Oil pressure bouncing at idle

[NavyVet88]

But it stabilizes when under acceleration. Bad sending unit?

2002 ford ranger edge 3.0L 67k miles

 

[Propflux01]

Be the first place I'd look. Then filter, then gauge itself. In order of most probable.

 

[MParr]

Put a Motorcraft FL-400 oil filter on it and I bet it will stabilize.

 

[Linctex]

Possible pick-up screen issues, as well.

Water in the oil?????

 

[Silver]

Most common cause is a bad sending unit.

The Vulcan also doesn't like a thin 20 weight and will light up occasionally in my experience.

 

[Rand]

Those don't even have a real oil pressure gauge.. its on and off..
IIRC somewhere around 5?psi it jumps to the center and only if it is below that does it move at all.
because people would complain when it wasnt in middle of gauge on earlier models.

I would think its a bad sending unit.

PS I owned a 2002 ranger and worked on a 2005 ranger for a family member(for 8 years) so I'm fairly confident in my statement but its been awhile.

 

[CBR.worm]

It used to be normal for oil pressure to bounce at idle, but the newer vehicles don't have a real pressure gauge, so, I don't know. Does the pressure light flicker at idle too?

 

[NavyVet88]

The pressure light does not flicker when the gauge is on the trampoline. I do suspect that maybe the synchronizer may need changing too

 

[NavyVet88]

Originally Posted by Propflux01
Be the first place I'd look. Then filter, then gauge itself. In order of most probable.

Originally Posted by Propflux01
Be the first place I'd look. Then filter, then gauge itself. In order of most probable.



Put Castrol Edge 5w30 in it this morning and a Fram Ultra and no more gauge jumping. The old oil was conventional Castrol 5w20 and a purolator filter from a 10 min lube joint.

 

[Propflux01]

Cool. Glad you got it fixed.

 

[NavyVet88]

Thank you friend