oil Gauge

[1pokeyRanger]

Hey my oil gauge wiggs out sometimes at idle - flickering up and down rapidly. If I give it a little gas it smothes out fine. Ideas?

 

[Tedybear]

Locate your oil pressure sending unit and replace it with an aftermarket gauge. That will tell the real story with your oil pressure. Senders do go bad, and some of these fords came with what's basically an idiot-gauge. Meaning if it has more then 5or so lbs of oil pressure? The gauge will always read mid-range unless there is an issue. If your engine is worn, and the oil pressure is floating around that safety point? That would cause the gauge to wig-out.

Aftermarket gauges can be installed with a "T" adapter so you can use both the dash one, and the aftermarket one. (that's how mine is installed....when the idiot gauge reads at the "A" in "Normal" at hot idle in drive? The REAL gauge is showing 10lbs of oil pressure..)

S-

 

[GMWIGGS]

Locate your oil pressure sending unit and replace it with an aftermarket gauge. That will tell the real story with your oil pressure. Senders do go bad, and some of these fords came with what's basically an idiot-gauge. Meaning if it has more then 5or so lbs of oil pressure? The gauge will always read mid-range unless there is an issue. If your engine is worn, and the oil pressure is floating around that safety point? That would cause the gauge to wig-out.

Aftermarket gauges can be installed with a "T" adapter so you can use both the dash one, and the aftermarket one. (that's how mine is installed....when the idiot gauge reads at the "A" in "Normal" at hot idle in drive? The REAL gauge is showing 10lbs of oil pressure..)

S-

+1

What T-Bear said!

Thats the only way to truly know whats going on with your oil pressure. I'm thinking from your description of the problem that your pressure may be dropping below or right at 7 psi (I think thats what it is). I strongly suggest installing a mechanical guage to see exactly what you got. At hot idle I'm at 20 psi using 10w40.

On a side note: T-Bear what weight oil do ya use?

 

[Beef52751]

Sounds like what mine did when the Cam synchro went

 

[1pokeyRanger]

So, the truck has about 88k miles. Do I install the new oil gauge and stare at it for the cam sync to go bad, or are these people getting 250 - 300k on their 3.0 getting by w/ the OEM one? Should I replace it for good P.M. or?

 

[GMWIGGS]

Could be several things, first I would get a mechanical oil pressure guage. Install it and monitor your oil pressure at a hot idle. If you are falling below 7 psi on the mechanical guage then that would explain why your needle is wigging, (that would be bad news). If you stay above that then your oil pressure sending unit may be bad, (that would be good news as its an easy fix). You really need to know what your oil pressure is to determine what you should do next. As far as the cam sync goes, I would go with motorcraft parts (OEM), but thats just my opinion.

 

[bigcountry]

my old 4.2 did that it was my oil pump and it only had like 75 to 80k miles on it but like everyone said above me check your oil gague out before you replace expensive things

 

[Tedybear]

+1

What T-Bear said!

Thats the only way to truly know whats going on with your oil pressure. I'm thinking from your description of the problem that your pressure may be dropping below or right at 7 psi (I think thats what it is). I strongly suggest installing a mechanical guage to see exactly what you got. At hot idle I'm at 20 psi using 10w40.

On a side note: T-Bear what weight oil do ya use?

Using Shell Rotella (sp) 5w40 full syn with a motorcraft filter. We've put about 5,000 miles on it from the last change, and will be going 10w40 with a mobil-1 filter for the summer months. (advance had a killer sale 5 qts and mobil-1 filter for 29.99)

We are not sure of the exact miles on the engine. It's been changed out before I believe--yellow paint markings on the oil pan-- Still runs decent, usual pings/dings as expected from a 2.9. Local dealership had to aim the headlights when I replaced the units--The tech owned 3 rangers over the years, all with the 2.9. He said mine was the 'quietest' 2.9 he's ever heard.

S-