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Nuclear · 04-25-2014, 06:00 AM

I have a 2000 triton v10 with 22k miles on it (Monaco la palma). I just bought it used and the entire rig is clean and was stored inside. The other day I started it at my storage unit, and the oil pressure light remained on after the engine started and the gage was at zero. After about 7 seconds, I turned it off and tried starting it again and same indication...one more try, and it was fine!
I ran it for a while and it is smooth. Pressure is perfect, no fluctuations.
It has happened one other time, with only needing to turn it off once and restart and it is fine again. It's only happened those two/three times--otherwise it is great.
Oil is clean/full, MH is level, engine starts easy, no noises or smoke or anything to indicate a problem.
Test drove it, parked it at the storage unit without problems.
As for maintenance that I have done since buying it...I have replaced tires, chassis battery and checked the oil level...

Any ideas? I'm just paranoid now and watch it closely.

jenandjon · 04-25-2014, 06:06 AM

How long did it sit? It is possible that the oil drained out of the tube leading to the pressure gauge and became air locked.

jamesrxx951 · 04-26-2014, 06:52 AM

If I was to guess it would be the oil pressure sender switch. That gauge is nothing more than a dummy gauge. The switch will either open or close at around 6 PSI. When the switch is closed the gauge will read normal. Open, the gauge will read 0 and the light will come on. The first thing I would do is change engine oil and install a Motorcraft filter ($5 at autozone). They have (like some other aftermarket filters) an antidrain back valve. This is important as this will not allow the oil to be syphoned out of the filter when you shut it off. That and there have been several online reports that filters like Fram will restrict oil flow. That is obviously not good. The oil pressure switch is located in the left front of the engine where the oil cooler meets the block. It is a single wire sensor connector. It is not very often I have seen the switchs go bad but is more often than an engine issue.

Nuclear · 04-26-2014, 07:24 AM

I'll try that advice...I've wanted to switch to a synthetic oil anyways. Plus, I'll know the oil change history from this point on.

ga traveler · 04-27-2014, 03:11 PM

You do not have a problem with the oil pump. The oil pump is a direct drive mechanical pump. It can not work part time. It can shear and stop working, but it would not start working again. I am sure you checked the oil level as that is the other thing that can cause low pressure. If the oil level was ok, It is an electrical problem and should be taken care of because you don't want to get a real signal and ignore it because you think it is a mistake.

jamesrxx951 · 04-27-2014, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga traveler

You do not have a problem with the oil pump. The oil pump is a direct drive mechanical pump. It can not work part time. It can shear and stop working, but it would not start working again. I am sure you checked the oil level as that is the other thing that can cause low pressure. If the oil level was ok, It is an electrical problem and should be taken care of because you don't want to get a real signal and ignore it because you think it is a mistake.

You would be correct about the oil pump (at least I cannot fathom any way a pump could be intermittent) but the pressure regulator spring could have an issue. While I have not seen one go bad on a Ford engine, the dealer that is working on one of our Suburbans may have an issue with this regulator. It has an intermittent low oil pressure problem.