oil pressure gauge vacillating

[Redav72]

Have a 1994 3.0. I know that the Rangers of this vintage have an oil pressure sensor that is a switch type rather than variable type. The behavior that I'm seeing is that under particular conditions, mostly cruising at 70mph, I'm seeing a lot of movement on the needle. The usual position of the needle is just over the midway point, when the needle vacillates it drops down the the 1/4 mark. In no circumstance does it leave the normal range and the oil light never comes on.

What am I seeing here? Is it nearing the line where I'm seeing pressure below the threshold but it's just so slight that I get a wavering needle? Is it nothing at all?

 

[superj]

Do you have a ground issue for the cluster? Only time i have ever seen an oil sensor arm move that way is a ground issue or the cluster going out?

 

[SenorNoob]

My temperature gauge seems to move more with charging voltage than anything... Being a dummy gauge it really shouldn't move unless voltage changes or the gauge is going out.

 

[Curious Hound]

Loose connection somewhere or voltage fluctuations.