1996 Ram 4x4 5.2L

I was driving today when i noticed that my oil pressure was fluctuating dramatically. It is in the normal pressure range while driving normally, but when I brake, it goes down. While I was idling at a stop light, it would drop to nothing, then immediately return to normal. Does anyone know what would cause this?

 

Most likely a bad sending unit. To check for sure hook up a mechanical guage to see what your oil pressure is really reading.

 

Have you checked you oil level lately? Not trying to make fun of you or anything, just suggesting. My truck did something similar and I checked my level and I was extremely low (damn plenum leak/ possible head gasket leadk). If it gets too low then when you stop the oil pump stops picking up and your pressure will go dead. It will slowly but surely get worse if you leave it until you add oil!

 

mine was doing the same thing before this plenum fix i also installed a new sending unit now the pressure is back to normal.
Also inspected the old one and it was really crudded up not to mention leaking.

try this pull the plug on the sending unit and see if you have oil on the plug wire if so your sending unit is bad.The inside seal is no good and needs to be replaced also you may want to see if the plenum is leaking also. for low idle sounds like what i just went through.

 

My Jeep started doing the exact same thing. Turned out to be a bad sender, as well.

 

Thank you for the advice, it is greatly appreciated. I'm just hoping it is not the oil pump going bad. From what I understand, that is a pain in the a** to fix. Now I just have to find a ride to work for the next few days.

 

mine was doin till i started running 20w 50 oil but my front main and rear main steals are shoot. just keep oil in it and if your really scared have it running and take the oil fill cap off and try and look in and if u see oil sloshing around u don't have to be to worrired

 

If that is true none of my vehicles I have owned in the 57 years I have owned one have had a working oiling system.

 

If there really is no oil pressure you're going to know it. The valves rattling will be the first sign.

 

LOL, Charles is right except for one thing, 57 years ago there was no baffles or whatever you want to call them built into the valve covers(not on all motors anyway). Regardless of that argument, on a Dodge Ram valve cover, if you look down the filler cap you won't see jack.