hi, i have a 2006 dodge ram 5.7 hemi. 46k miles. something weird happened this morning the oil pressure gauge started to fluctuate. it has always been a tab higher than middle which i told was normal for the truck, but this morning when ever i stopped it would go below middle, i had drive over 20 miles so it wasn't when i just started her up. and it wasn't a gradual drop it was immediate. any ideas? i run valvoline 5w-30 full syn in it, and last oil change was over a 1000 miles ago. with no problems. i have google'd around and found some things about replacing the sending unit. but others say this gauge is normal for it to do that. thanks for any help u can give

 

My gauge stays in one spot after startup. I would replace the sending unit and go from there.

 

you can also verify it with a mechanical oil pressure gauge to make sure its your gauge and not the actual oil pressure.
more than likely a gauge or sending unit problem tho.

 

My 08 does the same thing ... when the engine is warm, and I let it idle the needle goes down below the middle line on the gauge then as soon as I press the gas it goes back up past the middle line. The engine runs great so I thought it was normal.

 

mine does the same when im off the gas the oil is normal, just a lil before the middle but when i give it gas the pressure goes up, isnt that normal though?

 

cool thanks everyone for the suggestions, ill try checking with a mechanical presure gauge and let you know

 

although i think ill go with replacing the sending unit, quicker process than installing a mechanical right off the bat

 

any updates on this one??

 

My 08 does this too. It is normal for the hot idle oil pressure to be lower than it is while the rpms are up driving. Nothing to worry about. It is not a dummy gauge like some other trucks use. (at least not 06-08)

 

why are you running 5w-30 and not 5w-20?