Oil gauge says low, but dipstick says full
Question:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >> I have a 94 XL Explorer with 10k miles on it and the oil gauge is show > >ing a "low" reading for the first > >> time. I got under the hood and checked the dipstick which read "full. > >" Anyone had similar experiences > >> with conflicting information? > Ford is notorious for low oil pressure readings, change your sending unit > it should be fine. A little bit of over kill don’t you think Flyer there > is only 10k on the engine. > Bill >My 91 Explorer needed a new sending unit also. My sending unit died >gradually; week after week it kept reading lower and lower. >How about fuel gauges? We have 5 Ford products and everyone has had a >faulty fuel gauge. The Aerostar has had to have 2 replaced. Ford >evidently does not have very good quality control on the manufactuers of >its components. My 91 Explorer needed a new speedometer. First time since >1959 that I had a car that needed a new speedometer! >Tom >–
Many years ago I worked for the company that made senders for oil pressure, water temperature, gas tank level ; and gauges, speedometers, etc. They were generally good products. Does Ford make their own now? Jay
Response:
Hi Everyone: Thanks for all the quick and thorough replies to my original post. Being a good Ford owner I didn’t read the manual carefully and assumed the oil gauge measured capacity, not pressure, so I was confused when the dipstick showed full. Several of you properly disabused me of that error. Thanks. The gauge is now reading within the normal range (go figure). Since I have low miles on the engine, have changed the oil twice since purchase, and do not pull heavy loads, drive on dirty roads (etc.) I figure that the gauge is weird (and I’m lucky). I’ll have my dealer look at it. Thanks again. Steve
Response:
>> I have a 94 XL Explorer with 10k miles on it and the oil gauge is showing a
"low" reading for the first > time. I got under the hood and checked the dipstick which read "full."
Anyone had similar experiences > with conflicting information? > SteveAhhh… I hope your kidding. Just in case your not, the gauge on your >dashboard is a reading of the oil pressure flowing to all the vital >moving parts of your engine. The dipstick measures the level of oil >sitting in the crankcase. If the level of oil in your crankcase is high >enough that the oil pump can still pick it up (without cavitating) the >pressure gauge on your dash should read normal. This of course is with
Actually, the Explorer has a light on the dash that warns when the oil *level* in the crankcase is getting low, before you might notice it on the dipstick. Are you talking about the *low oil* warning light or the oil pressure psuedo-gauge? -Jerry Macala (Immediate Past) President- Maltose Falcons Home Brewing Society 1994 Anchor Home Brew Club of the Year!
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> I have a 94 XL Explorer with 10k miles on it and the oil gauge is show >ing a "low" reading for the first >> time. I got under the hood and checked the dipstick which read "full. >" Anyone had similar experiences >> with conflicting information? > Ford is notorious for low oil pressure readings, change your sending unit > it should be fine. A little bit of over kill don’t you think Flyer there > is only 10k on the engine. > Bill
My 91 Explorer needed a new sending unit also. My sending unit died gradually; week after week it kept reading lower and lower. How about fuel gauges? We have 5 Ford products and everyone has had a faulty fuel gauge. The Aerostar has had to have 2 replaced. Ford evidently does not have very good quality control on the manufactuers of its components. My 91 Explorer needed a new speedometer. First time since 1959 that I had a car that needed a new speedometer! Tom —
Response:
>I have a 94 XL Explorer with 10k miles on it and the oil gauge is showing a "low" reading for the first >time. I got under the hood and checked the dipstick which read "full." Anyone had similar experiences >with conflicting information? >TIA, >Steve
Steve, The info Flyer gave you is correct. I believe Ford oil pressure "gauges" are really an all-or-nothing affair. It seems I read that they are only an on-off switch hooked to a gauge to give the impression of a gauge with the function of an idiot light. If that’s the case, you may have 0 oil pressure, in which case your engine would seize in a matter of seconds at freeway speeds. The gauge or sender might be bad. Zero oil pressure is generally accompanied by clatter and noise. You can remove your oil filler cap and see if you can see oil blowing inside (with the engine running). It might blow hot oil out, so be careful. …or take it to the dealer under warranty and have them check it out.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a 94 XL Explorer with 10k miles on it and the oil gauge is showing a "low" reading for the first > time. I got under the hood and checked the dipstick which read "full." Anyone had similar experiences > with conflicting information? > TIA, > SteveAhhh… I hope your kidding. Just in case your not, the gauge on your >dashboard is a reading of the oil pressure flowing to all the vital >moving parts of your engine. The dipstick measures the level of oil >sitting in the crankcase. If the level of oil in your crankcase is high >enough that the oil pump can still pick it up (without cavitating) the >pressure gauge on your dash should read normal. This of course is with >the assumtion that the engine is in good shape and the oil in the engine >is’nt overheated to the point that it loses it viscosity (thickness). > Now, if the dipstick is reading full, but the oil pressure gauge on >your dash is reading low you have a problem. Possibly a very serious >problem. Have you changed the engine oil yet? If not, you may have >voided your warranty. A few possibilities exist. (1)The oil is full of >dirt and metal shavings and has worn the bearing inserts (and other >parts that should not be wearing out at 10,000 miles) to the point that >you will have to rebuild the engine. (2) The oil has lost its viscosity >(worn out) sort of, change it, and the filter. (3) The oil pressure >gauge or the sending unit is malfuntioning and giving you a false >reading. Have your service center check it. Whatever is causing the low >reading, you need to find it…NOW. > Good Luck, > Flyer
I had the same problem with my ‘93 Explorer. The problem turned out to be the oil pressure sending unit. I believe it cost under $50 to repair, part and labor. Bob Jaap Bothell, WA
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a 94 XL Explorer with 10k miles on it and the oil gauge is show >ing a "low" reading for the first > time. I got under the hood and checked the dipstick which read "full. >" Anyone had similar experiences > with conflicting information? > TIA, > SteveAhhh… I hope your kidding. Just in case your not, the gauge on >your >dashboard is a reading of the oil pressure flowing to all the vital >moving parts of your engine. The dipstick measures the level of oil >sitting in the crankcase. If the level of oil in your crankcase is high >enough that the oil pump can still pick it up (without cavitating) the >pressure gauge on your dash should read normal. This of course is with >the assumtion that the engine is in good shape and the oil in the engine >is’nt overheated to the point that it loses it viscosity (thickness). > Now, if the dipstick is reading full, but the oil pressure gauge on >your dash is reading low you have a problem. Possibly a very serious >problem. Have you changed the engine oil yet? If not, you may have >voided your warranty. A few possibilities exist. (1)The oil is full of >dirt and metal shavings and has worn the bearing inserts (and other >parts that should not be wearing out at 10,000 miles) to the point that >you will have to rebuild the engine. (2) The oil has lost its viscosity >(worn out) sort of, change it, and the filter. (3) The oil pressure >gauge or the sending unit is malfuntioning and giving you a false >reading. Have your service center check it. Whatever is causing the low >reading, you need to find it…NOW. > Good Luck, > Flyer
Ford is notorious for low oil pressure readings, change your sending unit it should be fine. A little bit of over kill don’t you think Flyer there is only 10k on the engine. Bill
Response:
I have a 94 XL Explorer with 10k miles on it and the oil gauge is showing a "low" reading for the first time. I got under the hood and checked the dipstick which read "full." Anyone had similar experiences with conflicting information? TIA, Steve
Response:
> I have a 94 XL Explorer with 10k miles on it and the oil gauge is showing a "low" reading for the first > time. I got under the hood and checked the dipstick which read "full." Anyone had similar experiences > with conflicting information? > TIA, > SteveAhhh… I hope your kidding. Just in case your not, the gauge on your
dashboard is a reading of the oil pressure flowing to all the vital moving parts of your engine. The dipstick measures the level of oil sitting in the crankcase. If the level of oil in your crankcase is high enough that the oil pump can still pick it up (without cavitating) the pressure gauge on your dash should read normal. This of course is with the assumtion that the engine is in good shape and the oil in the engine is’nt overheated to the point that it loses it viscosity (thickness). Now, if the dipstick is reading full, but the oil pressure gauge on your dash is reading low you have a problem. Possibly a very serious problem. Have you changed the engine oil yet? If not, you may have voided your warranty. A few possibilities exist. (1)The oil is full of dirt and metal shavings and has worn the bearing inserts (and other parts that should not be wearing out at 10,000 miles) to the point that you will have to rebuild the engine. (2) The oil has lost its viscosity (worn out) sort of, change it, and the filter. (3) The oil pressure gauge or the sending unit is malfuntioning and giving you a false reading. Have your service center check it. Whatever is causing the low reading, you need to find it…NOW. Good Luck, Flyer
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