Where is the oil pressure sending unit located on a 2001 F150 Triton V8? I've been experiencing the same problems that everyone else seems to be having with the oil pressure gauge reading 0 at startup. Oil is at the proper level and the engine does not knock or run ruff.
I'm sure that cost figures into it the most, but supposedly Ford was having a lot of people compare their oil pressure readings and then owners complaining that theirs was "low" verses some other guy with the same vehicle.
Let me add that it never goes above 0, not just when it starts
It is a guage, maybe only a two position gauge, but it is still a gauge. Without numbers and proper calibraition why is a needle that moves around any better than a one position guage. They both tell you the same thing - you have some oil pressure. How many owners even know how to interpert a real gauge? What is the minimum acceptable oil pressure for a 5.4L Ford V-8? What is the maximum? How many people worry about the normal fluctiations in the position of a continuous reading gauge? The Ford style of oil pressure gauge has one significant advantage over an oil pressure warning light. It is a positive indication verus the warning lights negative indication. When the light is not on, you don't really know whether it is off becasue the engine has sufficient oil pressure or becasue the light has failed.
If you are one of the relatively few individuals who can actually interpert an oil pressure gauge, why not install a real gauge? Persoanlly, I'd like to have an oil temperature gauge.
Ed
I'll agree with using the paper clip as a jumper, but only to a point. I will not agree with a low oil pressure of 7 psi. The switch will close at 4 psi. Idle hot pressure will be between 4-8 psi. Hot oil pressure @ 2000 RPM is 40-60. Even a worn out pump will produce enough flow to close the switch. Worn out bearings will make noise no matter what. The driver will be able to hear the "self-destruction". The person who made the post already said there is no noise.
The problem with the "paper clip" jumper is that if you have 0 volts going to the sender, how would you know it with only a paper clip? How are you going to know if it is a broken wire from the gauge to sender? How are you going to know if the gauge is receiving power? If I'm going to spend 10-15 dollars, I will spend it on something I can use and reuse. Spending any amount of money no matter how small or large on a part for "diagnoses" purposes is foolish. You would raise holy-hell if that is how your vehicle was diagnosed in a repair shop, now wouldn't you? I can see it now........ we replaced the sender it did not fix the problem, we will now replace the gauge and let you know how it turns out.If that does not fix it we will replace the instrument cluster, that has to be it!
As I said, if the "gauge" moves when grounding the wire, it's probably the snap switch sender; it would just about HAVE TO BE, since that's all the sender does, establish a ground. So then you replace the sender, no big deal. After replacing the sender - WITH continuity previously established - and there's still no response with the fake "gauge", you either have a defective new sender (unlikely), or there's no oil pressure at the pressure port. You still want to keep your VOM holstered, and instead reach for the mechanical gauge and hook that to the pressure port. If you get normal pressure readings with the mechanical gauge, THEN you can "draw your VOM". Actually, it may then be time to reach for the wrench set. BTW, I really have no problem with the idea of an "idiot light", or a gauge that is actually a gauge (I have both, on all 3 of my vehicles), with or without numbers; just with an idiot light disguised as a gauge, telling the driver that there's 40 psi or mid-range at highway speed when it may really be 10 psi and the engine's main bearings are about to kiss the crank or, in the case of a malfunctioning oil pressure relief valve, over 100 psi, and the rear main seal is about to depart the engine.
Thomas Moats wrote:
Use your senses, noise or no noise? A no oil scenario there will be lots of noise.
Do not need a guage to know if there is no oil pressure. The sounds of the engine tell you that.
Not enoung oil pressure under load? Lots of noise, loud noise. You do not need a guage for that.
Take a look at a crank seal, that will not happen.
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