Hey everyone been gone for quite a while it's good to be back.

Over the weekend I changed the oil in the ol Screw. 6 Quarts of Motorcraft 5-30 with filter is what I have used in it's whole life. I just started keeping it outside so that the cobra can sleep in the garage.
Anywho, the temp this morning is 39 degrees, I start the truck it idles for a few seconds and the oil gauge goes to zero and the light comes on. I turn off the truck check the oil level and it is OK, I start the truck again oil pressure is good and then it goes to zero again.

Is the oil not draining from the heads fast enough?

 

I have 5-30 in mine and the temperature was 21 here this morning. I run this weight oil year round and it is nothing out
of the ordinary to the Winters to be sub-zero around here.
So to answer your question, it has nothing to do with drainage.
I really think you have a mechanical or electrical problem.
Maybe the sending unit. I doubt if you oil pump is bad, but
anything can happen. How many miles on your truck.
Oh Yea, by the way, my SCrew sets out too as I keep my Cobra
in the garage.
Good luck.
Marc

 

I didn't think that the temperatures in the 20s could affect 5-30 oil in thses enginges, but may be it can. The specs on my truck call for 5-20 oil. Shocked the heck out of me at oil change time cause all I've ever used was a 30 weight oil. Go figure

 

Marc,
Thanks for the reply, my 2001 Screw has 56,000 miles. After a few tries of starting stopping and sitting the gauge worked properly. The truck warmed up and there were no issues. When I went to start it up again after it had set for a while it worked fine as well.
Like I said before this had never happened until I started parking it out side. The first thing I thought was that the oil was too thick.

I will look into the sending gauge, can they get stuck after they see pressure in the cold?

Moragin,
I know that 5/20 is the oil that was recomended after the 2001 came out, i never had an issue until today. I just felt safer with the 5/30.

 

Safetguy -

I had the exact same scenario happen to me last winter. Although it wasn't as cold, my oil light and idiot gauge did not work. Had it towed to Ford and they couldn't duplicate the problem.

Argued with the Service Manager and got my way. (I got the sending unit replaced). Took Ford 15 minutes to change it (under warranty).

I haven't had a problem since.

By the way, if you want to do it yourself, the part is around $15 and it is mounted right where your oil filter screws onto the block. Very easy to get to and replace (I made an adapter for my Autometer Oil Pressure gauge and had to install it in the original sending unit's place).

 

B-Man,
Thanks for the info, it was warmer this morning and I did not have an issue at all. I will be picking up a new oil pressure gauge this weekend to eleminate any issues with the sending unit, and actually know what my oil pressure is.
I did look at the sending unit yesterday should be no problem to replace.

Thanks to all who helped.

 

Safetguy,

I had a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee that had a squirrely oil gauge. It worked right ~75% of the time but then it would sweep back and forth or get stuck at one end or the other. I never noticed it being related to temp.

After about a year of this, I was driving down the road and oil started spewing out all over the place. Turns out my oil sending unit was bad.

My lesson learned: When the oil gauge goes whacky, I am looking for a new sending unit. The Jeep was only ~$20.

Good luck.

Wattman

 

I had a similar problem last winter. On cold mornings, less than 25-30 degrees, the oil guage would go goofy. The guage would drop to nothing and then go back to normal every few seconds. The first time it did it I pulled over real quick and turned off the engine. Checked the oil and there was plenty. I started it back up and drove on. It did it a couple of more times and then it must have warmed up and it was fine after that. Never did take it in to get it fixed and just ignored it after that. I'm always sure their is oil in the engine I guess. Whenever it would get down to 25-30 or less it would do this.

If it does it this winter I will probably get it fixed.

 

respk,
That is exactly what was happining to me. It has been much warmer the past few days and no issue. When it gets colder I will report if it happens again. Hopefully I will have an aftermarket gauge by then and know the real story.

 

Replace your sending unit. Mine did the same thing last winter. Ford fixed it under warrenty, but I had to leave it overnight since it was temperature related. Call your Ford parts guy and ask him how many they go through a month. You'll be surprised.

Rusty

 

I can't believe it. I read your post, repsonded, and guess what I get for it?
I changed my oil Saturday, every 3000 miles as I have since the truck was new 72,000 miles ago. Used 5-30 Castrol Syntec (blend) as I have for the last 69,000 miles.
Did not drive the truck after changing the oil until the next morning and when I get about 1/2 mile from home I look at the instrument panel and the oil gauge is on "0" and the oil light comes on. OH ***** !! I start to pull over to the curb and the light goes out and the gauge jumps up to where it normally runs.
There was no clatter from the motor during the 1/2 mile I drove before noticing the gauge.
Therfore I am absolutely positive that the sending unit was not functioning properly.
Marc

 

Marc,
It seems like when I post a problem, they come up and bite the folks that were the most helpful after I bring it up.
After talking to quite a few people in town the idea remains the same. "Replace your sending unit"
With that now done I do not have any more issues, and it has been in the low 30s in the morning.

Sorry I passed along the curse hoipefully now it will be

BTW, the Cobra is really liking this cold air, the traction control seems to go on more now than ever. I love this car!

 

I never use the trac-control. As soon as the car starts, I fasten my seat belt, then automatically turn of the trac-control.
They surely love cold air. I am certin that the 11.65 @ 120 I ran two weeks ago was because of the cold air that day. It was just a little above 40 degrees. The car just screamed down the track...
Marc