Oil pressure issues
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Oil pressure issues
Hi, I have a 96 aerostar with just over 100,000 miles. Recently, after driving about an hour at highway speeds I noticed the oil pressure dropped to zero when I came to a stop in a rest area. I immediately shut the van off and checked the oil, which was full.
After restarting the engine, the oil pressure gauge read normal again so I proceeded on my way down the road keeping a close eye on the gauge. Within minutes the gauge started fluctuating from zero to normal several times and then dropped to zero and stayed there. It sounded like I was getting some top end clacking (may have been my imagination) so I shut off the engine while driving and restarted it and the pressure gauge started reading normal again.
I drove to the next exit and figured it must be the sending unit acting up, so I checked the wiring at the unit for a possible loose connection and finished my 150 mile trip with no further issues with the oil pressure gauge.
I have run the van locally on short trips but I am afraid of making any long distance runs without knowing for sure if it was the sending unit or perhaps another more serious problem.
Any thoughts, or recommendations?
thanks
After restarting the engine, the oil pressure gauge read normal again so I proceeded on my way down the road keeping a close eye on the gauge. Within minutes the gauge started fluctuating from zero to normal several times and then dropped to zero and stayed there. It sounded like I was getting some top end clacking (may have been my imagination) so I shut off the engine while driving and restarted it and the pressure gauge started reading normal again.
I drove to the next exit and figured it must be the sending unit acting up, so I checked the wiring at the unit for a possible loose connection and finished my 150 mile trip with no further issues with the oil pressure gauge.
I have run the van locally on short trips but I am afraid of making any long distance runs without knowing for sure if it was the sending unit or perhaps another more serious problem.
Any thoughts, or recommendations?
thanks
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2011
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Hi, I have a 96 aerostar with just over 100,000 miles. Recently, after driving about an hour at highway speeds I noticed the oil pressure dropped to zero when I came to a stop in a rest area. I immediately shut the van off and checked the oil, which was full.
After restarting the engine, the oil pressure gauge read normal again so I proceeded on my way down the road keeping a close eye on the gauge. Within minutes the gauge started fluctuating from zero to normal several times and then dropped to zero and stayed there. It sounded like I was getting some top end clacking (may have been my imagination) so I shut off the engine while driving and restarted it and the pressure gauge started reading normal again.
I drove to the next exit and figured it must be the sending unit acting up, so I checked the wiring at the unit for a possible loose connection and finished my 150 mile trip with no further issues with the oil pressure gauge.
I have run the van locally on short trips but I am afraid of making any long distance runs without knowing for sure if it was the sending unit or perhaps another more serious problem.
Any thoughts, or recommendations?
thanks
After restarting the engine, the oil pressure gauge read normal again so I proceeded on my way down the road keeping a close eye on the gauge. Within minutes the gauge started fluctuating from zero to normal several times and then dropped to zero and stayed there. It sounded like I was getting some top end clacking (may have been my imagination) so I shut off the engine while driving and restarted it and the pressure gauge started reading normal again.
I drove to the next exit and figured it must be the sending unit acting up, so I checked the wiring at the unit for a possible loose connection and finished my 150 mile trip with no further issues with the oil pressure gauge.
I have run the van locally on short trips but I am afraid of making any long distance runs without knowing for sure if it was the sending unit or perhaps another more serious problem.
Any thoughts, or recommendations?
thanks
If you have above the minimal amount of oil pressure it's on and if not then it's off. The reading you see on the gauge is never the true oil pressure.
I also experienced the clacking or ticking. I fixed this problem with 2 oil changes.
The first oil change was done with Sea Foam added to the oil to free the lifters and get the inside of the engine cleaner so the ticking could go away. It took about a week of driving before the ticking stopped.
About 3 weeks later the second oil change was done with the additive (restore). The second oil change was done to make sure that any waste from the first cleanup was out of the system. I came close to just flushing the oil system but it was not necessary. I chose to use the additive restore to help with compression issues.
Have not had a problem with the oil pressure since then. This is just what worked for me. I have a 1997 Aerostar XLT Sport.
Good Luck
Senior User
Joined: May 2011
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Hi, I have a 96 aerostar with just over 100,000 miles. Recently, after driving about an hour at highway speeds I noticed the oil pressure dropped to zero when I came to a stop in a rest area. I immediately shut the van off and checked the oil, which was full.
After restarting the engine, the oil pressure gauge read normal again so I proceeded on my way down the road keeping a close eye on the gauge. Within minutes the gauge started fluctuating from zero to normal several times and then dropped to zero and stayed there. It sounded like I was getting some top end clacking (may have been my imagination) so I shut off the engine while driving and restarted it and the pressure gauge started reading normal again.
I drove to the next exit and figured it must be the sending unit acting up, so I checked the wiring at the unit for a possible loose connection and finished my 150 mile trip with no further issues with the oil pressure gauge.
I have run the van locally on short trips but I am afraid of making any long distance runs without knowing for sure if it was the sending unit or perhaps another more serious problem.
Any thoughts, or recommendations?
thanks
After restarting the engine, the oil pressure gauge read normal again so I proceeded on my way down the road keeping a close eye on the gauge. Within minutes the gauge started fluctuating from zero to normal several times and then dropped to zero and stayed there. It sounded like I was getting some top end clacking (may have been my imagination) so I shut off the engine while driving and restarted it and the pressure gauge started reading normal again.
I drove to the next exit and figured it must be the sending unit acting up, so I checked the wiring at the unit for a possible loose connection and finished my 150 mile trip with no further issues with the oil pressure gauge.
I have run the van locally on short trips but I am afraid of making any long distance runs without knowing for sure if it was the sending unit or perhaps another more serious problem.
Any thoughts, or recommendations?
thanks
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 70
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This link is where I read about Aerostars having just an on/off switch in place of a sending unit. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...e-reading.html
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Its a scary feeling looking down at the gauge and seeing it with no reading at all.
I am thinking about making a 1500 mile trip, but wonder if I should change the oil pump before I do.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2011
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I've heard that it's not uncommon for gauges to become faulty. I think it's most likely the gauge needing to be replaced since your oil pressure turned out ok from a mechanical gauge test.
I unfortunately really did have low oil pressure back then.
I unfortunately really did have low oil pressure back then.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Washington state
the oil gauge switch in the oil gallery is a known failure point in these.
Ford never relied on the cheap switch. They use the oil level switch on the side of the oil pan to tell the PCM if the oil level is too low. Computer will shut down engine if the oil level switch is activated.
Ford went to these Idiot oil pressure on/off switch gauges to keep the soccer moms from driving service managers crazy.
Ford never relied on the cheap switch. They use the oil level switch on the side of the oil pan to tell the PCM if the oil level is too low. Computer will shut down engine if the oil level switch is activated.
Ford went to these Idiot oil pressure on/off switch gauges to keep the soccer moms from driving service managers crazy.
I did have a local garage check the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge and he said it was fine. The thing that confuses me the most is why by turning off the engine and restarting it made the oil pressure read normal again.
Its a scary feeling looking down at the gauge and seeing it with no reading at all.
I am thinking about making a 1500 mile trip, but wonder if I should change the oil pump before I do.
Its a scary feeling looking down at the gauge and seeing it with no reading at all.
I am thinking about making a 1500 mile trip, but wonder if I should change the oil pump before I do.
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From: SoCal
In my van, the oil level switch just triggers a light in the lower cluster; it does not affect the engine operation. It did leak for the longest time, sort of justifying its existence, so I have seen the light come on many times.
The oil pressure switch works with my digital dash. If it's low, the display will flash the low oil pressure warning and make beeping noises, but again, does nothing to turn off the engine. I once got a false alarm from this due to bad contacts on the electronic modules that control the dash displays. In my case, the oil level on the dipstick looked fine, and there was no clacking noise as would be if the engine was really low on oil. I took a chance and whacked the top of the instrument pod, and the alarm and noise stopped. I was able to drive home and take the panel apart to check out the parts. They're like really big integrated circuits in really big sockets. I took them out, cleaned the pins, reinstalled, and all was well again.
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