i have a 2000 durango w/ the 4.7. when i first start driving it while its cold, the oil pressure gauge will suddenly drop to zero for a second, and then the check gauges light comes on. it only does this for a breif moment, and then everything goes right back to normal. i dont hear any strange noises and there is not a lack of power. it will do this two or three times until it is warmed up. any ideas? -thanks

 

Either oil pump or sending unit is going bad. Hope it's not your oil pump.

 

Sounds like the oil pressure sensor.

 

+1 hydra, sounds to me like the sending unit if you were loosing oil pressure you would be hearing it

 

i was also praying that its not the oil pump. how can i test if its the sensor/sending unit? would any of this show up if i hook it up to a scanner?

 

the best way to check the sending unit is to either replace it, or hook up a mechanical gauge and see what that does when the gauge on the dash drops

 

Or just replace it cause it's only like $15 bucks?

 

that was my first suggestion . . .

 

okay. where is the sending unit located? do i have to take apart the dash? sorry to sound so newbish, its just not something ive done before.

 

No the sending unit is way easier to replace than you think. In fact its much like replacing an O2 sensor. The sending unit is located right by the oil filter, actually between the filter and the engine block.

Heres a diagram to help you ou where it's located at. Number 4 is pointing at it...