napa. Is it also called a Oil Pressure Switch ?

Sorry guys, Im not really new to working on vehicles, just not good with names of parts.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/details/QQFordQQRangerQQReplacementQQOil_Pressure_SwitchQQ19881998QQREPF311401.html

 

[Earl43P]

Sender is cheap, located at rear of block on passenger side.
Hard to see it unless you use a mirror.

It's really just an 8 psi pressure switch, not a "pressure transmitter".

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

yes, pressure switch is also a valid name for it

 

[1993Ranger4x4]

Ok, yeah, Thanks, I have found one, 8 bucks, Ill change it before I mess around with anything else. Ive always called it an Oil Pressure Sending Unit, but i guess everyone calles it something different. I just replaced one on my 1968 AMC Rebel, Im sure this cant be as easy.

 

[Big Jim M]

What the switch does is to not show any pressure until the pressure reaches about 8 pounds.. Then it switches to about halfway on the gauge.. So you never really know what the pressure is. All you do know is the pressure is over that 8 pounds.
Also I have seen the key switch cause some gauges not to work.. this would include the oil gauge.. So a little jiggeling of the key might wake the gauge up!
Big JIm

 

[1993Ranger4x4]

Thanks it all makes sense.

I dont have a OIL PSI Gauge though, just a Dummy Light....

Should I get a new switch or just install an oil pressure gauge I have lying around? If i install the OIL PSI Gauge, will the Dummy light stay on???

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

id say install the gauge and the sender for the dumy light, just to keep it happy. when i start up in the morning ive got about 60 psi, when i pull out of the drive way and get on it the pressure goes up to 80, then when it gets warmed up it drops to around 40 while driving and 20 while idling. you wont believe how active the pressure is until you install a gauge.

 

[1993Ranger4x4]

So Run like a T Fitting off the block and run the Dummy Light and the Gauge off that?

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

yep, thats how im currently running mine. i used a braided stainless steel line to hook the gauge to the tee because i didnt like the look of the copper tube all coiled up under the hood.

 

[Big Jim M]

An example

id say install the gauge and the sender for the dumy light, just to keep it happy. when i start up in the morning ive got about 60 psi, when i pull out of the drive way and get on it the pressure goes up to 80, then when it gets warmed up it drops to around 40 while driving and 20 while idling. you wont believe how active the pressure is until you install a gauge.

I'm using this as an example of TRUE oil pressure. This is NORMAL! However the casual observer might pull his hair out over the pressure fluctuating. So ford in all their wisdon came up with the SWITCH which attempts to keep the needle somewhere around the middle of a gauge... or if there is a LIGHT the switch simply turns the light OFF.
Oil pressure varies from moment to moment in an engine that is running at one temperature and then another.. and one rpm and then another.
Big JIm