u/Effective-Space-9743

2003 Ranger 4.0 V6, 4x4, automatic

Oil gauge started acting funky, dropping to 0 when idling, returning to normal when rpm’s got over 1.5k. A day after, this grumbling noise started off and has gotten progressively worse to the point it’s at now, over the course of two days. I changed the oil about a month ago, thought that I might have messed up somehow so I rechanged the oil today, using motorcraft filter instead of the WIX I used the last time. 5W-30 synthetic blend for oil. Awaiting an oil sending unit that’s on its way ensure it’s not that, but the grumbling sound makes me think it’s more.

Any suggestions? Hoping it’s not rod knock since it only popped up in the span of two days