2001 5.4L no oil pressure (on gauge) at start up
 

I've got a 2001 with a 5.4L engine. Sometimes when I start it up on a cold morning the gauge on the dash shows zero oil pressure. It will show pressure after a few seconds and only happens on cold mornings. During this time, the engine sounds and feels like it is running properly.

Is this just a sensor issue or is something potentially more serious starting to go wrong?

Thx for any advice

what kind of oil filter are you using? being this cold, id say a second or so with no pressure is normal.

I'm using a Motorcraft FL820S filter.

Sometimes it takes 5 or 6 seconds for the pressure to come up. Yesterday the gauge flipped between zeror and normal pressure a few times.

Thanks

that sounds like your really low on oil? have you checked it? It only does this upon first start up when cold?

Yes, only on first startup when cold. Checked the oil tonight and it was about 1.5 qts low. That was probably it. Guess they call them idiot lights for a reason. Will see how things go in the morning.

Thx

Still had the same problem this morning. Seems oil level was not the issue.

Is this possibly a bad sensor?

Does anyone know what kind of oil pump the 5.4L has? Does it run directly off the crank or does it have a separate shaft driven by something?

If the engine is quiet at startup I would suspect the pressure sender. It's not uncommon for them to act up. Its a fairly small hole that leads to the sender and a little sludge or thicker oil (cold) than usual can retard its response. The oil pump is right behind the front cover (damper) and is connected directly to the crankshaft. I highly doubt that you have a pump issue as they are pretty failsafe on these engines. Use 5w-20w oil and change the oil pressure sender (just screws off) located at the oil filter adapter and see if that resolves your concern. Take care.

Thanks for the advice. Will give that a try next.

Pretty common on very cold start ups. I have had several that have done this in the past. My daughters Ranger that sets outside still does it on these cold Ohio mornings. Engine is still getting oil.

My Expd did the same thing last winter. It ended up being the sending unit. Changed it out no more issues.

There isn't a sensor, but there is a sending unit that gets contaminated with oil and dirt.

2001 cold start -

http://picasaweb.google.com/jbrew393...84705673453298

1998 cold start -

http://picasaweb.google.com/jbrew393...90121627213570

You are right jbrew. ECT sensor....oil pressure sender

Crap, yea that was a answer to Glen R's post. He used the term sensor at first, but then edited 15 minutes later. Changed his post, which makes me look crazier than the norm.

O well, next time I'll quote him lol.

Sorry about that. I knew better as soon as I saw your post.

No problem :beers: