2000 durango lost oil pressure about a week ago. first thing i did was change out the pressure switch. this seemed to help but not completely. then i considered there could be some sludge build up that blocks the pick up tube on the oil pump? so i ran some k&w5 minute oil treatment and changed the oil. took it for a test drive andnow shortly after warming up, 10-15 minutes, the guage drops back down to zero. i pulled over immediately and shut off. started it up and had pressure again. drove a few miles and back to zero again. its not making a ton of racket or anything although the first time it happened the lifters started pecking so i knew it wasn't getting oil. i really don't have a bunch of cash to put in it but i'm fearing a probable lower engine rebuild as the worst case scenario. i did get a new oil pump but there is no way the pan is coming off without some disassembling. any help or input would be appreciated.

 

it is a 5.2 liter 2wd also.

 

DWS:

Sounds like you either have an oil pump on the way out, or possibly gunk in your oil pan that is clogging the pickup screen. I think you should start by getting a reliable reading from a real mechanical oil pressure guage.

If you are able to verify the loss of pressure, time for the oil pan to come off to see what is going on. The fact that you do not have 4x4 makes getting the pan off a bit easier I understand.

Before this though, take off your air hat and look down inside the throttle body with a flashlight. If it looks oily and wet, you have a failing belly pan gasket on your intake. This can cause oil to be drawn in to the intake system. With this issue, some have reported that oil residue built up in their oil pan, and thus the pressure issue.

Have you noticed an increase in oil consumption as of late???Does your engine seem to be pinging alot under load?? If so, these are classic signs of the belly gasket issue.


Don

 

wow thanks don for the input!! i will take a look under the air hat and see whats up. no it really hasn't been consuming oil. maybe half quart on the last oil change? not really pinging under load. i'll try the mechanical oil pres guage too. as far as the pan goes i got under there again and it looks like the motor will have to be raised to get the pan out. i just don't know if i will be able to do this. anyway thanks again and keep the input coming!!!!

 

You are correct. I beleive the motor needs to be raised to get the pan off.

There is no oil tube: There is a large opening on the bottom of the pump with a screen over it. This screen can get clogged.

Have you replaced the filter? What type are you using?

Reason that I ask is that the pressure switch is on the upper side after the filter. If the filter you are using sucks or is bad, a problem could occure resulting in no or eratic presure readings.

This happend to me before. I took off the filter and turned over the motor to blow the clogg out. Replaced the filter with a good one changed the oil. Bam problem solved.

 

thanks for the help guys but problem solved. we traded it in. thanks and take care.