hey, i have a simple question im sure you all will have an answer to... i havent been driving my truck much lately for various reasons and when i start it i recently noted that the oil pressure "gauge" takes a second to come up to normal after she fires off. i dont recall seeing this before, can someone take a look at theirs and see how it responds?? it is almost like after an oil change when you get that short delay through the filter etc. this happens each time, not just after sitting for a few days. by the way this is a 97 150 w/ 4.6L

 

You have a sticking oil sender. It is just under the filter and easy enough to change.

Robbie

 

It does it on mine also. I don't worry about it too much. It could be the filter also. If it doesn't have the anti drain back valve or it isn't working right, the filter has to fill up which will cause a delay.

 

Bad Oil Pressure Sending Unit. Very common. Costs $10.00 at the dealer. Takes 10 minutes to replace. You can do it during your next oil change.

 

thanks guys i appreciate the response i will pick one up...

 

Firedog,

That is why many of us have installed a mechanical oil pressure gauge.

Check my sig link for details/how-to. Easy mod.

Hunt4Fun

 

got my idea for the mech. oil gauge from hunt4fun, I wouldnt be without it now

 

'97 F150 XLT w/4.6, 165K miles.
My oil pressure gauge started going nuts today out of the blue. The idiot light was going on and off also. I didn't notice any smoking or engine hesitation as I nursed it home. It was due an oil change so I changed it and fired it up and the gauge is still dancing. Since y'all have had problems have any of you had this type of issue? I take it by the comments above that it is best to change the sensor while doing an oil change instead of afterwards.

 

roadrage, other unfortunate souls:

two months ago i had the dancing oil pressure/cel light thing happen on my '02 screw, 4.6 romeo enginge-58k miles. it was also due for an oil change. after the oil change it continued, on and off for about a week, till the the day my wife was towing the gooseneck horse trailer back from the vet. started knocking heavily and got hot. oil and antifreeze levels were good. engine would shutdown (a failsafe?), the next morning when i started it there was a knock down deep in the motor. Pulled the motor and removed the oil pan and valve covers only to find large metal non magnetic flakes (1/4 to 3/16th) plugging up the pickup. maybe if you had a tiny camera and could "peek" through the drain plug, or maybe there's room drop the pan with the motor in, i dunno. mine was deffinite oil starvation, just dont know the extent.
due to time restraints i just changed the motor to a 5.4l and haven't torn the 4.6l down further to investigate. not sure if its the same prob, hope this saves you $3k or better!

got my fingers crossed for ya!!

 

Just bought a 1997 F150 supercab, 1 month ago. 2 weeks in, idiot light and gauge acting funny, found corroded wire at pressure sender. Replace wire terminal and clean post on sender. Retry, 2 days later same thing. Sender looking very rusty, replace, no problem since. When you replace the sender, you'll notice a second port with an allen head plug (1/4" pipe plug), can be used to verify actual oil pressure with a decent gauge, either in-dash or a temporary with a long hose for test purposes. ALWAYS CHECK OIL PRESSURE WITH A GAUGE when you think it's just the sender !!! Ask Fourstakers2, he'll tell you why !!!!
Denis.