I have a 98 ram 1500 with a 318. my oil pressure has been acting up and I cant figure it out. when it first started id be driving it and when it warmed up and I stopped or let off the gas or rpm's got low, my oil pressure dropped to 0psi. but when I gave it gas it'd go back up. I changed the sending unit and that didn't solve anything. changed the oil and filter. still didn't fix it. then it got worse. now when its cold, not started all day and I start it I immediately have 0psi and it stays there no matter how much gas I give it. now its got a knocking noise. does this mean my oil pump is bad? if so what are the steps to changing it?

 

Well you can put a oil pump in it and see if the knock goes away,but chances are the motor has a bad bearing now, in short the motor needs a rebuild.

 

It sounds like you have a rod knock. Time for a rebuild.

 

Same thing happened to be but I lucked out no damage

 

well the knocking quit now but im still dropping to 0psi. I got the oil pump but people are saying I need to prime it. how do I do that? im just trying to put the thing in and go haha

 

oh and it wasn't really like a hard knock. it was more like a chatter like valves or lifters. but I don't know. like I said it quit that now

 

You have a new pick up screen also? You'll probably be okay. I think you can pull the coil wire and fuel relay, then use starter to turn engine over until your sure you have flow. which means pulling valve covers.
disclaimer....not a professional answer.

 

Priming the oil pump (according to the service manual) consists of dumping some oil into the top part of the pump, before installation. Try not to spill it when you put it in..... Oil pressure should come up within a few seconds of starting.

 

ok but do I have to mess with the distributor any? or do I just put oil in it, hook it up and crank the key till I have oil pressure to my lifters?

 

INSTALLATION

Prime oil pump before installation by filling rotor cavity with engine oil. The oil pump will not hold oil, just pour some in until it comes out the pickup tube.

(1) Install oil pump. During installation slowly rotate pump body to ensure driveshaft-to-pump rotor shaft engagement.

(2) Hold the oil pump base flush against mating surface on No.5 main bearing cap. Finger tighten pump attaching bolts. Tighten attaching bolts to 41 N·m (30 ft. lbs.) torque.

(3) Install the oil pan (Refer to 9 - ENGINE/LUBRICATION/OIL PAN - INSTALLATION).