Oil gauge wont move?

[Creeper88]

I have a 1998 ford ranger v-6 4.0L and just recently changed the valve cover gaskets, fuel rail gaskets, lower intake gaskets, spark plugs, and radiator fluid with the help form this. http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94437 and its the reason I joind this site. The truck runs great but my oil gauge is stuck on low. I have been monitoring the oil level for a few days now there has been no change in oil level or gauge movement. Its probably something simple but im no mechanic, the most Ive done before this was change a battery. Thanks for taking the time to veiw my post.
Chris

 

[Captain Ledd]

I have a 1998 ford ranger v-6 4.0L and just recently changed the valve cover gaskets, fuel rail gaskets, lower intake gaskets, spark plugs, and radiator fluid with the help form this. http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94437 and its the reason I joind this site. The truck runs great but my oil gauge is stuck on low. I have been monitoring the oil level for a few days now there has been no change in oil level or gauge movement. Its probably something simple but im no mechanic, the most Ive done before this was change a battery. Thanks for taking the time to veiw my post.
Chris

On a lot of 90-ish Fords they decided to do a silly thing. Ford got tired of customers coming in complaining of their oil pressure, even if it was still in spec. SO, their solution was to make a "dummy" oil pressure gage. If it reads 5psi or more, HEY! full normal oil pressure. Towing that 5,000lb load across the state on 6psi of oil pressure? not a problem, full pressure it is!

You'll notice even when your gage is working, it'll never ever move. even if your engine has a pretty good oil pump design, it will still move at least a little bit with engine RPM.

Probably knocked the sensor connector loose would be the easiest answer. It's not throwing a check engine light? Or the Check Gauge light? When my 2.3L broke the timing belt I'm pretty sure the check gauge light came on (I was driving), the timing belt also drives the oil pump.

I wish I could help more but I am pretty unfamiliar with the 4.0L engine.

 

[Creeper88]

Thanks Ledd. No none of the engine lights are on just found it annoying not to see the oil guage working. I gess it dosent matter much if it a dummy guage.

 

[rezmedic]

Have you checked if the wire is pulled off the sending unit on engine block?
I am not sure the style of the sending unit on that engine.

They usually have a single wire going to it; with a "L" shaped black plastic push-connector that slips over the screw that protrudes from the sending unit, some just have a eye-connector and a small nut.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Have you checked if the wire is pulled off the sending unit on engine block?
I am not sure the style of the sending unit on that engine.

They usually have a single wire going to it; with a "L" shaped black plastic push-connector that slips over the screw that protrudes from the sending unit, some just have a eye-connector and a small nut.

I've had those L-connectors rust out too, and get finicky even though they appear to be plugged in.

 

[rezmedic]

I've had those L-connectors rust out too, and get finicky even though they appear to be plugged in.

Glad I am not the only one.....

 

[lone-wolf]

Only time I ever seen the gauge move is when the dip stick was bone dry.
Gauge went from normal to nothing.

Engine was fine. Truck rotted out, clutch went, much more careful with the current ranger.
Going to put a real gauge in it within a couple weeks.