Working on a 96 powerstrke Oil presure gauge was unstable so changed it with another and the gauge works backwards when running tried three different ones and got same result .

 

Anyone have this problem?

 

OEM oil pressure gauge is not true oil pressure gauge. It's just an indicator and the needle should always go to the same spot on the gauge. The oil pressure sensor is just an off / on switch unlike a true oil pressure sensor and activates the gauge.

So the question is what did you replace? If it was the actual gauge with an aftermarket "true" oil pressure gauge then no it won't work.

 

The one in the cluster.

 

you replaced the whole cluster?

 

No, I think he replaced just the gauge. My question was is it the OEM gauge or an aftermarket .... real .... oil pressure gauge.

 

Used OEM ?

 

The one in the cluster

 

Does anyone know the answer?

 

It was the paired gauge you replaced, right, with one from another Ford? Oil and temp on the same plate, if memory serves? They are sometimes wired and calibrated differently for different trucks. But as said, it's just an idiot light disguised as a gauge. It will always have only two positions. If it's reading in the middle with no pressure, and to the left when there's pressure (if that's what you mean by "backwards"), you could just use that behavior as your "gauge".

But what you saw in the original gauge as "unstable" might not be a gauge problem. Again, the sensor/sender is just a "switch", and the gauge only reads two positions. If it was fluctuating, it may mean the actual oil pressure was fluctuating right around the threshold point of what it considers adequate oil pressure. In other words, you might have a real oil pressure issue. You can get a real gauge as a testing/service tool, and temporarily install it in place of the sender, and measure the actual oil pressure. If the pressure reads normal, the problem might be the sender, in which case you should replace it and go back to the original gauge pair.

Another thing that might just work would be to scavenge the sender from the truck that donated the gauge pair you have installed now.

 

This truck has been sitting for at least 5 years with a starting and run problem won't start and run unless you use starting fluid and it will run for a while and cut off and will not start. I have also added a mech oil gauge to the top of the oil resivor and when it is running the mech gauge shows 75 but soon drops to 20 after it gets war then truck cuts off

 

How old is the oil, and what kind is it? And how's the level?

 

That's what mine does at idle, 75 psi cold, 20 psi warm. The thing is, you say it will only run for 'awhile', it takes a long time to warm these engines up at idle.

 

Oil level is good a new

 

Oil level is good and new..