I recently bought a Ford Tuarus that is in great condition (on the outside at least), passed inspection, and it was running okay for a week until one day when it didn't want to start and on the dashboard the reading "low oil level/low oil pressure" popped out. My other engine/oil lights don't turn on and this only happens at the start of the car. My car won't turn on now unless I push a few times on the gas pedal and afterward it runs smoothly and all warning signs disappear (the engine attempts to start but sounds like a car without gas). I've looked this problem up and apparently Ford Tuarus' are known for this... some say it's a pressure sensor thing but I'm concerned that it may be worse (I shouldn't have to be pushing the pedal down to get the car to start up). I've checked the oil level with the dipstick and it's fine. Does anyone know what it may be or what else I can do? I'm not a fan of the expensive diagnostic tests but that seems to be my only option right now. Any help/guidance as to what the problem could be would be really appreciated!

Check the oil sensor and also at the same time do an oil pressure test on the car. Do you have the right engine oil filter on the car and the proper viscosity of oil in it? If you don't know the answer then try changing the oil and filter then run your tests. Sensors do wear out. And by running an oil pressure test with a manual gauge you will know for sure what your oil pressue is doing.

You definitely want to use a good mechanical gauge and check the oil pressure.

As the owner of a 2000 Taurus, with the 3.0L Duratec engine, I recommend you only use full synthetic 5W-20 engine oil (e.g. Mobil 1 or Pennzoil Platinum). Change the oil and filter every 6,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. The hard starting problem may be due to the spark plugs not having been changed lately. Only use the same Motorcraft plugs that originally came in the car. Many people do not change the rear plugs on V-6 engines. Change them every 50,000 miles or 3 years, whichever comes first. If the car has 100,000 miles or more on it, I would replace the Camshaft Position Sensor and the Crankshaft Position Sensor.

Once you solve the immediate problem at hand, make sure you change the transmission fluid and filter. The weak leak on these cars is the ATX. Using Mobil 1 Multi-Vehicle Synthetic ATF, drop and clean the pan and magnet, and replace the filter every 30,000 miles. These are great cars and will easily go 300,000 miles, if properly cared for.