Low oil pressure issue.

[EA82]

Car is a 1996 mustang gt
Mileage is 150k +
The oil pressure needle stays on the low side of the normal band on the oil pressure gauge, between N and O, for those of you who are familiar with this particular model.
Oil grade is 5w30, which is what the owners manual calls for. The low oil light comes on from time to time even though the oil level is fine. According to the owners manual the low oil light only indicates the oil level and not the pressure.
Is this something that needs attention right away ? Can I continue to drive it as long as the needle stays within the normal band ? What do you pros think could cause this ?
All input is appreciated.

 

[Brons2]

Maybe go up to Xw40? Rotella T6 is 5w40 and has SM rating for gasoline engines. Available at Walmart.

Or perhaps a high mileage oil? Some of the High Mileage 5w30 and 10w30 oils are on the thicker side.

You're in Florida, so running a thicker oil shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Chris142]

Most likely a bad sender

 

[spasm3]

Is the oil pressure better when the engine is cold and falls a lot when warm? This could mean a lot of clearance in the main bearings. If the pressure is low all the time, probably a bad sending unit. Either way , replace the sending unit first.

 

[EA82]

No the pressure stays the same no matter if engine is cold or driven for an hour.

 

[another Todd]

Confirm proper oil pressure with a mechanical gauge then go from there.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: laserred96gt
No the pressure stays the same no matter if engine is cold or driven for an hour.


I bet its the sender then.

 

[crazyoildude]

oil sender??
Is it an idiot guage? Most fords dont have real oil gauges they look real but they are not

 

[mechtech2]

Check the sending unit first.

 

[OVERKILL]

Check the sender, but the gauge is an idiot gauge and doesn't tell you actual oil pressure, so what you are seeing is not representative of what is happening in your engine.

With respect to the oil level sensor, it is located about half-way up the pan and may be going bad if it is causing the "low oil" light to come on. However, the sender in my '87 worked fine (and probably still works fine) for well over 300,000Km

If you are really concerned, go buy yourself an Autometer mechanical gauge and plumb that in.