Oil Pressure Issues

[EddieEX]

Hello,

New to the forum. My cousin has a 90 ranger with the 2.3. I was teaching him how to drive it (stick) and noticed that the oil pressure gauge was not reading. I know this is a dummy light disguised as a gauge. When the truck is first started the gauge jumps up to normal level and then drops within a few seconds. The truck runs just fine with no lifter noise etc. It does throw a CEL after about 3-4 minutes of driving. I will try and get the codes for it, but since it is his truck I don't have daily access. I did some searching and was having trouble finding any threads with similar problems.
Is it the "oil pressure switch" (sending unit)?
Where is the oil pressure switch on these trucks. I am not familiar with this engine at all. Thanks for any help you can give!

 

[scotts90ranger]

the oil pressure sender is directly behind the intake manifold, but it sounds like you actually have an oil pressure problem, on yours (like mine was a while ago), the oil pump pickup is most likely plugged up with gasket stuff, mine was pretty much there... it's a pain to clean out, I've heard of people fishing around with a coat hangar and getting most of the junk out, but other than that you pretty much have to pull the engine.

 

[EddieEX]

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping it was getting oil pressure and the switch was just bad. I am tempted to install a new switch for him since it is only $8 just to confirm. I don't have the time to pull the engine right now. Sounds like it had been driven pretty far like that. I figured if it wasn't getting oil pressure something would have given by now.

 

[myold96]

just replace the sending unit if it is not that then your new engine will have a new sending unit remember the k.i.s.s principal (keep it simple SH--head.) haha.

 

[RonD]

just replace the sending unit if it is not that then your new engine will have a new sending unit remember the k.i.s.s principal (keep it simple SH--head.) haha.

Did you notice the date of the original post?

 

[Tedybear]

-->insert face slap here<---

 

[XLTsplash]

Many years ago my Dad had a 1989 Ranger 2.3L 5 speed that he bought new. After 230K+ miles on it. It lost oil pressure. So I removed the starter, unbolted the motor mounts, jacked the engine up and dropped the pan down. I found the oil pickup screen was clogged with black rubber stuff = oil pan sealer. I wasn't able to get the pan out of the truck. I did have enough room the R&R the pickup screen and clean out. I installed a new oil pump. Put it back together and everything was good.

 

[adsm08]

Did you notice the date of the original post?

You know I thought it was odd that someone with a join date 4 years ago was just now posting a question.