I've found a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 with only 89000 miles. The previous owner passed away in 2013 and the truck hasn't been moved since then. His wife has finally decided to sell the truck. Put a hot battery on it and it cranked right up. There where no noticeable noise from the engine but the oil pressure gauge never raised any. It didn't run long at all because we where uncertain of the oil pressure situation. I have been advised to change the oil in the truck and let it come up to temperature and see if the oil pressure gauge came up. With it setting idling surely you would here some noise before it did any damage if the oil pressure was out wouldn't you? I would think with it sitting that long all the oil would have drained to the pan and it would sound aweful when cranked if there was really no oil pressure. Any advice before I pull go ahead and buy this truck?

 

Did you check to see if it had oil in it?

 

Yes the oil was low. We put some oil in it to bring it up to operating level. It was not cranked until we did this.

 

Check it with a direct reading gauge just to make sure. Sounds like a bad sender.

 

Yes that's what I thought I would do. I'm going to try to do that this evening. AutoZone says they have a mechanical guage for $17.00.

 

Once you verify oil pressure and it turns out it is the sending unit, make sure you get an OEM unit so you don't have to do it again any time soon.