Hey guys,

Just bought a '98 thinking it was in good condition. turns out every time I come to a stop the oil pressure drops to zero...

I tried replacing the filter and changing the oil without any luck. (5w-30)

Ive been reading that it will probably be needing a rebuild? Im going to try a heavier weight oil tomorrow morning, and possibly replace the oil pump too.

Any advice or tips? And how much knowledge, $$$, and tools are required for a rebuild? Im mechanically inclined with the basic tools.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

you could try engine restore... the stuff really does help.... after about 100 miles your compression will be higher... risolene is another good comparable product...5w-30 is too thin anyway...10w 30 is recommended for these trucks unless being used in very cold conditions...
whats your pressure while under load? could be a faulty gauge or sender?

 

Yeah, first thing to do is put a mechanical gauge on it, and see what pressure is REALLY doing.

 

I was kind of hoping it was sensor/sending unit too...

Except the pressure drops to zero when ever its around 7-800 rpm and even 900 rpm when its warmed up...

Give the throttle a little bump and the pressure bounces back very quickly, which to me, means it doesnt have anything to do with the electrical side... Am I on track here guys?

Im going to change the oil back to something heavier this morning and Ill reply back whether or not it helped


Thanks again!!!

 

Actually, it sounds a LOT like a bad sensor...... Does it start rattling when the lite comes on?

 

Yeah, seems like the idle gets a little rough when it drops...

About every other time its hard to start as well... sometimes cranks for 4-5 seconds before firing.

Probably unrelated but it also "shudders" from a stop when its cold and I don't give much throttle, it kind of felt similiar to a torque converter issue I guess?

 

None of those things have anything to do with oil pressure. Put a new sender in it first. The other issues are more than likely related to this https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...um-thread.html

Except the hard start, get a cheap gauge to check fuel pressure, I bet the pressure regulator is bad.

 

Alright guys... I got a mechanical gauge hooked up in the sensors spot in the back of the block.

Pressure is staying steady a little over 50 psi...

Im starting to fear the worst- I started to notice excessive white smoke coming out od the exhaust, with what looks/feels like the 5-30 oil I just put in 30 miles ago, dripping out of the tailpipe

 

Well the motor's still designed for 10w30, lots of miles on the motor only makes that more true...

 

Well, I took her out for a short spin... Mechanical gauge held under the drivers windshield wiper lol...

Gauge drops to zero still when rpms get low and even at 3k rpm I cant get over 35 psi. Im going to drop the oil and change the pump in a minute...

Going to add 10w-30 high mileage back in with the "snake oil" called engine restore when Im done...

Any tips with pump? I just bought the truck so I dont have a manual to help