Problem with oil temp guage

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Nov 19, 2004 | 07:31 AM

palajoe

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From: Jasper, IN

Problem with oil temp guage

On my '97 F250, when I turn the engine on after sitting all night, my oil temp guage immediately jumps to right in the middle of the guage and doesn't budge either way no matter how long I drive it. It only jumps to the middle after the engine is running, not when the key is inserted and the other guages and idiot lights turn on. Is this most likely a problem with the guage itself or a problem at the sending unit? Is this an emergency situation that needs to be fixed now, or can I wait a few weeks to take it to the stealership? (I don't plan on doing any towing anytime soon, just taking a trip from Indiana to NY tomorrow)

BTW-The coolant temp guage seems to be working fine.

Thanks,
Joe

Last edited by palajoe; Nov 19, 2004 at 07:36 AM.

Nov 19, 2004 | 08:21 AM

barebackjake

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From: STEPHENVILLE,TX!!!!!

oil temp or oil pressure??

Nov 19, 2004 | 10:43 AM

farmb0y

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From: IOWA

It's probably your oil pressure gauge, and it will probably never move unless something major is wrong with your engine. What it is doing is good, but I wouldn't put too much trust in the gauge.

Nov 19, 2004 | 08:13 PM

barebackjake

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From: STEPHENVILLE,TX!!!!!

if its the oil pressure its just controlled by a sender that is just a switch on at 6 psi off below that the gauge will always be in the middle

Nov 20, 2004 | 03:46 PM

palajoe

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From: Jasper, IN

Boy, do I feel like an idiot! About 30 minutes after I posted this message, on my way to work, it dawned on me that it is an oil pressure guage, NOT an oil temp guage. And it is probably doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing. Sorry for wasting everyone's time with a silly question. I've only had the truck for a week, and I guess I am hyper-sensitive to any perceived problem with the truck. I do agree with most people on this site in that I have an ingrained mistrust of the factory guages and I hope to upgrade to some guages that actually tell you something useful in the future. BTW, I averaged 20.75 mpg on the trip from Indiana to NY today. That is about a 2 mpg improvement since I added the Diesel Kleen and the canopy. I'm very pleased with the truck so far!

Joe

Nov 20, 2004 | 11:23 PM

kevin265

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So the pressure gauge is hooked to a switch!? No wonder the damn thing never moves. I thought it was strange that I had the same PSI in the summer as the winter!