Oil pressure gauge jumping HELP

[littlebigrig6.0]

Ok so I started my truck this morning, didnt notice anything wrong, till I started driving, the oil pressure gauge is jumping from low to normal, it seems more so when im turning or braking. Any ideas would be breat.

[nylyon]

The oil pressure gauge is a simple switch. When oil pressure is at 7 lbs or greater the switch is closed and the dash gauge reads normal (or half way). When under 7 lbs it reads none, or low. The switch (sending unit) is located in the oil cooler housing, specifically in the passageway which leads to the turbo, but after the oil filter.

That said, you should first check your oil level, be sure you are filled up. Second pull out the oil filter. Is it the Motorcraft version or another brand? If everything is good, you may have a low pressure oil pump issue.

When the gauge drops, is there any performance issue as well?

[littlebigrig6.0]

None that I can notice, how can I tell if it is an oil pump issue

[nylyon]

You can hook up an actual oil pressure gauge and see what the actual pressure is. When was your last oil change, and what brand filter was used? There's a video floating around about the use of non-motorcraft filters in the 6.0's. A lot of filters are too short and don't keep the drain plug sealed. which will lower your pressure.

[littlebigrig6.0]

I did an oil change a while ago, I know im over due, where can I get an oil pressure gauge, and how do I check the oil pressure, oil filter is motorcraft.

[nylyon]

You can get an oil pressure gauge at an autoparts store and plug it in in place of the oil pressure sending unit. If the above is good, you're not having any performance issues (removing any high pressure leaks) and the oil pressure is going below 7 psi, I would think that it points to a low pressure pump problem.

[War Eagle B]

or a sending unit sensor problem, or a bad connection

[littlebigrig6.0]

Ok so the oil pressure gauge is one of the auto meter ones, where exactly is the sending unit,

[littlebigrig6.0]

Please guys, what gauge do I get, is it the pillar mount gauge,

[nylyon]

The gauge that you get is up to you, if it were me I would get something inexpensive that you can remove once you determine your issue. On the oil cooler there are 2 sensors. The one with 2 wires is for the oil temperature, the one with one is for the pressure sensor. There may be an oil pressure test port, but I have never used it. As War Eagle mentioned, it may be wiring or the sensor itself. I would start with the easy stuff first, oil filter, check the wires etc, then move onto a gauge.