Lately my dummy gauge has been bouncing as I come to a stop. No change in idle, or performance. Oil level is good, actually in between oil change intervals right now. Using Quaker State 5W20 and a Fram PH 3600. Next one will be with the same oil, but a Motorcraft filter. Now, I've been using Fram filters since new, but with all the negativity about Fram, I'm finally going to the Motorcraft filter.

Anyway, the gauge has bounced since new, maybe once a month. It is now so frequent, it bounces as I come to a stop 7 times out of 10. Been doing this more and more in the last month I guess, but it's really noticeable now. I'm thinking I should change the oil anyway, and cut open the filter to see if I can find anything. I was also considering swapping out the pressure switch for a sensor instead, to get a more reasonable indicator of what is happening, ie if it is dropping off to nothing, or if it is just dropping to 6 psi and coming back up again. Ultimately what I want to do is get a couple pillar pods and put a trans temp gauge and a engine oil pressure gauge.

Something else I was thinking is the trans lockup was lugging the engine down to less than 500 rpm before it released. That seemed to be the case when the truck was newer, but now I'm not so sure, as it was more stop and go traffic today.

So. Anyone know what or where my problem could be?

 

I switched to Motorcraft filter from Fram on my last oil change based on the dialogue in this forum. Yesterday I installed an analog pressure switch, NAPA P/N OP6091SB.

Pat

 

I say that getting the real pressure sender, even on the stock gauge, is a positive thing. But first things first, get a real pressure gauge on there and see what the engine oil pressure is actually doing.

 

My gauge does the exact same thing. It's actually pretty loud, if the radio is off. You can hear it bouncing around.