Oil Pressure !
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Kent, WA
Oil Pressure !
Yesterday while changing my oil I decided to put in a new oil pressure sending unit. My old one just read 80+ all the time. When I put the new one in and started it up, it only read 10 all the time! Even when I was driving it around, the pressure never changed. Is my gauge toasted, or what else could be wrong?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 9
From: Sun River St. George
Oil Pressure !
Take the wire off the sending unit, turn on the switch, the gage should not move. Ground the wire, the gage should peg. If this test turns out OKAY! I'd say you got the wrong sending unit or the engine has low oil pressure. The oil pressure should fluctuate lower at idle, higher at rpm. This is why I like idiot lights, turn on the switch get a light fire the engine light goes out and I can concentrate on enjoying the ride.
New User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Des Moines, Wa.
Oil Pressure !
I thought I had bad oil pressure the in dash gauge was reading 10lb while driving and 0lb at idle. So I put in a oil pressure gauge that I had laying around. With a real gauge its running 60lb while driving and 20lb at idle. Theres nothing better than having a good gauge and they dont cost alot.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Omaha USA
Oil Pressure !
I agree with rustyf100, You shouldnt trust 30+ year old gauges. I got a set of sunpro gauges for the oil, water temp, and volts for 35 bucks. I ran a "T" at the oil pressure gauge and tapped into an extra hole I had plugged for the water so I could still run my original gauges and the new ones. This way you can compare them both and see if it is an oil pressure problem or a gauge problem.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Kent, WA
Oil Pressure !
I'm thinking that it is a gauge problem. I grounded the wire out and it peged, then I waranteed my sending unit, got a new one, and I still got the same results. It always reads 10, except for at first startup, then it gradually goes up to 10.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Oil Pressure !
Buy a mechanical oil pressure guage kit, preferably with copper tubing but plastic works fine. Even if you dont install it permantly. Just hook it up to see what you have. I feel that mechanical guages are more accurate because they don't rely on any voltage. Voltage can fluctuate alot in these old trucks. You probably have one of those small voltage regulators mounted on the back of the cluster. Ford used these to compensate for voltage "jumps" and smooth out the needles. It might be your culprit.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Scoarch
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
12
Nov 19, 2012 07:26 AM
electek58
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
3
Mar 28, 2011 02:05 PM
briansc99exp
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
2
Jul 16, 2006 09:14 AM
Googenheimer
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
8
Jul 12, 2006 10:45 PM
