Fred

My 97 Aerostar oil pressure gauge shows about 3/4 of full scale. I'm used
to seeing other Aerostars register around mid-scale. I've never seen oil
pressure go high before. Is 3/4 too high? Any idea on what causes a higher
than normal oil pressure?

Sharon K.Cooke

Fred wrote:
>
> My 97 Aerostar oil pressure gauge shows about 3/4 of full scale. I'm used
> to seeing other Aerostars register around mid-scale. I've never seen oil
> pressure go high before. Is 3/4 too high? Any idea on what causes a higher
> than normal oil pressure?

Nothing to worry about, since the gauge is almost certainly a fake, being driven
by a snap switch, same as a red idiot light. If you're truly concerned about
engine oil pressure, install an aftermarket gauge.

Fred

Thanks. Are you sure about that particular gauge being an on/off type?

"Sharon K.Cooke" <scooke@cox.net> wrote in message
news:437A6593.E7AA5C29@cox.net...
> Fred wrote:
> >
> > My 97 Aerostar oil pressure gauge shows about 3/4 of full scale. I'm
used
> > to seeing other Aerostars register around mid-scale. I've never seen oil
> > pressure go high before. Is 3/4 too high? Any idea on what causes a
higher
> > than normal oil pressure?
>
> Nothing to worry about, since the gauge is almost certainly a fake, being
driven
> by a snap switch, same as a red idiot light. If you're truly concerned
about
> engine oil pressure, install an aftermarket gauge.

Bob

Absolutely! That sending unit is just an on off switch.
Bob
"Fred" <testing@testing1212mouse.com> wrote in message
news:_Wtef.21513$5R4.19895@trnddc06...
> Thanks. Are you sure about that particular gauge being an on/off type?
>
> "Sharon K.Cooke" <scooke@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:437A6593.E7AA5C29@cox.net...
>> Fred wrote:
>> >
>> > My 97 Aerostar oil pressure gauge shows about 3/4 of full scale. I'm
> used
>> > to seeing other Aerostars register around mid-scale. I've never seen
>> > oil
>> > pressure go high before. Is 3/4 too high? Any idea on what causes a
> higher
>> > than normal oil pressure?
>>
>> Nothing to worry about, since the gauge is almost certainly a fake, being
> driven
>> by a snap switch, same as a red idiot light. If you're truly concerned
> about
>> engine oil pressure, install an aftermarket gauge.
>
>

Backyard Mechanic

"Fred" <testing@testing1212mouse.com> wrote:

> Thanks. Are you sure about that particular gauge being an on/off
> type?
>
> "Sharon K.Cooke" <scooke@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:437A6593.E7AA5C29@cox.net...
>> Fred wrote:
>> >
>> > My 97 Aerostar oil pressure gauge shows about 3/4 of full scale.
>> > I'm
> used
>> > to seeing other Aerostars register around mid-scale. I've never
>> > seen oil pressure go high before. Is 3/4 too high? Any idea on
>> > what causes a
> higher
>> > than normal oil pressure?
>>
>> Nothing to worry about, since the gauge is almost certainly a fake,
>> being
> driven
>> by a snap switch, same as a red idiot light. If you're truly
>> concerned
> about
>> engine oil pressure, install an aftermarket gauge.
>
>

if you do want to see relative pressure, the usual fix on earlier 90's
model fords was to pull cluster, solder a wire across the 20 ohm resistor
near oil gauge terminals and replace the switch sender with a variable
resistor version.

--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

nospam.clare.nce@sny.der.on.ca

On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:19:45 GMT, "Fred"
<testing@testing1212mouse.com> wrote:

>My 97 Aerostar oil pressure gauge shows about 3/4 of full scale. I'm used
>to seeing other Aerostars register around mid-scale. I've never seen oil
>pressure go high before. Is 3/4 too high? Any idea on what causes a higher
>than normal oil pressure?
>
Both of my 3.0 Aerostars ran well above half at cruise - where I like
to see it. I ran 10W40 in the winter and 20W50 in summer.

Fred

Thanks fellers!! I did pay more attention to the gauge today and it stayed
right on the same spot, no matter what the RPM was.

<nospam.clare.nce@sny.der.on.ca> wrote in message
news:9n8ln1h57eeu0h4eqvhqip7gcbgfehs1p2@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:19:45 GMT, "Fred"
> <testing@testing1212mouse.com> wrote:
>
> >My 97 Aerostar oil pressure gauge shows about 3/4 of full scale. I'm
used
> >to seeing other Aerostars register around mid-scale. I've never seen oil
> >pressure go high before. Is 3/4 too high? Any idea on what causes a
higher
> >than normal oil pressure?
> >
> Both of my 3.0 Aerostars ran well above half at cruise - where I like
> to see it. I ran 10W40 in the winter and 20W50 in summer.

Fred

"Backyard Mechanic" <pettyfog@yaywho.com> wrote
> if you do want to see relative pressure, the usual fix on earlier 90's
> model fords was to pull cluster, solder a wire across the 20 ohm resistor
> near oil gauge terminals and replace the switch sender with a variable
> resistor version.

Sounds like a good idea. Reckon this would work on a 97?

Backyard Mechanic

"Fred" <testing@testing1212mouse.com> wrote:

> "Backyard Mechanic" <pettyfog@yaywho.com> wrote
>> if you do want to see relative pressure, the usual fix on earlier
>> 90's model fords was to pull cluster, solder a wire across the 20 ohm
>> resistor near oil gauge terminals and replace the switch sender with
>> a variable resistor version.
>
> Sounds like a good idea. Reckon this would work on a 97?


pull the cluster and see if there's a resistor

--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

Sharon K.Cooke

Backyard Mechanic wrote:
>
> "Fred" <testing@testing1212mouse.com> wrote:
>
> > "Backyard Mechanic" <pettyfog@yaywho.com> wrote
> >> if you do want to see relative pressure, the usual fix on earlier
> >> 90's model fords was to pull cluster, solder a wire across the 20 ohm
> >> resistor near oil gauge terminals and replace the switch sender with
> >> a variable resistor version.
> >
> > Sounds like a good idea. Reckon this would work on a 97?
>
> pull the cluster and see if there's a resistor
>
> --
> Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
> you pay..DEAL with it!

See this write-up: http://rogueperformance.com/oilsw.html