Oil light on/pressure gauge down. Now it's back. Now it's down.
What is your question?
I pulled my '01 F-150 out of my driveway today and before I left the street, my oil light came on and the oil pressure gauge dropped to the bottom. Within a couple seconds, the light was off and the gauge was back to normal levels, only for the light to come back on and the gauge to drop again just as fast. Obviously turned right the heck around and drove my other car instead. But I'd like to know what any of y'all think I might be looking at. Checked cost of oil pump replacement and pressure sender replacement. Would much rather replace the sender. But I've gotta know my chances.
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First check the oil level,if level is OK put down a big drain pan, unscrew the oil filter and get a friend to crank over the engine being prepared to turn it off immediately, If the oil pump is producing pressure oil should come out of the filter area under pressure. Did you hear any rattling sound? If not I hope its only a faulty sensor. I would try replacing the engine oil oil filter and sender unit and start the engine see if the problem then goes away but you were wise not to drive the car without first confirming you have oil pressure. There is a company that independent auto repair shops get their information from, this same information is available inexpensively for people that work on their own cars.. The information is year make and model specific, covering repair procedures, torque specifications, fluid capacities and specifications, service bulletins, component locations, wiring diagrams ect.... Alldata is very easy to navigate http://bit.ly/AllData_Repair_Manuals_Online
The oil level was good. Just had the oil changed a little over a week ago. My biggest concern is the oil pressure gauge dropping. If the gauge stayed up, I wouldn't worry about the light. Can the pressure sending unit cause the gauge to drop as well?
EDIT: OK, did some more looking, and discovered that Ford uses the oil gauge just like an idiot light. They are both indicators for the oil pressure switch. So, I pulled the sender (switch, whatever) and put in a new one. No light, gauge stays normal. Will give it time to make sure I don't see more symptoms of a bad pump, but so far....Problem solved. (This is me doing a happy dance)
IVE.HAD THIS PROBLEM BEING AN OWNER OF THE 4.6 MORE THAN ONCE..IF OIL LEVEL.IS.UP AND REASONABLE CLEAN WITH NO GAS IN IT..ITS YOUR OIL PREASURE.GAGE SAME AS BOTH OF MINE 20.00 FIX
The oil level was good. Just had the oil changed a little over a week ago. My biggest concern is the oil pressure gauge dropping. If the gauge stayed up, I wouldn't worry about the light. Can the pressure sending unit cause the gauge to drop as well? EDIT: OK, did some more looking, and discovered that Ford uses the oil gauge just like an idiot light. They are both indicators for the oil pressure switch. So, I pulled the sender (switch, whatever) and put in a new one. No light, gauge stays normal. Will give it time to make sure I don't see more symptoms of a bad pump, but so far....Problem solved. (This is me doing a happy dance)