I have a 2001 Ram 1500 4X4 Truck with less than 80,000 miles on it. This is my first Dodge Truck, so I am learning a great deal of differences between Dodge and Fords - yes I am a convert. When starting the truck in the morning the Oil Pressure gauge is on the high side, then when I accelerate the oil pressure gauge reads lower. also as the truck warms up the oil pressure reads lower, then when I accelerate it goes lower. The one things is, that it never reads out of the "NORMAL" range. Question - Is this normal.

 

Oil pressure should increase with engine RPM. Check your oil level. These trucks have a **** poor intake manifold design, and there is a gasket on the bottom that likes to blow out, and then you start sucking oil...... you go thru oil at a considerable rate, and that takes out things like the cat converter, and front O2 sensor. Left long enough, it can clog the cat, foul plugs, and eventually, lead to cracked heads......

If your oil level is good, there is likely some restriction at the pump pickup, so when there is a higher demand for oil, the pump just can't get it....

 

I had the same problem with my oil gauge, when I came to a stop and aty idle, the oil pressure sometimes dropped to zero, and oil light came on. It was the plenum gasket. Once I replaced it, everything oil pressure wise returned to normal

 

hmmmm having the same problem, bout to order the oil pres. sender, and a mechanical gauge. where would one hooke the gauge up on the engine? get a tee and install it at the same spot as the pres. sender, or where?

 

I just pulled the sensor, hooked the mechanical gauge up there, ran the engine for a while to verify what was going on. (and fixed it.....) Then just put the electrical sensor back.

 

right but from what ive read, the dash gauge isnt very reliable, and the gauge im getting is a dash mount. so where would i hook it up? is there another port that i can hook it up to to get pressure, or is the sender location the only place?

 

In that case, you will want to plumb in a "T".

 

Thanks for confirming what i thought Z!

 

I have a 95 ram 1500 5.2L vin: y. i also have an oil fluctuation issue. I replaced the sending unit two months ago and i had to put about a quart of oil in it this morning. Is there an easy way of checking to see if it is sucking oil. IE pulling a spark plug to see if it has oil on it. Or will i have to pull the intake to find out. Also no oil leaks in normal parking spot.

 

Is there a way to check if it is the plenum gasket without having to pull the intake. I have a 95 ram 1500 5.2L my oil pressure fluctuates but until this morning it hasnt fluctuated very much and always stays within range. I had to put almost a quart of oil in this morning and it seemed to help the issue but didnt fix it. Thank you for your time