something went wrong...low oil pressure
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Tuned
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 321
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something went wrong...low oil pressure
K so I have a (new to me) 1994 f350 7.5 dually. Checked the tranny oil and seems new. But engine oil was a little dark so decided to change and at same time teach my 12 year old how to do it as well. Went to auto parts and they had a sale going for STP filter an Mobil SUPER. So I bought one for my Honda (5-20) and one for truck (10-30). Thing is when I drive the truck today, the oil pressure sensor is low. Not like zero, but a little over the "normal" range on the low side. I did notice the STP filter was smaller and shorter as well.
Here's my questions. I know a wrong filter can cause this so I'm going to change it as soon as I get home today. But being that the truck had 160k miles, should I be using another weight or another type of oil? If the filter swap don't work I'm assuming I got lost in giving instructions (to my son)and maybe swapped the (5-20) oil into the truck.
If changing the filter first, then oil, don't work what should I look at next? I doubt I test drove the car an missed tht detail. I'm pretty sure it was after the oil change.
Any useful help will be appreciated. Btw I live in s. cal and temp is anywhere from 15-110 F.
Here's my questions. I know a wrong filter can cause this so I'm going to change it as soon as I get home today. But being that the truck had 160k miles, should I be using another weight or another type of oil? If the filter swap don't work I'm assuming I got lost in giving instructions (to my son)and maybe swapped the (5-20) oil into the truck.
If changing the filter first, then oil, don't work what should I look at next? I doubt I test drove the car an missed tht detail. I'm pretty sure it was after the oil change.
Any useful help will be appreciated. Btw I live in s. cal and temp is anywhere from 15-110 F.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
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If the oil pressure is low some of the lifters should start rattling!!
Our 460 once burned blew out, a quart of 15W40 every 75 miles, it got too low many times and would always give an audiable warning and reduced guage pressure on the Ford Meter.
There is also a plugged hole in the drivers side front in the vacinity of the fuel pump cover plate if my docs are correct that is also an oil pressure point.
I know it works because I used it to verify OP when it was on the satnd during OH.
I was going to use if for another guage but I can not get to it unless the ps pump got removed.
I run 15W40 diesel oil in ours since I overhauled it. No leaks, no noises, no consumption, GOOD stuff! Delo by choice,
The HQ diesel oil is actually cheaper than run-of-the-mile Pennzoil or other generic stuff.
This is Texas where it is mostly hot.
In another climate I would run 10W30.
Run anything that mets FMC specs for oil in your area.
Our 460 once burned blew out, a quart of 15W40 every 75 miles, it got too low many times and would always give an audiable warning and reduced guage pressure on the Ford Meter.
There is also a plugged hole in the drivers side front in the vacinity of the fuel pump cover plate if my docs are correct that is also an oil pressure point.
I know it works because I used it to verify OP when it was on the satnd during OH.
I was going to use if for another guage but I can not get to it unless the ps pump got removed.
I run 15W40 diesel oil in ours since I overhauled it. No leaks, no noises, no consumption, GOOD stuff! Delo by choice,
The HQ diesel oil is actually cheaper than run-of-the-mile Pennzoil or other generic stuff.
This is Texas where it is mostly hot.
In another climate I would run 10W30.
Run anything that mets FMC specs for oil in your area.
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Tuned
Joined: May 2009
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So changed filter, no pressure. Changed oil to 10-40, no pressure. Started to remove the sending unit but just couldn't get it off. Grounded the wire and the gauge would only go to the middle, never all the way to high. After many attempts to remove the sender unit I gave up and reconnected the wire, turned truck on and now it reads at mid level. But goes up and down slightly. Will attempt again to remove tomorrow since ran out of light an got real cold and windy.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: 7th realm of hell, Va.
If you grounded the wire and the gage did not peg then that is the problem, the gage in the truck not the sender
matt
matt
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Tuned
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Just a thought here. If by messing/banging/scraping the sender unit it went from not working to half working, wouldn't that indicate there's something wrong with the actual sending unit or wire/connector? Could it be the gauge didn't go all the way to high because it wasn't a good ground?
So is there a fix to the gauge? Let me do a search and see what most are doing to repair this. I really don't want to have to drill install a aftermarket unit. I'd like to keep it stock if possible.
Btw should I leave the Rotella 10-40 in there?
So is there a fix to the gauge? Let me do a search and see what most are doing to repair this. I really don't want to have to drill install a aftermarket unit. I'd like to keep it stock if possible.
Btw should I leave the Rotella 10-40 in there?
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Rotella 10W40 should be fine in all conditions.
I would temperarily get an accurate mechanical gauge to verify what the real HOT ENGINE OP is and use that value to calibrate the dash gauge somewhat.
Ford gauges are at best mechanical references instead of measurement devices. The service manual does not refer to it as a pressure gauge!
AND if NO lifters are ticking you have oil pressure and sometimes if there is a ticker you still have OP.
The sender can be a measirable SOB to get to to get out. Be careful you can break it off at the block. Get an OP sender socket.
I would temperarily get an accurate mechanical gauge to verify what the real HOT ENGINE OP is and use that value to calibrate the dash gauge somewhat.
Ford gauges are at best mechanical references instead of measurement devices. The service manual does not refer to it as a pressure gauge!
AND if NO lifters are ticking you have oil pressure and sometimes if there is a ticker you still have OP.
The sender can be a measirable SOB to get to to get out. Be careful you can break it off at the block. Get an OP sender socket.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
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From: Rhode Island
The oil pressure "sensor" in these trucks are not sensors. They are just switches; If they have 5-7 PSI, they switch on and ground out. The oil pressure gauge is designed to go to the middle once the switch grounds out. The oil pressure gauge is literally functionally equivalent to an oil pressure warning light.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2007
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From: North Reading Mass
No it is not. It's the sender.
The oil pressure "sensor" in these trucks are not sensors. They are just switches; If they have 5-7 PSI, they switch on and ground out. The oil pressure gauge is designed to go to the middle once the switch grounds out. The oil pressure gauge is literally functionally equivalent to an oil pressure warning light.
The oil pressure "sensor" in these trucks are not sensors. They are just switches; If they have 5-7 PSI, they switch on and ground out. The oil pressure gauge is designed to go to the middle once the switch grounds out. The oil pressure gauge is literally functionally equivalent to an oil pressure warning light.
Regards
rikard
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: New Jersey
Agreed. I help install my friend truck with aftermarket oil gauge you put on dash. It's accurate than it is on cluster. Same goes for water temp.
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