Help!!! Oil pressure question..
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,450
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From: Baltimore
Help!!! Oil pressure question..
I just purchased a '95 Explorer(just turned 100k) with the 4.0 motor. In the mornings when it's cold and I start it the oil pressure gauge doesn't move at all for about 5 minutes. Then the gauge jumps right to where I would expect it to be. I've changed the oil, no sludge and I don't think there are oil pickup problems. The valves aren't tapping so I believe it's pumping adequete oil. Also, it seems like it takes quite a while for the gas gauge to move to where it should be. Are there any know problems with the gauges on this model?? Also, I'm assuming that if I really didn't have oil pressure, then the 'check engine light' would come on. Is that a valid assumption?? Any help on this would be appreciated.
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 265
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Help!!! Oil pressure question..
Explorers don't have actual pressure gauges. They are just there to make you feel better. There is a shunt behind your instrument panel that makes the gauge read in the normal range. If you disable the shunt and get an actual mechanical sending unit, it will read actual oil pressure. That's why the gauge never moves, even under hard throttle. If the pressure drops below 7 psi (I think), then an oil idiot light will come on and alert you to a low pressure condition. I'm sure someone else will come along and elaborate on this for you. I have no idea why an electrical gauge would not register immediately unless it is sticking or the voltage is low on startup...
New User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
Help!!! Oil pressure question..
Mine was doing similar...turned out to be oil pressure sending unit.
Don't ask me where it is located at...had the dealer change it out when they were doing the camshaft-tensioner fix.
HTH,
Harold Jones
'99 Explorer 4.0L SOHV XLT
'88 Mustang TT Coupe
Don't ask me where it is located at...had the dealer change it out when they were doing the camshaft-tensioner fix.
HTH,
Harold Jones
'99 Explorer 4.0L SOHV XLT
'88 Mustang TT Coupe
