# Malfunctioning oil gauge on 2000 Explorer Sport

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/malfunctioning-oil-gauge-on-2000-explorer-sport/69944>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** explorersport, ford\
**Created:** [December 11, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malfunctioning-oil-gauge-on-2000-explorer-sport/69944 "2011-12-11T23:36:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![chirojoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chirojoe](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chirojoe)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malfunctioning-oil-gauge-on-2000-explorer-sport/69944/1 "2011-12-11T23:36:38Z")

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Does anyone have experience with an oil gauge that doesn’t register any pressure until a mile or two before it snaps up to a mid gauge reading? This truck has other “computer related issues” so I don’t know if it is that or a weak oil pump. Is this an alarming symptom or a fluke?

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**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malfunctioning-oil-gauge-on-2000-explorer-sport/69944/2 "2011-12-12T00:16:51Z")

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Probably the sensor. A cheap fix.

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**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 9:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malfunctioning-oil-gauge-on-2000-explorer-sport/69944/3 "2011-12-12T09:20:23Z")

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A lot of Fords (don’t know if your Explorer falls under this) use a ‘fake’ oil pressure sensor that is basically the same one that operates the idiot light in cars without a gauge. These Fords either read no oil pressure if the sensor is reading low, or mid-range on the gauge if it’s reading some pressure. So the gauge is pretty much useless for an accurate assessment of how much oil pressure you have. Not a wonderful design in my opinion. I think you may have a gummed up sensor that’s sticking and only reading any pressure when it warms up a little. I’d replace the sensor (and maybe you can get one that actually reads pressure and not just on or off), and if you’re worried, have the oil pressure checked with a mechanical gauge to see what’s really going on.