89 oil pressure

[anelder1]

Okay, another problem with my "new" van. The oil pressure guage is not working, and I think that this is causing the engine light to stay on - I didn't see it because there was tape over that side of the instrument cluster.

Once again, the Haynes manual has failed me, I can't seem to find anything that will even show me where the sending unit is - I figured that I would change it first since usually they are pretty cheap. Can you guys please tell where the sending unit is? Or maybe tell me a different direction to head?

Thanks a lot for your help.

[Ima Ludite]

Please confirm your engine size?
brian

[anelder1]

Sorry, its the 3 liter. No worries though, I was pokin around the back side and found a hose going nowhere - next I found a bulb lookin thing on the back of the engind with a hose fitting. Yup, you guessed it, the hose had come off and was just hangin, after reconnect i have oild gauge ) and no engine light!! although it still comes on when i am parked at an idle and the oild pressure drops really low, but as soon as i touch the gas, light goes out and pressure goes up. Mebbe just reset timing if i can.

[Nexus7]

Originally Posted by anelder1

i am parked at an idle and the oild pressure drops really low, but as soon as i touch the gas, light goes out and pressure goes up. Mebbe just reset timing if i can.

It's an 89... what oil are you using? My 89 (160k on the clock) doesn't go below L with 1 qt of 20W50 and the balance 15W40 in summer. Unless you oil pump is worn out, or sending unit is defective (they do go bad), it should raise the pressure. Engine light could be alternator too, if is is affected by rpm.

[anelder1]

I don't know what weight oit the previous owner used - probably 10w40, thats what most places put in if you don't specify, on the first i'll be changing it to a heavier weight, I think that the motor recomends 5w30, so I'll try that.

Thanks for the help.

[Nexus7]

Originally Posted by anelder1

I don't know what weight oit the previous owner used - probably 10w40, thats what most places put in if you don't specify, on the first i'll be changing it to a heavier weight, I think that the motor recomends 5w30, so I'll try that.

Thanks for the help.

5W30 is a lower weight oil. It might be too thin (at least it would be with my vehicle) if you have a lot of miles. You might try 15W40 instead. Newer engines run thiner oils, but the 3.0 isn't such a modern engine!

[mta318]

Originally Posted by anelder1

Okay, another problem with my "new" van. The oil pressure guage is not working, and I think that this is causing the engine light to stay on - I didn't see it because there was tape over that side of the instrument cluster.

Once again, the Haynes manual has failed me, I can't seem to find anything that will even show me where the sending unit is - I figured that I would change it first since usually they are pretty cheap. Can you guys please tell where the sending unit is? Or maybe tell me a different direction to head?

Thanks a lot for your help.

The sending unit is located behind the right head. You will need to pull up the flap behind the gear shifter to access it.

[nealg58]

Originally Posted by mta318

The sending unit is located behind the right head. You will need to pull up the flap behind the gear shifter to access it.

\

Another thing you might want to do is replace the oil sending unit. On the 89 3 liter engine they used a mechnical variable resistor inside the 'bulb' unit. After so many thousands of miles and so much 'vibration', these units become 'touchy'. Replacing the unit fixes the variable oil pressure UNLESS you have worn bearings and your oil pressure is actually going up and down. I had a 1989 Aerostar - had over 256,000 miles on the original engine and only had the heads redone to pass emissions at 120,000 miles. Would still be driving it but it got totaled in 2002. Now driving a 1992 Aerostar also with a 3 liter engine. Both are/were sticks on the floor - 5 speed.

[nealg58]

Originally Posted by mta318

The sending unit is located behind the right head. You will need to pull up the flap behind the gear shifter to access it.

\

Another thing you might want to do is replace the oil sending unit. On the 89 3 liter engine they used a mechnical variable resistor inside the 'bulb' unit. After so many thousands of miles and so much 'vibration', these units become 'touchy'. Replacing the unit fixes the variable oil pressure UNLESS you have worn bearings and your oil pressure is actually going up and down. I had a 1989 Aerostar - had over 256,000 miles on the original engine and only had the heads redone to pass emissions at 120,000 miles. Would still be driving it but it got totaled in 2002. Now driving a 1992 Aerostar also with a 3 liter engine. Both are/were sticks on the floor - 5 speed.