Low Oil Pressure Light

[Jozef Zoldos]

Got a 2011 Expedtion EL Limited. Put in new cam phasers last year and put in an upgraded oil pump (Melling). Over a year later, oil pressure light comes on at stop light and pressure guage on dash falls. This happened about 2-3 weeks ago during a simple commute then stopped spontaneously. Symptoms just recurred and stopped again (about 2-3 weeks later). Car runs perfectly without a hiccup. Did an oil change 1 week prior ot all of this and oil levels are OK. I realize that the oil pressure sending unit is an idiot switch and they are known to go bad. What are the chances that it is a bad oil pump? What would you all recommend? Should I test the oil pressure with a guage or should I just try to change the sending unit?

 

[07navi]

You need to put a real gauge in it, I did a thread on it in here.

 

[JExpedition07]

Did you have any chunks of plastic on the guides missing? Also could be the O-ring on the pickup tube. Or a bad sender.

 

[mnachreiner86]

Did you have any chunks of plastic on the guides missing? Also could be the O-ring on the pickup tube. Or a bad sender.

Agree with this. Sounds like something is getting picked up intermittently like a piece of a broken guide.


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[Jozef Zoldos]

No broken parts when I did the cam phasers. I put in new OEM guides and tensioners when I did the timing. I did not notice any broken parts with the last oil change.

 

[Jozef Zoldos]

Oh....When the issue happened, it was only at stoplights at idle and it only occurred for for about a 5-10 minute duration when it happened. i.e... It would work normally until the vehicle stopped at a red light and then the light would go off and the pressure switch would drop. When I pulled away from the light, all of the warnings would go away until the next light. Also, no codes poped up on the scanner when all of this happened.

 

[07navi]

The oil light comes on at a very low pressure, you really need to put a gauge in it, it's not much harder than replacing the oil switch or even checking it.

 

[Jozef Zoldos]

Gotcha. Thanks for the advice. I will see if I can take care of that tomorrow before I drive it again.

 

[Jozef Zoldos]

Also, I like the specific pressure guage setup that you did. I could not find the thread about that one but I am still looking.

 

[07navi]

https://www.expeditionforum.com/thr...-pressure-gauge-in-a-5-4-with-pictures.44836/

Since then I have moved it 2" over to the right so I could see it better while driving. I had to cut the plastic mount from the panel out but you don't need it. Get the sandwich with the 1/8" npt holes and not the multi hook-up oil cooler one. Any 5.4 one will fit. Hooking directly to the sender hole would be a tough job and so would just checking the pressure there. This way you will still have your original gauge pressure showing also.

 

[sjwelds]

Take special note of the highly technical procedure in which you jam a wire in beside a fuse to power the gauge

 

[07navi]

Take special note of the highly technical procedure in which you jam a wire in beside a fuse to power the gauge

Only you and thunderbird guy complained about that......lol. The fact is it works quite well and I didn't have spend $10 on a pack of piggyback fuse adapters.

 

[Machete]

You know a gauge won’t fix your problem right?

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Got a 2011 Expedtion EL Limited. Put in new cam phasers last year and put in an upgraded oil pump (Melling). Over a year later, oil pressure light comes on at stop light and pressure guage on dash falls. This happened about 2-3 weeks ago during a simple commute then stopped spontaneously. Symptoms just recurred and stopped again (about 2-3 weeks later). Car runs perfectly without a hiccup. Did an oil change 1 week prior ot all of this and oil levels are OK. I realize that the oil pressure sending unit is an idiot switch and they are known to go bad. What are the chances that it is a bad oil pump? What would you all recommend? Should I test the oil pressure with a guage or should I just try to change the sending unit?

Did you use the correct viscosity oil?

Did you use a correct OEM Motorcraft oil filter (or an aftermarket, that may be clogged or collapsed inside)?

 

[07navi]

You know a gauge won’t fix your problem right?

????? What does that have to do with anything?

 

[Machete]

Oil gauge won’t fix low oil pressure. His stated problem. Your stated solution.

I agree. A gauge has nothing to do w his problemo.

 

[07navi]

Oil gauge won’t fix low oil pressure. His stated problem. Your stated solution.

I agree. A gauge has nothing to do w his problemo.

 

[Motorcity muscle]

Who did the pump and phasers? Would not drive it till you can figure out what is happening. What RPM is the motor dropping to at idle?

 

[07navi]

You could have the pressure checked but they have to have the right threaded hose end that goes into where the sending switch is and might charge for an hours time. You could make up a tester gauge but the fitting is hard to find that goes in where the sender is.

 

[Machete]

Only happens at idle when hot. Intermittently. That’s the tell.
My money is on the pump. If it were the oil filter it would knock on cold starts as well.