So, two days ago I bought a 2001 Ram 1500 4x4 with the 5.2. She comes with 170k on her, but is rust free other than a few places where the paint chipped off and has a small coat of surface rust. Overall, solid truck! I was able to get it for $1500, a complete steal! I test drove it pretty hard to make sure everything was good, paid the man, and drove home. The main purpose of this truck is to tow around my 78 Vette to car shows.

On the drive home, I just couldnt contain myself, and when I hit the highway, I put the pedal down to see what she was capable of... After a few moments, it hit what sounded like a rev limiter... (WHAAA WHAAA WHAAAA in rapid succession).. while it was doing this, the "Check Gauges" Light comes on, and I noticed my oil pressure dropped to zero .... S&*@... I limp it the rest of the way home, but it really drove fine other than some late shifts (around 3200 rpm before shifting). I double checked the oil, it was still full... checked the tranny fluid and it was running a bit low. My first thought was to do oil change, tranny fluid and filter change, and change the oil switch located behind the distributer... i have spent my day today doing that, started her back up, and oil pressure still showing zero... does this mean oil pump is bad, or what else can I try? Thankfully im in the green on this truck, so if i have to drop 500 to get the oil pump done, its not the end of the world. If it is the pump - should i get a high flow since im at 170k?

Thanks guys! Heres 2 photos I snapped quick before any sort of clean up.

 

Does not sound good. But do the oil pump yourself as its easy and you can check the mains while you're in there. But I wouldn't be holding my breath. What did you expect romping on an old engine anyway?

 

Photos not showing.

Put a mechanical gauge on it, and see what oil pressure is really doing. Wouldn't be the first time I got a bad part, right out of the box.

 

When you say "doesnt sound good" and "wouldn't hold my breath" do you mean it doesnt sound like an oil pump??

 

 

I should also note that I drove maybe 8 miles home after this happened..

 

If you cannot hear the lifters clattering, I would say you do have oil pressure. Screwing in a mechanical oil pressure gauge could confirm that and just how much pressure you have.

 

OK i like the sound of that - say the oil pressure is there, whats the issue? Bought a POS sending unit from AutoZone? Gauge itself is bad?

 

Quite like the "new" sending unit was bad.

 

These trucks hate aftermarket sensors. You have two options either but Mopar sensors it deal with crappy quality. My gauge when fit warms reads around 20psi which is lower when I first got the truck. The mechanical gauge read 40psi at idle. Took 5 sensors before getting a good one and now it almost drops to 0 at fully warned idle but I have a mechanical gauge on my A pillar so it reads 40psi. Standard Motor Products are suppose to be good but I have a mechanical gauge now to. If I was to replace it I would but a Mopar unit is they still make them.