Oil pressure question...

[Nate McVey]

I'm trying to squeeze every mile I can out of my 2001 Ford Ranger 4.0 SOHC V6 that I can (just rolled 190,000 miles). Never, and I mean never, had any major issues from the time I bought it new (my dashboard looks like a Christmas tree but none of the lights are major issues ) I have beaten the [PoorWordUsage] out of this truck and it has been unbelievably good to me.....My question is as follows.......

Recently (last 3 weeks) my oil pressure gage doesn't respond for a couple minutes when I start it after sitting for a relatively short period of time (8+ hours). I've been changing the oil roughly every 4000 miles with full synthetic and the oil looks good and the level is good. What should I be looking for when I change the oil in a few hours? Last 2 times I've changed it the level was good and I didn't notice any of the typical red flags?

I really need this truck to last for another 30-40,000 miles so any help or things to look for would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[Papa Grump]

Is the gauge electronic controlled or mechanical? I would hook up a mechanical pressure gauge to make sure that you have pressure at start up and then go from there with your question.

[Scott K]

Does the engine tick on start up? The 4.0 SOHC engine has timing chain tensioners that are actuated from oil pressure, and if pressure is low at all, this thing will rattle and tick bad while it has low pressure. Hooking a gauge up to would be the best way to tell if it is just a bad sender or bad gauge. Also you could try using a thicker oil.

[Nate McVey]

No ticking at startup, at least not anymore than normal.....I'm going to try a thicker oil and see if that will help. Thanks guysl

[Jeremy airjer W]

If your not hearing any loud noises when you first start the car than thicker oil is not going to help

the noise would be heard the whole time there was no oil pressure shown on the gauge

[Nate McVey]

No noises at start up, idles fine for a minute or so and then the gauge pops up.

[Jeremy airjer W]

On the older fords the gauge is a switch as soon as pressure comes up a certain point it turns on the switch and the gauge pops up to its position. So the gauge isn't really a true gauge. My theory is that oil pressure is just low enough that it won't close the switch but still enough to supply enough oil pressure to keep the engine quite.

[Maverick]

It sounds like the oil presure sending unit to me. I found this on a HSOforum when I searched for Ford Ranger Oil Pressure Sending Unit. From what I read it sounds like it is hard to locate, but not expensive to replace. He were the directions to locate it.

From the top center of the engine, look at about the midpoint of the engine at the very back. Nearest thing as you go further back is the firewall. There are 2 switches back there that screw into the block. The OPSU is the one with a single (green and white stripe) wire. The other switch has a bundle of wires to it. You have to be on top of the engine, physically, looking straight down to see it.

I would really be surprised if replacing the unit did not fix the problem.

[jwmiller33]

I have beaten the [PoorWordUsage] out of this truck...

I really need this truck to last for another 30-40,000 miles so any help or things to look for would be much appreciated.

I bet if you would stop beating the [PoorWordUsage] out of it, you might increase the probability of getting another 30-40k out of it

[Nate McVey]

Thanks guys!

[caseymcq]

But if you can beat the PoorWordUsage out of it what fun is having a truck.