Driving about 200 miles and on the way the scary "DING" sounds letting me know the oil pressure has bottomed. I pull over and get out to see WTF is going on. Everything looks good. Oil is at full level. Just changed 2 weeks ago with synthetic. Start up the engine and its back above 40 psi. Drive a few miles and this happens again, 5 times. Hobble to a sevice station and he changed the oil filter. Made it, but it happens one more time on the way and twice on the way back. Clogged oil filter and the oil would bypass the filter, right? Clogged oil pick up screen? Or just change the whole oil pump. If clogging what is the debris?
It is not the oil pressure sending unit. Valves making loud chattering sound when this happens. Pulled over asap.

 

Could be the pressure switch, kinda pricey though to be just changing it out.

Personally I would temporarily hook up a mechanical gauge and ride her out check it that way. If the mechanical gauge drops, then you have a problem.

 

look here https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...-pressure.html

but i agree with his last comment, get a mechanical gauge hooked up to be sure, and if the oil filter was getting clogged it would cause this problem, no bypass for it unless you put one in.

 

Read my experience here, different engine though...

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...lp-please.html

 

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...-pressure.html

Your results may vary as it is not an apples to apples comparison, however, I would recommend dropping the pan, now and first before anything else is done, and inspect the screen on the filler tube.

David

 

What is the history of the truck, orignal owner with proper maintenance then I would put a guage on it before I dropped the pan. It could probably be the pressure switch.

My 03 PT GT did the same a few years back, and is quite common failure of the oil pressure sending unit.

 

Guys, you missed the OP's original posting in that he said that it makes a loud chattering sound when this happens which indicates to me that he is losing oil pressure! If he went from original dino oil to full synthetic, the full synthetic will break up a lot of the old carbon build up that dino oil produces from lack of maintenance and that will eventually clogged up his pick up tube screen on his oil pump. Sounds like you will have to drop your pan and look at the screen, if it is clogged up, you will have to clean it.

 

+1 Pete. He is clattering, he is loosing pressure.

On a first year vehicle that is over 12 years old, the oil pump is failing would be my call.

IndyD

 

So for folks who have dropped the pan what has the verdict been? SLudged up non-maintained engine from prior owner or are the pumps on some of these prone to failure??

I only have about 50K on my 5.9 but I run Amsoil and change it on reasonable interval.

Maybe I'll throw an autometer guage on to monitor so if something happens it will be easier to diagnose.

 

My '01 has been on fully synth for a while now and no loss of pressure or leakage. I got lucky the previous owner kept up the oil changes and no major problems so far. Didn't notice any sludge when I dropped the pan, but thanks for upping the hit rate!