Oil Pressure Sensor Install on a 4.0 Liter Ford Engine (explorer, ranger, etc)

This video shows the location of the oil sensor, and the easiest way to replace it... (show more)
Sensor is available Here (check that it fits your vehicle): amzn.to/2nkXXXh
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[@jimwayne5274]

after 20 years mine seems to be heading out. Will replace it soon here and thanks for this very clear and concise video!

[@davidhamilton8331]

Best and most discriptive clearly showed where it was . Best way to remove it. He's done this before.

[@EuroboostUSA]

Very straightforward with clear speaking tones and speed. Thanks!

[@davidwright1236]

I found this video to very helpful but I had trouble with wire clamp. I found that you can reach the sensor by removing the battery (which you should have disconnected) and battery box. This way you can do everything from top with out bending over. You just need a long extension.

[@TheShredBox]

Yep, it took me forever to find mine for the same reason. I had to track it down by the color of the wire it is attached to. Then I had to figure out how on earth to change it. Glad to hear that I saved you some time and frustration!

[@geraldhinson]

For a Ford Ranger/Mazda 3.0L the oil pressure sender is located on the passenger side on the back of the engine (ie. closest to the cab) - just reach down from above to unclip the connecting wire by hand. I used a socket wrench with an extension. Part is #S4223 (same as in this helpful video). Super simple repair you can do yourself. Cheers!

[@jerrysa5796]

Thanks man ! My gauge oil it`s down, sundely stopped and no working, your vid is very informative and helpme so much now are remplacing this bad sensor , Thanks again.

[@101Parkside]

I have a 1999 Ford Explorer Sport. Check gage idiot light is on with a cold start and oil pressure needle doesn’t move until it warms up a bit. Then gauge is fine and light goes out. I knew this was the fix but now I know where the sending unit is. Thank you!

[@skorpyo331]

Awesome vid..getting ready to do job in 1 hour...Also one other note, My recent major oil leak was caused by this part.

[@TheILICITO]

DID IT TODAY .. WORKED OUT PERFECTLY .. THANKS A LOT!!!!

[@ibcoull]

Very important to note that the 'guage ' does NOT show oil pressure. It is basically an on/off switch that triggers 'on' when oil pressure is above a minimum level [approx 8lb/in] . That is why it jumps between zero and 'full'. You may want to tap in a 'real' pressure guage to make sure you really don't have very low oil pressure - a whole other problem to be concerned about.

[@tylerrogowski]

Exactly what I'm doing! Mechanical oil pressure gauge cause the stock basically just tells you if there is *any* oil pressure, not how much.

[@ogbobbye]

Good DIY video sir, had to change my oil sensor switch your vid helped. altho I couldnt get to it thru the wheel well different year or whatever i guess. getting your fingers in to push in the clip and pull the plug off was a job, finally had to push the clip in and use a long flat head screw driver to pry it off from under the car, but after that it was easy. thanks for your video.

[@josegonzales4297]

Thank you brother that was very informative detail nice help me out a lot God bless

[@markkaplan2133]

Esiest access shown to this part! Thank you!

[@johnvigh8148]

Thanks for the video.....it was the exact problem I was having. But not anymore 😁

[@ArmisticeFilms]

This a great Video. I've been searching for this. The garage seemed clueless. All other step by step info says it's on the back of the block on the passenger side. Guess what? Nothing there. I watched your video and 20 minutes later the sensor was changed. This after a year and a half of driving around with the replacement sensor in my glove box. Thank You!!!

[@nofortunatesonII]

The OEM part is Motorcraft SW 8368 for the oil pressure sender. Autozone was the lowest price I could find at $10.19.

[@brandonjohnson3566]

If you have a light popping up for low oil pressure and you changed the oil pump, cleaned the oil pick up tube, and replaced the oil sensor and are still getting that code. Chances are you have either a front and/or rear main seal leaking or the seal's for the jack shaft if you have a 4.0L is leaking. SOHC 4.0L use a jack shaft to run two additional timing chains from the front main chain to each cams on the cylinder heads. In order to replace the jack shaft seals properly the engine needs to be pulled. If you pull the engine it's best to knock out a timing chain replacement as well, the chain guides are plastic and notorious for breaking off and clogging up the oil pump pickup tube also worth mentioning that the SOHC v6 is an interference engine, if those timing chains jump a tooth the engine is toast so its important to do chain replacements every 100,000 miles

[@SHREDDERMG]

Thanks your video was very helpful to my issue it solved it first try!

[@quevicular]

''remembering to use your new sensor". MUAHAHAHAHA!!! 🤣

[@robertborowski3917]

3/16th inch socket huh? Did you mean 13/16th?

[@randymogstad]

Yes he did could you imagine 🤏

[@nofortunatesonII]

He did say 3/16, but he also stated spark plug socket.

[@bgibson9378]

Thanks you, very helpful, makes it seem easy!

[@TheShredBox]

Good catch! It is a 13/16th spark plug socket.

[@opine1161]

great video best one ive seen well done.

[@TheShredBox]

Glad you were able to get to it. What was blocking your wheel well access?

[@AH-mm5du]

Thanks! Installed mine today! :)

[@JcVitte]

Good job, watched video did job. Getting the wires out of the clamp was a pain until I remembered my big ole pry bar from my wrench twisting days. Only comment, if you use a plug socket, remove the foam or rubber cushion from inside that holds the plug and prevents breakage. Remember to reinstall same.

[@LuisAlbertoSerranoAlonso]

Not all heroes wear masks or capes, Thank you!

[@danieljames7553]

Spot on brother

[@Trumpamaniac_223]

Probably the oil pump

[@sulatlalaki]

Fantastic instructional.

[@dennyeller9165]

The video was helpful but couldn't get the wire bundle clamp to bend so I took it off, only a 5/8" nut on the block that can be reached from the top. I then put a bungee cord on it pulling the cables towards the fire wall. I was able to get to the sender easier from under my 2000 ranger 4.0 L around the frame than through behind the tire, i took the tire off.

[@salchamp714]

You my friend are the man!

[@ogbobbye]

lol being a ford fan and having owned a few Explorers and Rangers in my life I have had to do this a few time pretty easy to do and you are spot on about best way to do it. Don't know if it is true or not but I was told by a guy at the parts store the reason they go out is due to where ford placed them they catch a lot of engine heat which causes them to over heat and fail. I would bet that to be true too. I had a ford ranger that after replacing 3 of these on I used a piece of that flex exhaust tube to duct air to the senor area and never had the problem again.

[@cosmoharvard]

That's the OHV engine he is working on...not the SOHC.

[@bicycledad7660]

How do you test the oil pressure to know it's the sensor or not

[@badderthanyou]

Awesome! Thanks for your help. Best video out there!

[@KITCHENADVENTURES1]

Thank you

[@bobsedoris4760]

To All... a lot of times, it is not the oil sending unit, but the wiring harness. The wiring harness on a lot of 4.6L is placed in such a manner as to rub against an oil filter drip assy. and rubs the black wiring protecter until it wears through and starts wiring on the wire to the oil sending unit. Mine wore until it started doing what is described her. Bad design by FORD! Found a description and pics on a Explorer Forum.

[@badderthanyou]

Sweet. Great video!

[@aawiseguy]

i have a 2002 ford explorer eddie bauer v6 4.0 sohc and was wondering if this video shows the same location that it'll be for my vehicle.

[@faustinomendez6870]

nice info man. very do aprecciate

[@239Gabby]

dose it cause the light that says hi temp low oil to come on

[@SevenSixTwo2012]

Awesome... my oil gauge does the same thing, time to change the senor. One question though: is your Explorer the 4.0L SOHC or 4.0L OHV? They are two totally different engine types and happened to be available on all 2nd generation Explorers. It probably would make a difference in the sensor's actual location... Thanks for the video!

[@bryandalton3967]

Hey I got a 2000 ford ranger when I start it I got good oil pressures then I give it gas i have on pressures what would cause it

[@charlesclarkejr2191]

Isk...I typed in 2003 explorer and I'm getting videos for these older trucks I was just outside for 30 minutes looking for bundles of wires that don't exist in my truck ...what he pulled out though looks exactly like a piece that is directly on top extremely easy to get at right on the place where the oil goes ...but I am not certain as I can't a find a video

[@kainhall]

Try searching for a 2004 or 2005

[@stevenbranch8360]

I have a mercury mountaineer 2002 4.0 . Will that cause my oil gauge to not move at all and my engine to sound like its constantly tapping

[@cadillacchris7771]

I have a Ford explore 2000 the needle bounces for H to L when the engine is in drive but I have the breaks applied. when in park needle stays in middle. when I'm in drive over 1000 rpms needle stays in the middle anything under need bounces from H to L. I'm guessing it's the oil switch ? any help please

[@jefftn5438]

Not the same part number for all of the 4.0 engines, for 98 and newer, 97 is a totally different part.

[@TheShredBox]

They are usually on the passenger side of the 3.0L engine, back by the firewall.

[@samanthaswann9614]

I have a 2002 Ford Explore this is how it sounds after replacing the oil pressure sensor loud

[@johnkaio740]

I also have an explorer and I think the same things happening it doesn't show it on the high and low dipstick but on my message center on the dash it keep saying low oil pressure any suggestions thank you

[@fgbowen]

ok - sir - this is exactly what happens to my truck - as you describe it at the beginning. My oil pressure gauge shows none and bounces around at engine start-up. Then after the engine gets warm, the gauge bounces back to the middle showing good-and-steady oil pressure. Also, there is relatively loud clattering at the engine start-up, but after warm-up, that all goes away for the most part - 95% of it goes away - there is just a little periodically, but NOTHING AT ALL like the start-up clattering. My truck is a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac - and I am hoping that your procedure here will apply to it. Any helpful comments from others here are welcome.

[@TheShredBox]

Changing the sensor just lets you know that you are getting a good reading on the oil. If it still bounces around with the new sensor, then you start looking at the oil pump, and so-on. Noise in the engine usually means that some damage is already done, but could be any number (or combination) of issues -including poor oil coverage.

[@matthewhoffman9242]

I know this is a old post but it could be a timing chain chattering if it's a 4.0sohc. They have timing chain tensioners that use oil pressure for keeping tension. My brother in law had a 03 explorer that did it on start up down side to that 4.0sohc is that it had a timing chain on the front of the motor for one set of cylinders and one chain on the back of the engine for the other side

[@johnkaio740]

@@matthewhoffman9242 I also have a 2003 and it doesn't show it on the dipstick on the dash it shows it on the message center low oil pressure I have no clue what that is and how to even fix it is that what your brother-in-law had?

[@ronhaller653]

To

[@jiwbink]

IF THIS SENSOR GOES BAD,WILL IT LEAK BEFORE GOIN TOTALLY OUT? I SAW A PUDDLE OF CLEAR FLUID IN THE AREA OF THIS SENSOR. DIDNT DRIVE FOR TWO DAYS. FIVE MILES INTO ERRAND. ZERO OIL PRESSURE, SOUNDED LIKE A DIESEL W/O VALVE COVERS. I GOT HOME AND HAVE BEEN YOUTUBING FOR TWO DAYS.. ANY INFORMATION IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED, THX FOR POSTING!

[@noahlounsbury3656]

Your problem is a bit deeper you actually have no oil pressure lmao this video is for people who have oil pressure and it’s not showing

[@willpartch09]

Yeha i have a 2002 explorer 4x4 explorer 4.0 SOHC Xlt an my old gadge when i start will sitt at low.. not it dosent bounce just sits at low an if i warm it up an put it to the floor it will move to normal never goes above normal but after its been running a weil it stays normal.. also its cold here like below 40 every day... Aslo i have a noise we think its the timeing chain around 2500 3000 rmps it makes this wird noise checked fan clutch all the pullys are fine. 78 miles ideas?

[@badderthanyou]

Do you need to drain the oil first?

[@Facehaven]

Shredbox Followed all the instructions got the sensor out but insalling the new one found it only fingered it in 1/4" in then it got stuck i did not try to wrench it any further just in case does the sensor sit flush with the engine block? any help would be appriciated thanks

[@gilmcgauley]

I am in the process of doing the same to my 3.0 ranger and i cant find the sensor. do you know if they are in a different places?

[@Thurman]

I did these but it did work what can I do next

[@screamingcockatoo]

Ugh, what a nightmare on the Ranger 4.0 But it's done.

[@nolanola7424]

this maybe redundant but my gage also bounces plus my message center says low oil pressure plus another one says I think high temp. can someone help me. 2003 mercury mountaineer aws premiere edition. tks...

[@Skyefuego]

nola nola74 did you find the problem?

[@mediacreationsusa]

wish you could show us the actual unit on the block - maybe Im not seeing it there, but behind and down from the water pump? I have a 96 4.0L exp - thanks

[@damianpinedaward5778]

I've replaced that already & it still continues to do that any help would greatly be appreciated

[@7LilTish9]

You might actually need an oil flush

[@tesinmiagbeyegbe4106]

i had similar issues and thought my pump and sensor was faulty so i replaced both but still having the light pop up on my ford explorer 2006 xlt. please any more ideas?

[@OP-ik7qb]

Tesinmi Agbeyegbe take it to a professional auto mechanic

[@brandonjohnson3566]

If you have a light popping up for low oil pressure and you changed the oil pump, cleaned the oil pick up tube, and replaced the oil sensor and are still getting that code. Changes are you have either a front and/or rear main seal leaking or the seal's for the jack shaft if you have a 4.0L is leaking. SOHC 4.0L use a jack shaft to run two additional timing chains from the front main chain to each cams on the cylinder heads. In order to replace the jack shaft seals properly the engine needs to be pulled. If you pull the engine it's best to knock out a timing chain replacement as well, the chain guides are plastic and notorious for breaking off and clogging up the oil pump pickup tube also worth mentioning that the SOHC v6 is an interference engine, if those timing chains jump a tooth the engine is toast so its important to do chain replacements every 100,000 miles.

[@stevecrowe4801]

I have an 02 explorer...my oil gauge just stop working but it was making a little louder noise...but my engine never got over heated...could be a number of things. im thinking maybe oil pump

[@TheShredBox]

Steve Crowe The oil pump is a much larger job, which is why I suggest doing this first. If the pump was making noise, though, you might want to have it looked at soon because running it with a bad pump will lead to much larger engine problems.

[@Faltrollet]

Since I live in Sweden, and I cannot find parts for my Explorer here, not this one at least, could you recommend any US shop/website that ships internationally? Thanks!

[@jerrysa5796]

+Fälttrollet Hi , try this 3w rockautodotcom , they handle a wide stock in parts for you Explorer and plus ! they have worlwide ships

[@TheShredBox]

The sensors don't go in very far. Look at the threads of the one you took out. You should be able to see a line where the threads are dirty. Those threads were on the outside of the engine block.

[@victorshapona3909]

Mines a 2004 4.6 expedition would the sensor be in the same location?

[@zyzsgy]

no

[@victorshapona3909]

@@zyzsgy Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!

[@claytonmcminn1121]

13/16. Not 3/16

[@sniperv25]

3/16" sounds pretty small, what size is it?

[@kennemathews7654]

I have a Mustang 05. Will the switch be in the same area?

[@TheShredBox]

+Kenne Mathews Looks like it should also be on the left side.

[@michaelcorleone9456]

I have a 2001 ford explorer will have the same problem and now SUV won't start is it wired to the ignition

[@TheShredBox]

I can't answer for all vehicles, but this sensor should not cut off power to the ignition. This sensor only notifies you if the oil level drops below the recommended level. Really, it just tells you that your oil is low. You may still have enough oil to run the engine safely even after the sensor can't detect the presence of oil, so it wouldn't make sense to deactivate the ignition.

[@michaelcorleone9456]

+TheShredBox my key has a chip in it Eveything else I can hear the rely is going on and off starters new and fuel pump works battery new alternator good

[@ogbobbye]

not a real car guy so not able to name what part, did as u said turning wheel out. 1st thing I couldnt see it and it looked like I needed to snake my arm pass several things to get a hand on it. when I got the wrench on it from under the car I went back to the wheel well to see if I could get a better pull from there, but couldnt. thinking about it I had it up on a jack stand and you didnt bet thats why, wheel hang down changed things.

[@gusmoore7678]

Thank You

[@lmt-adventures620]

Changed mine to new and still, where should I look next?

[@noahlounsbury3656]

You have two switches there’s the gauge and the light both take different sensors

[@gtovar7696]

What is the cost on the replacement? Approximately

[@Michaelbrian777]

$14.99 as of today. 12/9/22

[@corteycor]

Where is it located on a 2002 Ford Econoline e150 xlt v6 van

[@TheShredBox]

on point productions Different engine on the E series. AutoZone usually has a location diagram in the computer for the parts that they sell. I couldn't find reference to installation instructions.

[@corteycor]

Thanks

[@ichi_go]

Let's goooo!

[@FXPips11]

My gauge needle is poijting totally on the opposite side it should be,

[@DroidzEditor]

I had the same issue. My needle was underneath the black thing its supposed to sit on. If you haven't fixed it already, Use a magnet. You can guide it back in place.

[@FXPips11]

@@DroidzEditor thanks Pal!

[@AntoineFinch]

I replaced my oil pressure sensor but it still shows no oil pressure? 03 explorer 4.0l

[@charlesclarkejr2191]

On the 03 was it right on top? Cuz I can't find anything like they are talking anywhere near my wheel or wites

[@charlesclarkejr2191]

On the 03 was it right on top? Cuz I can't find anything like they are talking anywhere near my wheel or wires

[@charlesclarkejr2191]

On the 03 was it right on top? Cuz I

[@charlesclarkejr2191]

Where was it on the 03

[@kainhall]

Then you have a wiring issue . If oil gets on the rubber insulation, it will degrade and just fall apart over time . Trace the wire up... paying special attention to spots that are soaked in oil . . . Or your Guage is bad . You can unplug the sensor.... needle should move to full high or full low . Then use a "jumper wire" to short out the plug (no damage will be done) . Needle should move the opposite way . . If not... bad Guage or bad wire from the plug to ECU

[@TheShredBox]

Nope, no need to drain the oil. You will have a few drops of oil leak out (but nothing more than a tablespoon). If you have more than a tablespoon of oil leak out, you were running too much oil in your rig.

[@murdock4209]

3/16 lmfa 😅