ok i have a 1999 ram 1500 with a 360 the problem was the check gauge light would come on when i come to a stop an go back up after a few had a hunch it may be oil sending unit i swapped it out an now the truck will run with oil gauge reading normal for a moment then go down to 0 dose anybody have a clue why its doing this

 

Moving this to the correct section for ya.

Welcome to DF!

If you hold steady RPM, does the gauge bounce? If so, check the connection at the sensor.

 

Could be sludge clogging the pickup screen. Do you know maintenance history? My old 99 went through a four year period of neglect on oil changes and started doing the same thing around 170,000. After 3 new sending units, finally got a new pump and pickup screen, problem solved.
But poor maintenance showed up with a broken rocker, valve spring, and valve bent in head 60,000 miles later.

 

i have had the truck for around maybe 3 or so years an show lots of love i also believe the prevues owner did as well it has almost 200xxx on it.

looking into the gauge bouncing heyyou.

 

ok i checked to see if the gauge bounced at steady rpm it dose not what its doing now is when you start it the gauge reads normal for 2 or 3 mins then it gose to 0 then back up an back down to 0 then to normal for a moment then it repeats. when i hold steady rpm it reads at normal temps

 

You can use a mechanical gauge hooked up in place of sending unit to see more precisely what pressure is. It's probably not zero but low enough to get the check gauges chime going. Just guessing but probably oil pump and new pickup will be on your list. But check with external gauge hooked up first. Higher rpm's jack the pressure up or it should anyway. I think there is a minimum psi of 20 or so at idle. Can't recall exact numbers off the top of my head.

 

is it possible i damaged the connector an its making it loopy

 

More likely you just got a piece of crap sensor from the parts store. Those are signs of a failed sensor.

I would indeed be tempted to put a mechanical gauge on there, and see what pressure is really doing...... if it reads good, and stay steady on the mech gauge, replace the sending unit. (again.)

 

you know as i was buying the sensor i had a feeling about it. how would i go about putting mechanical gauge on?

 

it screws in place of the sending unit. This one or something similiar. http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ex...,parttype,1468