oil pressure gauge fluttering
 

another issue that has come up within the last few days. my oil pressure gauge will often flutter, from its normal range to nothing.

it does this when:
1. i put the truck in 1st/reverse from a dead stop
2. when i put a moderate load on the engine (RPM doesnt apparently matter, i tested this tonight from 1500 to 3000 RPM).
3. when im idling on an upward slope (idled at taco bell and i found it constantly moved around until i revved it up to 1500, at which it stabilizes)

another oil check is due tomorrow, but other then that im not sure what to do (havent replaced that fram oil filter yet)

There are 2 likely possibilities:

1) Your truck has a real oil pressure problem and you should not even be starting the engine until it's corrected.

2) Your oil pressure sending switch is defective. This is not that uncommon and it is cheap/easy to fix with a replacement.

What he said ^^^

Is the engine making any unusual noises?

other then a ticking sound when its first started, it sounds fine

just did a run around the block. the oil pressure moves about 1/4 inch above its stopping point, and only (briefly) moved to normal when i got it up to 2500RPM and decelerated in that gear.

I think the problem is more serious than your oil sending unit. I would not start the truck until it has diagnosed.

i agree. i am now 99% sure its an engine problem. probably shouldnt have drove it, but i did. the ticking sound is still there, and about 5 miles from home the check engine light came on. i took it easy, keeping the RPM low, but i wont be driving it until i can fix it.

drain the oil and see what it looks like.
put some fresh motorcraft oil and a motorcraft filter on it and see if its still there.
also get us the code from the check engine light.

I know I have one or multiple oil leaks on my 3.0 v6 and lately my gauge has been fluttering as well. I believe it is sending unit as there is oil in motor and no noises. The behavior is erratic as well. Sometimes it flutters, sometimes it doesn't. Then it's not the same either. Sometimes it goes ballistic but mostly it goes erratic at idle to low mark then when I give it gas it pops back to midrange.

Believe it's sending unit but how to check?

I have a 98 3.0 my gauge was doing the same thing, than lost oil pressure and top of engine started rattleing, bad oil pump. thanks, Steve