Hi guys and gals,
I have a 97 f150 XLT with about 178k miles on it. Lately the oil pressure dash light has been lighting up however it is only when I am making turns. Checked my oil and the levels are okay so I am not sure if it is possibly a sensor or maybe a leak somewhere?


Step by step what exactly happens.
1. I make either a right or left turn like from a stop sign or stop light as well as merging onto highways.
2. The dash oil gauge drops to L.
3. Oil Pressure light comes on.
4. I straighten out and proceed to accelerate.
5. Gauge returns to normal levels and the light goes off.


any ideas?

 

Check your oil level again. If it's just okay, it can still slosh around enough in the pan to trigger the sensor when your weight distribution shifts hard, like around a corner.

If it's a little low, add oil to bring the level up to the top of the crosshatches on the dipstick. Do not overfill the crankcase. Use the proper viscosity. 5w20 is probably called for, 10w30 is fine and maybe even better for your higher mileage.

If your brakes are up to it, stop hard a couple times and see if it doesn't do the same thing.

If it's not an oil level problem, it's either go get a diagnostic or a process of elimination for yourself. The next thing to look at is your oil pressure sending unit and the oil pump. I doubt very much it's the oil pump itself, but it wouldn't hurt to rule it out.

 

Probably just the sensor. Change it and problem will go away.

 

Is there any chance that someone accidentally swapped your dipstick? Maybe a Jiffy Lube or someplace like that? That happened to a friend of mine once.

 

You have to be really low on oil for that to happen. On my old engine with 207000 miles it leaked and burnt oil. I was 3 quarts low and my aftermarket gauge and oil light both showed everything was fine. No oil light and gauge showed 40 psi in gear at idle. Just forgot to add oil for a few weeks.I was going thur about a quart and half every week. That was the main reason I bought a rebuilt.
Replace sensor. 15.00 and easy to change.
Also if your oil pressure dropped that low your engine would have been making all kinds of racket.

 

JJewellUSMC did you ever find out what the prob was?