Hello

i am new to this forum i just bought a 89 dakota 3.9 4x2. My odd oil problem is i have a oil leak only when truck is running and when warmed up oil light comes on and pressure drops low. So please help i hope its not major i just bought it and am not a mechanic lol..

Thanks

 

Well oil runs throughout the majority of the engine...
I'd assume it only leaks when its running because the leak itself is not large enough to work on its own but when the engine runs the pressure is pushing it out.

Have you actually gone in there and looked for possible sources of the leak? Cause it could be a multitude of places. Oilpan, Valve covers, head gasket etc to name a few random ones.

My suggestion to you is when the engine is cold go into there and clean it up and down wherever you see oil. Then once you're satisfied start the truck up and let it idle for awhile and see if that leak starts up again. You should be able to locate the source pretty easily that way.

 

the back of the valve covers is common.
pressure issue...have you changed it ?use 10/40. maybe add Lucas additive.

 

I was going to say I use 10w40. Not a fan of lucas additive. Maybe even 20w50 in the warmer months. But first you gotta see about that oild pressure problem, if its that low, thats a big issue to drive it that way.
Dumb question, but it leaks? Is it low on oil? That can cause low oil pressure.

 

Could also be the plenum.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...um-thread.html


First, top off the oil and check if the pressure goes up. Use your trip odometer + frequent oil checks to determine how quickly you're losing oil.

Also, are you experiencing lack of power going uphills? Smokey exhaust? Engine pops/shudders under load? Those, coupled with excessive oil consumption would point to the plenum pan/gasket being the issue.

 

89 didnt have the plenum gasket that the newer ones did. I'd take a close look at the oil sending unit they love to leak at the crimp where the plastic joins the stamped metal part.