• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Oil pressure question?

  • Thread starter Thread starter SMOKEDYA
  • Start date Start date Feb 19, 2006

SMOKEDYA

20+ Year Stangneter
Jul 13, 2003
3,637
8
79
Tucson AZ
Feb 19, 2006
#1
  • Feb 19, 2006
  • #1
I have a 93 notch 5.0, so when i'm out driving it the oil pressure gauge reads high and sometimes only when i come to a stop and it idols down's it reads 0 pressure, but as soon as you touch the throttle it goes right back up thern back to 0 as soon as it idols down again. It dosent do this all the time tho, but it does do it most of the time and mostly when its warmed up to normal temp. So could it be the oil pump or just a falty sending unit or gauge? I have an bad leaking pan gasket but i always keep the oil toped off. Any ideas? I have all stock gauges and the block has about 130xxx BTW. peace


john
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Feb 19, 2006
#2
  • Feb 19, 2006
  • #2
I would check the sender connection to make sure it is tight and clean.

An aftermarket gauge would help you a lot - even if just toss it on there for a few days (leave it sitting on the pass seat or something).

Do you hear any weird noises when it reads 0?

Good luck.
 
8

86bluecobra

Advanced Member
Dec 20, 2004
4,265
12
69
B.C. Canada
Feb 20, 2006
#3
  • Feb 20, 2006
  • #3
yah i would say sender aswell. My bro inlaws car does this aswell. never hear any top end noises so we assume that the gauge or sender is faulty.
 

srothfuss

Last night I stabbed the same guy 7 times in a row
Oct 17, 2004
1,796
3
0
Woodward Ave.
Feb 20, 2006
#4
  • Feb 20, 2006
  • #4
As long as you don't hear any rod knock's while it reads 0PSI than you are OK. Try switching to a thicker oil as a temporary solution. Eventually, a better gauge will be required to moniter your engines vital signs.
 

BlownFiveLiter

have car, will race....wait, it doesn't run
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
3,133
18
108
Chicagoland
Feb 20, 2006
#5
  • Feb 20, 2006
  • #5
My guess is right there with the others, that it's the sending unit. It's also possible that you have a bad ground, as my 95 does this exact same thing, but it's caused by a bad engine ground, since I have other issues as well.
 
O

oldman

New Member
Nov 6, 2002
43
0
0
Austin, Texas
Feb 20, 2006
#6
  • Feb 20, 2006
  • #6
My 93 kind of did the same thing. My original gage registered very low. Replaced sending unit. Now it's 3/4 the way up, and stays there. It may not be accurate, but it's consistant!!!

Randy
 

vristang

15 Year Member
Mar 31, 2005
4,933
101
124
Seattle
Feb 20, 2006
#7
  • Feb 20, 2006
  • #7
Maybe Hissin will remember better details than I can right now, but I thought there was a thread recently that talked about the different sending units used on Fox bodies and SN95s. It seemed that the 2 applications had the sending unit scales calibrated differently. It may be worth the time to run the part number on your current sending unit and make sure that both of you (STangGT1995 and SMOKEDYA), are using SN95 sending units, and not the Fox body units.

Maybe I am confused or way off base, but I thought I would bring it up.

jason
 

69Rcode_Mach1

Active Member
Apr 20, 2004
1,473
1
37
Salt Lake City, Utah
Feb 20, 2006
#8
  • Feb 20, 2006
  • #8
Sending unit, mine is the same way. The POS drops off to zero and sometimes it is working properly.
 

BlownFiveLiter

have car, will race....wait, it doesn't run
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
3,133
18
108
Chicagoland
Feb 20, 2006
#9
  • Feb 20, 2006
  • #9
Mine's definitely the stocker. It's been good until around 99k miles, and I've had the car for almost 7 years, and 80k miles of its life.
 

1988WHTGT

Member
Mar 31, 2005
270
0
17
Guyton, GA
Feb 20, 2006
#10
  • Feb 20, 2006
  • #10
Mine would drop to zero everytime I would get on it....the wire that goes to the sending unit was just loose...clamped it down with some pliers for a tight fit and it was fine
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Feb 20, 2006
#11
  • Feb 20, 2006
  • #11
Jason - I remember what you are talking about. The fox sender is supposed to be somewhat calibrated with a few graduations (though the reading is still hysteretic). THe 94-95 sender is supposed to basically read somewhere near the middle, or if pressure drops below about 7 psi, it falls to zero.

Matt might have seen info along those lines on the 94-95 side too.

Adding an extra gauge is so stupid simple (It is tons easier on a fox than 94-95) that I would do just that.

If someone doesnt want the gauge inside the car permanently, it could be mounted under the hood (for reference while wrenching). See Jrichker's car for pics of an underhood oil pressure gauge.

Good luck.
 
B

bsedwebt70-5.0

New Member
Jul 1, 2004
320
0
0
Charlottesville, VA
Feb 20, 2006
#12
  • Feb 20, 2006
  • #12
get a real mechanical guage on there ASAP!!!!! Mine did EXACTLY the same thing and I put a mechanical guage on it with 112k - cold idle was 50lbs and as it warmed up it dropped to 8psi hot idle - NO knocking sounds or anything - plenty of power etc... I did not like that reading so the motor is out now and I was about to kill the cylinders -- the crank and rod bearings were worn to almost nothing and the crank was scored very badly - so bad that the machine shop would not turn it since they said it has a slight bend to it too! I got lucky and did not have to re-bore as the scratches did not get deep or into the ring area of the bore - just a quick hone job and new rings, bearings, stock crank from Motorsports and now I am making it a bit better with an E cam, intake, mild head porting, all new hoses, water pump, etc....
 

SMOKEDYA

20+ Year Stangneter
Jul 13, 2003
3,637
8
79
Tucson AZ
Feb 20, 2006
#13
  • Feb 20, 2006
  • #13
Ok well thanks guy's , and from the sounds of it , it is the sending unit. And thats what i was thinking as well! peace






john
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Weird Voltage & Oil Pressure Gauges
  • PNN
  • May 22, 2026
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
103
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech May 22, 2026
PNN
P
D
Engine Question about oil pressure gauge
  • dqureshi06
  • Dec 30, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
433
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Dec 31, 2024
General karthief
M
01 mustang 3.8 fuel pressure issue
  • Mhaley2006
  • May 29, 2026
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
334
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Aug 9, 2026
JohnKay
J
B
Engine Another no start after washing engine bay
  • bruno
  • Apr 26, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
24
Views
835
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 7, 2026
AeroCoupe
Engine Gas in my oil
  • limp
  • Jun 15, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
35
Views
2K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 16, 2026
Mindseye007
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?