Ive got this same problem in my 97 1500 ram driving me absolutely insane. I recently replaced intake manifold gaskets and plenum since my accel was bad oil pressure was bad, and I had oil disapearing...the plenum was blown to bits, and probably had been for quite a while, the accel is better now, and Im not using oil anymore, but the pressure is still bad at operating temp when I come to a stop....hit the gas it comes right back up...Ive changed several times, used 20w 50, ran several cans of sludge cleaner through it, replaced sending unit, I cosidered changing the pump, but it doesnt make sense to me that it would be a bad pump...wouldnt the problem be the opposite? the pressure would be worse when the truck was cold? and get better as the oil heated up, and thinned out, making it easier to pump?...even at low rpms it pumps fine cold......so are you guys saying its just since the idiot before me tortured this engine, some of the clearances have gotten bigger, and outside of a new engine there is nothing I can do to fix it?........

 

You've done what you can, the motor is worn out. Sucks, but it's the truth. Just live with it for now.

 

A pump is a $60/4 hour fix plus an oil pan gasket if you damage it. I say try it. Cold oil = thicker oil. If the bearings in the pump are worn, it'll pump less oil, less cold and less hot oil. Less oil + thinner, hot oil = low pressure. Heck, you've replaced everything else, get a Melling HV pump and see if you can squeeze a few more years out, or let Obama burn your engine to the ground for a 2009.

 

Hi am kinda new to this. i recently bought a 97 dodge dakota 3.9 v6. The oil pressure gauge started droping so i changed the oil pump and the oil filter. cut it on and still low oil pressure. So next i removed the sending unit and put a manual pressure guage(0-100psi) and it read 6-7 psi on idle and 60 at 300rpm. According to the manual that is normal pressure so does that mean my sending unit is bad or could it be something else?
o and my check gauges light is on.

 

7 PSI is pretty low at idle, how many miles on the engine? You probably should have went for a high volume pump when you changed it out.

 

It has 206,00. Ok i just tested it again with the manual guage and it read 30-35 psi at idle. I had read it the first time wrong. So anybody have any idea if i should go ahead and change the sending unit or try something else?

 

IIRC, the factory service manual states, that 5 or 6 psi (I think it's 6) Is acceptable psi @ idle. At least for a v8. I'll look to see what it says for a 3.9.

 

ok so then mosre than likely my sending unit is bad

 

Replace the sending unit first anyway. And I looked in the 98 manual. And for a 3.9, 6 PSI @ idle is acceptable. At least according to the manual.

 

Ok cool ill do that and ill let yall know what happens. thanks