Oil pressure stays low.

[DallasJ_TSi]

It just happend today and we brought it back to park it. I searched and couldnt find anything about it just staying low.

When you turn the key to on the guage jumps to zero. When you start it the oil pressure hits the first hash above the red line. Im gonna change the oil and filter cause ive only had this car for maybe 2k miles and havent done it yet...Like maybe the filter is clogged.

With the given faults would it be possible the pump or sending unit is bad?

Oh another thing, reving it up or driving at hwy speed(it all started when i was in another city) didnt change anything. It just slightly moves (we're talking mm's here) from idle to cruise.

I watched the guage all the way home and listened for noises, but it all sounded normal and the guage stayed right there.

-Dallas J

 

[HISSIN50]

i think your gauges suck as bad as fox gauges. they are inaccurate and have built in hysteresis, as you have seen. i would hook up a mech or quality elec gauge and see what is really goin on. new sender may help a little, but the gauge is still not great.

you are topped up oil wise, right? had to ask.
my two cents.
good luck

 

[Rootus]

The stock gauge shouldn't move at all based on pressure -- it's an on-off gauge, just like an idiot light. If it moves at all, then you likely have an electrical problem (check for broken or loose ground straps). Any of your other gauges acting strange or different from usual?

Dave

 

[mo_dingo]

First check to see if you are low on oil (free & easy). That could cause a serious problem. But your "low oil" light should come on if this was the case.

If Dave is right, get out the voltmeter and clean/test those connections.
Scott

 

[DallasJ_TSi]

Can I just get a cheap water pressure guage and some fittings from home depot do check it? I think I would have to drill out the restricter hole in it a little cause the oil is thicker.

Where do you plumb the oil pressure guage on a Mustang? Any one have a FAQ or VFAQ for it?

-Dallas J

 

[HISSIN50]

i would just get a mech oil pressure gauge from the parts store. they can be had for 10 bucks.

if you want to permanently mount it, get a Tee (from parts store or home store) and some adapters - the stock sender is 1/4" IIRC. many aftermarket senders are 1/8" (electric sender). you can also remove the hex tube and tap a hole for a mech gauge fitting. it all depends on what type of gauge you get.

anyhow, piece together plumbing, depending upon how permanent you want it. simply, a mech gauge in lieu of the stock sender is the easiest, IMHO. if you want it in the car permanently, let us know - there are some ins and outs with the choice of line you run.

so within 5 minutes or so, you can see what pressure you have.

good luck.

 

[Joe 5.0]

I had the same thing, my oil pressure would always be by the N in normal. I bought a new oil sender unit for like $10 I think and replaced the sensor and now it reads by the A. I did it more for aesthetics than anything, because I know the oil pressure is fine, but people would comment on it all the time.

 

[DallasJ_TSi]

Thanks. Tomarrow ill go get the parts to do it all, but I wont be able to get to it till next monday. Im going to the drag strip on friday with the Talon, and have to get ready tomarrow. Then this weekend is my Reserve Drill.

Hehe, The oil is good. Just to get it out of the way I am a mechanic just didnt know some of the specifics of mustangs as Ive worked on bigger trucks mostly.

I think Im gonna get some aluminum and make a mount so a mechanical oil pressure guage can sit under the hood. I dont need to look at it all the time and would rather have it out of the way.

-Dallas J

 

[yellow5.0cobra]

it WOULD be a good idea to keep an eye on it.

mount it on the cowl or in the cockpit.

one day if your oil pressure goes out, and you dont KNOW, its too late, your engine is trashed.

And to think it COULD have been saved if just the oil shaft snapped or something stupid.

 

[DallasJ_TSi]

it WOULD be a good idea to keep an eye on it.

mount it on the cowl or in the cockpit.

one day if your oil pressure goes out, and you dont KNOW, its too late, your engine is trashed.

And to think it COULD have been saved if just the oil shaft snapped or something stupid.

Yeah, I know... I just dont want to run a mechanical oil guage in my car, and I dont run this car hard at all. It has 156k miles on it and if the motor goes then its an excuse to rebuild some stuff .

Also If the oil pressure totally goes away(less than 8psi from what ive read, right?) then the oil pressure light will come on.
Ill just know shut it down right then, and go check things out.

One other thing though is I rarely look at my guages and unless their was a warning light I wouldnt catch it as it was burning up anyways