engine oil pressure

[02stroker]

Has anybody ever noticed their engine oil pressure fluctuate? I've noticed mine seems to run at two different spots on the factory guage. Runs right in the middle of the normal range 95% of the time, but sometimes on long trips on the interstate, usually after at least an hour at highway speeds, the guage will be reading slightly lower. Still well into the normal range, but lower than where it usually is. Eventually it will come back up to where it normally is. The truck shows no signs of running any different when this happens, but engine oil pressure is something I don't like to mess around with. I was thinking maybe it's a sender problem or the guage itself. I don't believe the engine oil pressure is really changing that much. It has been doing this on long trips since I got the truck 65,000 miles ago. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[JMF350]

The oil pressure gauges in Ford diesel trucks don't show actual oil pressure. The sending unit is a simple on/off switch with 6-7 psi being the breaking point. Anything 6 psi or less.... the gauge will read 0. Anything 7 psi or over will read 1/2 gauge. If your gauge is actually fluctuating, I'd almost bet it's in the gauge/ ground. BTW... I could be a pound or two off on the breaking point of the "sender switch".

 

[02stroker]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking it was probably the guage to, but wanted to get some other ideas. I'm planning on an aftermarket oil pressure guage when I get guages anyway.