Oil Pressure Woes

[shonoff]

My oil pressure has always been right in the middle of the stock guage.Recently the pressure reading on the guage will drop down to the 1/4 mark but will come right back up to the middle.85% of the time the guage reads right in the middle and doesnt move,and the other 15% the pressure will go down but come right back to the middle.The car is pretty much a stock 93 auto w/123K.I have been running Valvoline full synthetic 10w 30,and motorcraft filter for some time without this problem.Is this the sending unit or something else?

 

[sgarlic]

I'd check the sending unit before I'd assume it's anything else. A sudden change like that leads me to believe it could very well be the sender.

 

[TomCat]

Yeah check the sending unit. I had the same thing happen to me, freaked out for a couple days... then forked over the ~17 bucks to change it out. Fixed her right up!
Also, hows your oil consupmtion with that fully synthetic oil?

 

[shonoff]

Yeah check the sending unit. I had the same thing happen to me, freaked out for a couple days... then forked over the ~17 bucks to change it out. Fixed her right up!
Also, hows your oil consupmtion with that fully synthetic oil?

Can I just get a new new sending unit at autozone?Or is it a dealer part?Oh yeah,no oil consumption problems.Thanks for the replies.

 

[HISSIN50]

New sender at CSK was 10 bucks when I got mine.

A real gauge is the real solution, but a new sender might put your mind at ease.

Good luck.

 

[shonoff]

Just an update for those who search---It was the sender.The guage was reading wrong about 2 lines on the guage.Now it holds steady on the O on NORMAL.Peace of mind for 8 dollars.Not too bad.

 

[Morales]

Where is the sending unit on the car? and how easy is it to isntall? Im having the same exact problem on my car.

 

[Morales]

bump!

 

[1989MustangLX]

On the front drivers side of the block, there is a "fitting" coming out near the timing cover. The oil pressure sender is on a 90 degree angle to the fitting, and it just threads in with a wrench. I think the wire that goes to it is red/yellow or red/white. It looks kind of like a bell. Hope that helps.

 

[Kerpal]

How much should the stock gauge fluctuate while driving? Mine sits at about 1/4 at idle with the engine warmed up, goes up to around 2/3 or 3/4 under load, and usually is around 1/3 to half while cruising.

I'm running 10W30 Mobil 1, but it was the same with 10W30 dino oil.