I noticed here in the last several months I've lost my oil gauge, it reads "0". I know there's oil in there because I changed it in the last month or so and there's not a puddle of it under the truck.
Where is the oil sending unit located and how much trouble is it to replace? Does anyone have a cost on that item and can I get it at my local Auto Zone?
I have a 95 Rodeo with the 3.2.. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Thanks all <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

More than likely you have a broken wire from the sending unit to the gauge.

However, you need to understand that the system does not measure or report oil VOLUME. It reports pressure. The fact that you have oil in the system is not relevant if the engine is not pumping, ie, pressurizing the oil system.

My dad once had to replace a 335HP, Ford 390 because the oil pump failed. The crankcase was full, the oil was just not being circulated.

In most cases, the pressure will be in the normal range even if the engine is several quarts low. Total loss of oil pressure, as opposed to lack of REPORTED oil pressure is almost always an immediate and catastrophe event.

Will I'm hoping its a broken wire because I've been driving it for awhile with it reading "0". <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" /> Is there a way of testing it to see the pressure to make sure all is well? I'll check on the wire situation and I'll be releived if it's that. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> I'm sure I would have found out if it was the other by now. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />
Thanks for letting me know that, I wasn't so worried about it till you mentioned that it could be "no" pressure and that could be the end of the engine. WOW....I'll get this thing fixed and keep a closer eye on that gauge.

Thanks Carl <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

You would know if you had zero oil pressure, by now. Something would have self destructed.

As far as testing, a mechanical gauge is the way to go. You have to screw it into an oil galley, but it will give you the actual oil pressure better than the resistor driven electric gauge.

The stock gauge is a glorified idiot light, anyway. It is driven by a resistor, so it just gives you relative values and in general it reads in three ranges. Low, normal and high. The needle swings according the resistance at the sender, but it does not really give you a solid accurate reading of pressure.

Good Luck,
Michael

Yea that's what I would think too.
OK cool I'll tuck that away for future referance if I ever need to do that.
Mine actually as numbers on it but I'm sure it's just one more step up from the low, med. and high idoit gauge of the glorified idoit light.
But thanks for the information.

Beers to you <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />