Gauge or engine problem
#1
Gauge or engine problem
Ford Ranger 4.0 liter 6 cyl
Sometimes, it did this about three times, when starting the car in the cold after it has been sitting outside, the oil pressure gauge does not register. (And the check gauges light is on). I drive the truck about a block down the road and the pressure gauge jumps for a split second to the normal range and then settles back down to its lowest setting. After driving another block it does this again. By about the third city block it jumps into the normal range for the remainder of the trip.
Is this most likely as sensor problem , or perhaps the type of oil I'm using (a synthetic blend). Or do you all think I'm crazy for putting the truck in gear after I see the gauge report no oil pressure after starting.
Only happned about three times in the whole time I've owned the truck since new, 5 years.
Sometimes, it did this about three times, when starting the car in the cold after it has been sitting outside, the oil pressure gauge does not register. (And the check gauges light is on). I drive the truck about a block down the road and the pressure gauge jumps for a split second to the normal range and then settles back down to its lowest setting. After driving another block it does this again. By about the third city block it jumps into the normal range for the remainder of the trip.
Is this most likely as sensor problem , or perhaps the type of oil I'm using (a synthetic blend). Or do you all think I'm crazy for putting the truck in gear after I see the gauge report no oil pressure after starting.
Only happned about three times in the whole time I've owned the truck since new, 5 years.
#2
I am not the expert in this Forum but the problem sounds familiar. Please don't think that this is definately your problem until some of our experts answer here.
My 92 F-150 was doing the same thing. In the end, it was the oil pump screen that was plugged up. Mechanic said it was caused by additives and the (major) brand oil I always used. Good luck and watch this post for the expert opinions and answers.
My 92 F-150 was doing the same thing. In the end, it was the oil pump screen that was plugged up. Mechanic said it was caused by additives and the (major) brand oil I always used. Good luck and watch this post for the expert opinions and answers.
#3
i decided to rebuild a ford 351m for similar symptoms. the rockers were clattering and pressure dropped. pulling the valve covers, i could hardly see the rockers. after dropped the pan i saw the main problem. there was a nice little resevoir around my oil pickup screed created by the sludge. once the resevoir was depleted the pressure dropped. oil was changed every 3000 miles and the van had many 600 mile one way trips back and forth from jersey to nc so city driving was not at fault. that was the last bottle of clacker state oil i ever bought. were you using the green death too ?
#4
No I use a Walmart brand oil and filter called Supertech. But I do leave the truck sit for a period of time usually over the spring and summer months. Maybe I have some sludge. That's what the two of you both defined as a possible problem.
#5
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Since you are the original owner of the vehicle you probably know how well you have treated it. If you have been using that blend since new and it has happened 3 times in 5 years, I would take a closer look at the oil pressure sensor and check for a problem there. That Walmart oil isn't the greatest but the synthetic blend will be higher in detergents than other oils. I've seen the sludge problem as well but that usually finds its roots in oils high in parafin. This was found more with Pennsylvania crudes than others. You can remove the the sensor and thread a pressure gaugue into the hole with some teflon tape to get a reading of actual pressure. I have a Mazda B-4000 with the same engine, it had a rub spot in the wiring that shorted out the signal every so often. If you still don't have pressure then I'd drop the pan. Just an opinion.
#6
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Sounds like a bad sensor. During the first few bolcks in the morning do you hear any abnormal engine noise of valve tapping, this would be associated with a lack of oil pressure. My guess is that you have good oil pressure but the sensor isn't detecting the pressure, hense the reason for the "check your gauge" light.
#7
The engine sound with the check gauges light on is the same tone and rythym with it off. There is not a differential in performance or sound when the light flicks off and the pressure gauge registers. I have never heard any valve tapping and or pinging with this engine.
The sensor wire being rubbed was a good tip and I will check that. Hopefully it was being rubbed under the hood and not deep inside the dash somewhere.
I also didn't mention that I park the truck on a steep driveway (uphill) and only have noticed it after I had pulled in the driveway. If I back into the driveway (which I do maybe 10% of the time) I have never seen it do this.
Is there anything in an oil pressure sensor that would make them fluctuate under cold conditions?
The sensor wire being rubbed was a good tip and I will check that. Hopefully it was being rubbed under the hood and not deep inside the dash somewhere.
I also didn't mention that I park the truck on a steep driveway (uphill) and only have noticed it after I had pulled in the driveway. If I back into the driveway (which I do maybe 10% of the time) I have never seen it do this.
Is there anything in an oil pressure sensor that would make them fluctuate under cold conditions?