oil pressure issue
oil pressure issue
hey
I've got a 1990 ramcharger with the fuel injected 318 and OD automatic. since I bought it, after a long(er) drive, when I come to a stop for a light or anything, my oil pressure guage drops to nothing and I get a warning light. since I don't get it any other time my first guess would be a bad sensor. my friend has an 89 van with the same engine and he gets a warning light at a stop as well. can anyone give me some insite on this issue?
thank you!
-James
I've got a 1990 ramcharger with the fuel injected 318 and OD automatic. since I bought it, after a long(er) drive, when I come to a stop for a light or anything, my oil pressure guage drops to nothing and I get a warning light. since I don't get it any other time my first guess would be a bad sensor. my friend has an 89 van with the same engine and he gets a warning light at a stop as well. can anyone give me some insite on this issue?
thank you!
-James
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 14,228
Likes: 19
From: Riverton, UT
Could be a bad sensor.
The other problem it could be is the bearings waring out on the oil pump or the relief spring is going out on the oil pump.
Questions to ask: When this happen's, do you hear anything abnormal? Valve chatter, knock, or anything? This would tell you there is no oil getting to the top of the head. If no oil is getting to the top of the motor this is not good and will surely blow the motor because oil is not lubricating the motor. This would constitute an oil pump replacement.
If no different sounds are heared during this time then I wouls go for the sensor.
One thing you could try is a weight of oil that is heavier. The problem with this is the additives that are needed for the motor. One can look at the back of the bottle and make sure all requirements are meet on the heavier weight. Most 10-30 and 10-40's are equil, but the 10-40 will need to be changed out at an earlier time because it breaks down faster than 10-30 (thus the reason for it's discontinuance in newer motor configurations).
A heavier weight oil can cause poor drainage from the head and other issues so if this is the way you are thinking about going for the summer only than as soon as you can and the weather chills get it out of there and do another oil change within 500 miles to make sure no deposits of a sluge have built up.
The other problem it could be is the bearings waring out on the oil pump or the relief spring is going out on the oil pump.
Questions to ask: When this happen's, do you hear anything abnormal? Valve chatter, knock, or anything? This would tell you there is no oil getting to the top of the head. If no oil is getting to the top of the motor this is not good and will surely blow the motor because oil is not lubricating the motor. This would constitute an oil pump replacement.
If no different sounds are heared during this time then I wouls go for the sensor.
One thing you could try is a weight of oil that is heavier. The problem with this is the additives that are needed for the motor. One can look at the back of the bottle and make sure all requirements are meet on the heavier weight. Most 10-30 and 10-40's are equil, but the 10-40 will need to be changed out at an earlier time because it breaks down faster than 10-30 (thus the reason for it's discontinuance in newer motor configurations).
A heavier weight oil can cause poor drainage from the head and other issues so if this is the way you are thinking about going for the summer only than as soon as you can and the weather chills get it out of there and do another oil change within 500 miles to make sure no deposits of a sluge have built up.
there is no abnormal noise from the engine when I get the light, so I'll follow up on the sensor for now. I want to put a guage cluster in it anyway with temp and oil pressure just because I like numbers over a standard guage. thank you!
