minimac

Just a quick question. The oil gauge on my '88 5.0 always reads low, and it fluctuates with throttle. Sometimes it blips to nothing when the revs are dropping, but not all the time. but it is always around the first or second line. Are these gauges idiot gauges?

i know on most cars they are just idiot gauges, in other words, if it reads more than 5-6 psi, it stays at normal, but anything lower and it just goes to nothing. so they really have only two settings, normal or nothing.

basically what i want to know is, is my oil pressure (scary) low, or is my sending unit, and/or gauge just messed up?

-Ev

mattdel

No one can answer that for you, need to test it out. Your theories are all correct, though.

minimac

Thanks man. i guess i'll just get a mechanical gauge and plug it in to see what my oil pressure actually is.

-Ev

dawson1112

Yea just get a set of after market gauges . I bought a 3 guage cluster for around 50 bucks at autozone.
There is no such thing as an idiot gauge , they do read pressures . This is why it raises and lowers on acceleration. The accuracy of the dash gauge is probly far from being true though. My after market gauge does the same thing , exept at idle I am at 45 psi and going 65 down the interstate its at about 55 psi.

There were such things as idiot lights , and those were either on or off. If the oil pressure fell below a certain range the light came on.

BabyGT

There are "idiot" gauges and ford is famous for them, instead of giving a linear reading they have 3 readings basically, to low, accepted range, and to high. To low will stay in the middle of the first third of the gauge, accepted in the middle and so on. As far as what is in the mustang I'm not sure, but I would assume its linear as stepping on the throttle raises rpm, which in turn will raise the oil pressure.

minimac

Well I've just discovered a very concerning "vibration" in the engine, above 2,500rpms. Even sitting still. So I'm assuming my pressure is low... and telling by the vibration it's not looking good.

If you've ever seen Xarmy's you tube video, bottom end ka-put, i think i may have that same problem. Time to park it and save i guess.

Yay! spring time is around the corner and the mustang will be parked..again..

Js88lx

Very simple check..., turn on motor and look at the harmonic balancer..., if its not rotating straight and wiggles to the sides than that is your vibration!!
Just a thought!

Dj_Seph

My car does the same. Damn oil pump.

lxman1

The gauge is real up 79 to 89, 90-93 are dummy gauges, They even take a different sending unit.

BabyGT

Real classy Ford :-/