Oil pressure (and voltage)

2005 AC 4x4, 174k miles. I bought used in 2021. Runs great! Except when it doesn't! I love this truck.

I have 2 questions ...

When I run it after it's sit a week or two, battery voltage reads a bit higher than "center" for 20-30 minutes. I assume that means it's charging, which must mean there's some kind of parasite draw while it's sitting. Does that seem right?


More important, the oil pressure almost always reads 1/4 on the gauge. When I first bought it I think it read "center" most of the time. Is it trying to tell me something?

Thanks guys

 

Some parasitic draw is normal. The more aftermarket crap you have, the more parasitic draw you'll see. My '06 gauge naturally fluctuates right around where you are. That's actually normal.

For the oil pressure gauge, are you low on oil? Did you change it recently, and maybe use a lighter weight, or switch to full synthectic vs. dino? It could be your sender is taking a took a shit. There's a TSB on that for earlier years, and a new part number for the sender, you may want to consider replacing? (my gauges while warm, should be same across '05-'06, are below)

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01 here but my pressure rises to around yours or a bit higher when waking her up, about constant halfway when just cruising, dips to around a quarter to half when neighborhood cruising, and straight up scary level low when idle/parked after warming up.


Yet this is supposed perfectly normal at least for my year per my manual lol so I’d consider your gauge with a grain of salt

 

The biggest reason your battery is showing a charge after starting is because the battery just took a hit to start the engine. I measured the parasitic draw on my 2001 at 20 mA I believe, from memory, but it was in spec. I do remember that much.

 

Sorry I confused shiftys pic for yours. If your gauge stays at quarter even after pushing it hard on the highway, I’d check out the places he suggested. Even tho the gauge levels are fucked in terms of what’s considered normal, at the very least I’ve always had it rise to about half or slightly the more you push the engine. If yours stays at that level constantly, I’d take it as a sign something iffy

 

The gauges on the gen 1s give you a cartoon depiction of what is actually going on. They get worse with time too. I would bet you are running fine.

 

It's so much better on the later years. All needles sit in the middle when all is normal.

 

The new ones are so consistent sometimes that I am concerned that they are not even correct, especially after owning the older ones. I am thinking "why is my dashboard not giving me anxiety?"