Low Oil Pressure...HELP! Daily Driver
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Watertown, TN Wilson CO.
hey yall, my name is Ken, I have a 94 F150 with a 300 I6 Im either having low oil pressure or the sensor is about shot. mine reads somewhere before the "N" in NORMAL on the gauge. im thinking that the sensor is going out. because my truck doesnt knock or tick or anything of that sorts. i change the oil as regularly as possible only using OEM recommended oil 5w20. now it does work because when i change my oil and the pump primes the filter the gauge sweeps from L to right before the "N" and stays there its rarely ever moves altho it does move sometimes but hardley if any.
thanks in advance
Pvt. Ken Klein Army National Guard
thanks in advance
Pvt. Ken Klein Army National Guard
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 7
From: Des Moines, Iowa
ken,
Keep in mind you are looking at the "IDIOT LIGHT" if the truck senses oil pressure it will kick the guage on... What you need is an actual mechanicle oil pressure guage. Look around online for an "auto meter" brand mechanicle oil pressure guage and wire it up inside your cab. It's the ONLY way you will get real time oil pressure, and to actually know if your not getting the proper amount of oil flow. They are cheap enough and will aid you in the future... if you want to make it all pretty...LMC Truck Parts - Page 86
Keep in mind you are looking at the "IDIOT LIGHT" if the truck senses oil pressure it will kick the guage on... What you need is an actual mechanicle oil pressure guage. Look around online for an "auto meter" brand mechanicle oil pressure guage and wire it up inside your cab. It's the ONLY way you will get real time oil pressure, and to actually know if your not getting the proper amount of oil flow. They are cheap enough and will aid you in the future... if you want to make it all pretty...LMC Truck Parts - Page 86
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Watertown, TN Wilson CO.
well see heres the thing, my friend has the same truck i do. down to the same engine.. but his oil gauge seems to work right. well it runs smack dab in the middle. but maybe its because hes running 10w30 or 10w40.. im wondering if the sending unit may have gone bad?? also changed my plugs today and got a tach.. everything went swell putting in the new plugs other than 2 stubborn ones...
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
well see heres the thing, my friend has the same truck i do. down to the same engine.. but his oil gauge seems to work right. well it runs smack dab in the middle. but maybe its because hes running 10w30 or 10w40.. im wondering if the sending unit may have gone bad?? also changed my plugs today and got a tach.. everything went swell putting in the new plugs other than 2 stubborn ones...
Since you said you have no knocks or ticks, we can guess you have oil pressure. How much pressure would only be determined with a real oil pressure gauge.
Most likely your switch is going out or it has a bad connection.
Somewhere on the forum is a tutorial/how-to concerning making that 'ididot light' work like an actual gauge. It involves jumping out the resistor and using a real sending unit instead of a switch.
Ray
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Watertown, TN Wilson CO.
yeah im almost guarenteeting that the switch is going out... now that you tell me that.. im headed to MO just had my oil changed recently... and i just checked it today and everything looks fantastic. also put new plugs in taday too and that seems to make it run better WAY better...
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 7
From: Des Moines, Iowa
I don't suppose you know or remember the title of that thread do you??? I'm about to put the mechanicle guage in mine and would rather rewire the dash (if it's easier) instead of getting a A-pilar guage cluster... Please let me know if you find it!
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 593
Likes: 15
From: Wichita, KS
I have found that the connection to the sending unit has gotten a little loose at times causing my oil pressure (gauge) to drop really low, even causing the dummy light to come on. Squeezing the contact in the wire "just a tad" to make a more solid connection made it all better. Trying this or replacing the sending unit is sure a lot easier than dropping the pan to find nothing wrong.
Dave
Dave
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Kamloops BC
I just did this and here is a bit of info from that thread. Take reference to the Subford info shown 06-18-2010 as well.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...e-reading.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...e-reading.html
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 7
From: Des Moines, Iowa
I just did this and here is a bit of info from that thread. Take reference to the Subford info shown 06-18-2010 as well.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...e-reading.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...e-reading.html
Ok maybe I am an idiot myself but I'm not seeing a post by subford on 06-18 on this thread or the thread link you left above...
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Kamloops BC
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...onversion.html
Half way down there's mention of the 45 degree adaptor and a picture of the sending unit. The Echlin number is is earlier in the post. In my case with 95 302 I had to bring the 45 degree adaptor out further and did that with the addition of two M-F brass fittings. When the older style sending unit is installed, it will give a variable output. The 20 ohm resistor that is in series with the oil pressure gauge input at the back of the console need to be jumpered out so the resistor is out of the circuit to the gauge.
Half way down there's mention of the 45 degree adaptor and a picture of the sending unit. The Echlin number is is earlier in the post. In my case with 95 302 I had to bring the 45 degree adaptor out further and did that with the addition of two M-F brass fittings. When the older style sending unit is installed, it will give a variable output. The 20 ohm resistor that is in series with the oil pressure gauge input at the back of the console need to be jumpered out so the resistor is out of the circuit to the gauge.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 7
From: Des Moines, Iowa
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...onversion.html
Half way down there's mention of the 45 degree adaptor and a picture of the sending unit. The Echlin number is is earlier in the post. In my case with 95 302 I had to bring the 45 degree adaptor out further and did that with the addition of two M-F brass fittings. When the older style sending unit is installed, it will give a variable output. The 20 ohm resistor that is in series with the oil pressure gauge input at the back of the console need to be jumpered out so the resistor is out of the circuit to the gauge.
Half way down there's mention of the 45 degree adaptor and a picture of the sending unit. The Echlin number is is earlier in the post. In my case with 95 302 I had to bring the 45 degree adaptor out further and did that with the addition of two M-F brass fittings. When the older style sending unit is installed, it will give a variable output. The 20 ohm resistor that is in series with the oil pressure gauge input at the back of the console need to be jumpered out so the resistor is out of the circuit to the gauge.
Seems pretty easy... I could do that! I am guessing this could also apply to my 300 I6... Does anyone have a picture of the resistor/ resistor location??? I'd have no idea what it looks like but would have no problem soldering in 1 piece of wire to jump the resistor! How much is a new sending unit?