Oil pressure gauge info
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Record Breaker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,970
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From: Clermont, Florida
Oil pressure gauge info
Everybody here knows the oil pressure gauge in the dash on our Dakota's may or may not work very well sometimes. There are also problems with the gauge reading zero oil pressure when the truck is running, even though there are no problems with the oil level. oil pump or pickup screen. My own oil pressure gauge had always read pretty much the same, on a cold idle it was OK, just below the right hash mark and at 2000 RPM going down the highway it was just a bit higher, and on a hot idle it was always just above the left hash mark.
The last couple of weeks now I noticed my oil pressure gauge would read straight up in the middle of the gauge when I was cruising at sustained highway speeds. It would not go below the lower hash mark at idle or read dangerously low at idle but it became increasingly slow to respond and move the needle according to my RPM and it just did not read right. I replaced my oil pressure sending unit today and the gauge works great now, just like it should. On a cold idle it reads just below the right hash mark, at 2000 RPM it stays on the right hash mark and does not move unless the RPM's drop and it picks right back up again when I get moving and responds like a normal gauge should. It is very good to have the gauge working right again and even though the factory gauge is not as accurate as a dedicated mechanical oil pressure gauge, oil pressure is still something I need to be able to monitor all of the time when I am driving. I look at my oil pressure and tach more than I look at my speedometer.
I went to Napa and bought the better quality, OEM replacement grade Echlin oil pressure switch, part #OP6189. This was one part I wanted to be sure I was getting the best qualty part I could buy, and I have never had any trouble at all with Echlin parts. The Napa guy cut me a bit of a break on the prices so I paid $35.00 for the switch and I had to buy an oil pressure switch socket for $9.45. The good thing about the socket is it was 3/8" drive, all of the other ones I have seen were 1/2" drive and I don't own a 1/2" universal joint. Using a long 3/8" drive extension and a 3/8" u-joint made it super easy to R&R the switch.
I just wanted to post this in case anyone else has the wonky oil pressure gauge problem. Chances are nothing is wrong with your truck, the sending unit is probably just whacked out from soot. My oil pressure gauge is working like new again.
Jimmy
The last couple of weeks now I noticed my oil pressure gauge would read straight up in the middle of the gauge when I was cruising at sustained highway speeds. It would not go below the lower hash mark at idle or read dangerously low at idle but it became increasingly slow to respond and move the needle according to my RPM and it just did not read right. I replaced my oil pressure sending unit today and the gauge works great now, just like it should. On a cold idle it reads just below the right hash mark, at 2000 RPM it stays on the right hash mark and does not move unless the RPM's drop and it picks right back up again when I get moving and responds like a normal gauge should. It is very good to have the gauge working right again and even though the factory gauge is not as accurate as a dedicated mechanical oil pressure gauge, oil pressure is still something I need to be able to monitor all of the time when I am driving. I look at my oil pressure and tach more than I look at my speedometer.
I went to Napa and bought the better quality, OEM replacement grade Echlin oil pressure switch, part #OP6189. This was one part I wanted to be sure I was getting the best qualty part I could buy, and I have never had any trouble at all with Echlin parts. The Napa guy cut me a bit of a break on the prices so I paid $35.00 for the switch and I had to buy an oil pressure switch socket for $9.45. The good thing about the socket is it was 3/8" drive, all of the other ones I have seen were 1/2" drive and I don't own a 1/2" universal joint. Using a long 3/8" drive extension and a 3/8" u-joint made it super easy to R&R the switch.
I just wanted to post this in case anyone else has the wonky oil pressure gauge problem. Chances are nothing is wrong with your truck, the sending unit is probably just whacked out from soot. My oil pressure gauge is working like new again.
Jimmy