65 Mustang OIL Light ON! Advice?

[born2]

My '65 289 V8 Mustang's oil light has been flashing on and off. Now more steady. I checked:
oil level=fine
oil color=nice and bronze
idle=normal
drive/runs=normal

I'm no where close to being a mechanic! Any advice?

I was hoping it was some sort of sending unit failure. Does this car even have such?

Thanks in advance!

[Greg D]

There will be a about 3/4 inch size "plug" with a hex head with a wire attached to it in one of the cylinder heads (probably the left), it will probably be brass colored if clean. That will be the sending unit, you could try replacing it but if your oil pump is failing or you engine has gotten loose enough to not hold oil pressure that will be the real problem. Do you know anyone who could test your oil pressure for you?

[Phil]

1 park it

2 get an oil pressure gauge and plumb it into the block.
Ill go outside later and look for a spot in my 302 to hook it up

report back here.
It should be about 14-20psi at hot idle.


Greg isn't the Oil pressure sensor right behind the fuel pump on a 289/302?
In fact The way I've seen many oil pressure gauged hooked up was a T at that juncture with the sender on 1 side and the gauge line on the otheer

[FORDMANLCRACKEL]

Sending unit is just above the fuel pump and just behind the timing chain cover. If you have power steering it may be hard to see for the pump.

Lonnie

[Fanatic]

Sender is located as said.....just above fuel pump. Is the flashing only at idle? Many ford owner manuals will say that this is very common. The sending unit will light the "idiot" light at about 12 lbs of pressure. So, a new sender probably wont help. At idle, your pressure may be just at that point. This still never sat well with me. I have found that using Valvoline 10W-40 or 20W-50 oil kept the pressure better than most others. You may be getting a few miles on that 289 by now so, the pressure isn't like new.
Still recommend an oil pressure gauge tho. Can be hooked up along with the light. Just dont use that flimsy plastic line for it. Spring for some 1/8" copper line. You will be glad you did.

Tim

[Greg D]

You guys are right, (my old brain popped up the wrong engine). The rest of the guys are right about the gauge also, (sometimes "original" can almost override common sense when you say Mustang to me). Anyway you look at it, "verify the oil pressure!", your pony will love you for it.

[born2]

Thanks for all the replies. I did find what could be the sending unit behind my powersteering mount. This plug looking thing comes out from the engine. It does not have any wire, hose or tube currently attached. It looks kinda like the bottom of a spark plug (threaded, and has a raised knob in the center.

Is this the sending unit? Should something be attached to it? I did find an old wire (fabric coated with plenty of road grime) not attached to anything. It appears to be white and red striped. It has a metal connector on the end.

I may try to see if I can get the connector over the raised knob on what I am guessing is the sending unit and see if the oil light goes out.

[Fanatic]

That would be the correct wire to hook up. Sounds like it may have been bumping against ground and lighting light.

[born2]

problem solved! Thx everyone that responded.

[Greg D]

If it still has it's original "L" shaped ford connector pull it back off GENTLY squeeze it with some pliers until it fit's good so it doesn't fall off again.