Oil level sensor substitute

[Billybronco2]

Got a 88 bronco 2 2.9 5spd and have a leaking oil level sensor on the oil pan. Currently, the oil level sensor is essentially just a plug, not sensing anything as nothing is plugged into it. A replacement sensor is 60 dollars and I don't want to pay that. Does anyone have any replacement ideas or know where I can get one cheap?

 

[SenorNoob]

Apparently it threads in so, bolt? It does have a gasket of some kind. I'd try a nylon oil plug seal first.

 

[Lost Bushman]

60 bucks!? Dude, Rockauto.com has them for your Bronco ranging from $2-13.

 

[ab_slack]

Hmmm, the oil level sensor. It was only recently that it was pointed out to me that they have both a level sensor and a pressure switch and I did some digging to verify and come to realize that with my original 88 B2, that in the 190K miles I drove it, only once did I get an Oil Level indication (in that center panel with lights). That indication occurring only after I was already getting low pressure indications from the pressure switch at low RPM. Seems oil had to get really low for that sensor to indicate.

As for a substitute, I don't know. There is still the oil pressure switch and a dipstick still works for checking oil. The pressure switch will let you know if something bad happens fast (like hole in oil filter spraying all oil out in a minute, happened to me) and dipstick checking regularly will guard against oil getting low. The level sensor let it get a good two quarts low that one time it had indicated to me. I usually knew I was low by valve train noise increasing long before getting that low.

 

[Mudhound]

There is actually a screw in plug from Napa that replaces the oil pan sensor.