oil pressure low

[FlyingFatass]

So i've noticed that my oil pressure gauge is abnormally low and the gauge will drop all the way to the lowst when revving the engine or when its under load. I know this isn't good, but am not too sure what could be causing it. It only happened recently too. I don't have to drive it, so im going to let it sit until i can figure out the problem and fix it. I checked the oil level and its normal, and i changed the oil about 2000 miles ago, so it should still be fresh too. I looked around online a bit and it pointed to possibly a clogged oil filer or a bad oil pump, but what else could be causing this?

 

[Mark_88]

If your oil is normal (as in not low or missing) then it could be the oil pump if you're sure there is no oil going to the valves...only one way to check this and that's to take the valve cover off and run the engine for a few minutes...but try to cover the rest of it in case it is working...and shut it off once you see the oil coming up like bubbling crude...

Other than that...it may just be the oil gauge needs to be changed or even just make sure the wire is connected solidly...they're just a bolt and nut affair that can get loose and give wonky readings...

 

[FlyingFatass]

alright, ill check the wiring first.

If there was a problem with the oil flow, would there be any signs of it? like the engine running hot? valved or rockers making noise? because i made a 4 hour road trip (kind of had to, and had no time to fix it, or else I would have missed classes) with this problem and there was no change in performance or any new noises. No engine lights going off, overheating, or anything.

 

[scotts90ranger]

it's either a bad sensor or the pickup screen for the oil pump being plugged with crud, when I pulled the engine out of my '90 the first time the screen was nearly plugged.

the stock gage is a fancy looking dummy light, anything above like 5psi and it reads normal.

 

[FlyingFatass]

it's either a bad sensor or the pickup screen for the oil pump being plugged with crud, when I pulled the engine out of my '90 the first time the screen was nearly plugged.

the stock gage is a fancy looking dummy light, anything above like 5psi and it reads normal.

Does cleaning the oil screen require me to pull the engine? I doubt ill be able to do that (no money, few tools, college wont let us work on cars on campus).

This weekend I'll get an aftermarket oil pressure gauge and sender. Something that actually reads pressure. Hopefully its just a bad sender or something like that and I have good pressure.

 

[flaminranger]

do the last thing you said mine was doing what yours was doing so I put in an aftermarket gauge and my engine is sitting at 50 psi @ idle.
if the oil pressure is to low there is usually bad noises that happen

 

[FlyingFatass]

do the last thing you said mine was doing what yours was doing so I put in an aftermarket gauge and my engine is sitting at 50 psi @ idle.
if the oil pressure is to low there is usually bad noises that happen

thats good to know. because i made a 4 hour drive on it and it ran fine, no strange noises.

 

[FlyingFatass]

I'm actually going to a junkyard this weekend, I can probably pick up a oil pressure reader from there. I'm sure it's a pretty generic item, which cars can i expect to find it on, if anyone knows?

 

[Mark_88]

The 2.3 in Mustangs or Rangers from around the same year should all work...did you try cleaning the contact and maybe putting a nut on the wire to hold it in place or check for wobly nuts?

 

[FlyingFatass]

well it turns out that i might actually be a bad oil pump. Im starting to develop a ticking noise coming from what seems like the valves/lifters. I'm pour some of the oil right into the valve cover and run it for a little to see if the noise stops.

If it is the pump (or the screen) id have to drop the oil pan. I'd have to pull the engine to do that (or is there a way to drop the oil pan without pulling the engine?