I recently noticed that my oil pressure has went down about two psi. It used to always be a 40 at idle and would just go over the 40 mark when regular driving. Lately at stops the needle has been going just under the 40 mark. What could of made this ? And should I worry? My alternator is going could it be less stress on the motor from that going causing the truck less work at idle?

Two Oil changes ago I started going with Mobil 1 High Mileage synthetic and a K&N oil filter.


1996 Dodge Ram 1500 5.9 360 4X2

• K&N Intake
• Flow master Exhaust
• 180 Thermostat
• Jet Chip
• MagnaFlow Catalytic Converter

 

Probably just the oil pump on its way out. Rock Auto has a new Sealed Power oil pump for $30.

Here is a DIY on oil pump removal:
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech-article-31.html

Hope this helps! Welcome To Dodge Forum!

 

Have you checked your oil ? how is your tempature ? also have you changed your oil filter lately ? stopped up oil filter will cause low pressure in the pump and will throw off your over all oil pressure

 

A stopped up oil filter will just go into bypass, and that would raise the oil pressure, not drop it.

 

if sludge gets into the pump it will cause it to lower.

 

i am having a similar problem, but my oil pressure drops to 0 when its warmed up and idle, but when it goes up even 50 rpm it shoots right back up, my dad said his old dodge had the same problem and it was the oil pressure sending unit. but im not sure if that would cause it to drop just 2 psi

 

You could do some of the suggestions on here and it wouldn't hurt. I wouldn't woory about it though. The dash gauges are not accurate anyway. You are only really at about 5-7 psi at idle anyway. I run a mechanical oil pressure gauge so it shows exactly what the pressure is.

 

Wouldnt think about it too hard, just check your oil level and color, if its fine just keep an eye on it, my oil pressure is about were yours is at and goes about as far on the high side of 40 when in the gas hard

 

+1.... Mine moves a little more in each direction and has done it since the day I bought it...

 

I think I am going to replace the oil pump in the spring just to be safe. I noticed today that is was a little warmer out that the gauge drops a needle more. So the warmer it gets the more the pressure goes down how is this going to be when it is 80 degrees out it was barley 50 today??

The oil level is fine and my temp for the motor is at 175-180 (checked today)