When I am coming to a stop after driving on the freeway, my oil gauge reads low then high then low again then evens out. I don't think that it is the gauge because the idle becomes erratic when this is happening. Any help would be appreciated. By the way the engine is 3.0, automatic transmission, 4x2.

 

First, welcome to FTE!!!!

How low do the RPMs drop with the erratic idle? The IAC valve is usually what causes an erratic idle. You can try cleaning it first to see if that fixes your idle problem. It is a cylindrical shaped device with an electrical connection, mounted on the throttle body. One other thing to keep in mind, the newer Fords DO NOT have real oil pressure gauges! The oil pressure sending unit is a "normally open" switch that closes with about 7PSI of oil pressure, causing the oil pressure gauge to read about half scale. They do not show fluctuations in oil pressure, like you would expect with an oil pressure gauge. So, the gauge will either read ZERO pressure, of half scale. If you still have this problem after fixing the idle problem, it is common for the sending units to go bad.

 

i will have to look into the IAC valve. Also one more thing I forgot to mention before, I can smell oil burning when I am accelerating up a hill or under load. I used to own an 2.3l '85 mustang so I am familiar with the smell, but Iwouldn't expect to be burning oil on a truck so new.

 

You say that the guage is either off, or at 1/2 scale becuase it is not a true guage.

When I start my truck in the AM, it is 1/2 way on the oil pressure guage. I drive to work (25 minutes) and by the time I get to work, the guage is at High. It just doesnt jump up there either, it is a gradual increase.

any thoughts?

Thanks,