Oil pressure varying….concerned

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Wild one

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Thank Goodness they haven’t started selling
gasoline in quart cans …

yet

I see FCA Stellantis RAM owner manuals are recommending 0/20 and 0/30 for most 5.7 Hemi’s
I’ve been thinking of changing over to Red Line just to try it.
I think I might try Rotel too
I used to see chevy and ford diesels come in smoking clouds and leave purring like kittens after using Delco back in the day but Standard Oil was still Standard oil then too.
I’ve been using 5/20 Royal Purple for a few years now with no problems,
I see the Oil Pressure gage fluctuate but that’s from engine temperature changing the oil viscosity
metal expands when heated and the tolerance between the bearings decreases, the main job of the oil is to move the heat.
In the morning it’s 55 psi after the engine heats up it can go as low as 28 psi.
Does anyone who is concerned with their engine’s oil pressure know the location of the oil pressure gauge?
The sensor is on the front pass side of the engine,basically inline with the filter,but on the front of the engine block.
 

JHoward

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While I'm not condoning being ignorant, I figure that I can own things, or have things own me. I get the oil changed when the indicator gets down to 10% or so, and it's done at the dealership or at a valvoline. Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough. Am I confident the best oil is being used? No. The best filters? No. Is it good enough? Yes. And guess what? Despite me not worrying over stupid stuff, the world keeps turning.

I used to have a Honda Ridgeline, and was at a local gas station getting my inspection sticker. Feel free to go on about how it's not a real truck, blah blah. Now that's out of your system, as I'm waiting for my sticker, a second Ridgeline pulls up. It's an older one, the rims are starting to rust, the tires have very little tread left, and the clear coat is shot. I say "hi". Normally if you see someone with the same vehicle you'd say "nice truck" or something, but his didn't look very nice and I thought he might take it the wrong way. He comes back with "yeah, this ones not a looker". I chuckle and we get to talking. He had over 600,000 miles on that thing! He didn't do anything special, and always used the cheapest oil he could find and pushed it through a Fram filter. And he always waited until the Maintenance Minder came on to say he needed to change oil.

So I figure he did about 120 oil changes on that thing. And it was still running. How exactly would changing the oil on an accelerated schedule and fussing over brands and oil weight have helped him? I'm sure top tier filters and more expensive full synthetic would have been better, but maybe "good enough" was good enough?


Well, the Honda Ridgeline doesn't have the HEMI engine and isn't prone to having lifter/cam issues?

There are threads here in the 4th gen RAM forums synthetic/oil filter threads that folks have opined on about these things/issues with their HEMI engine(s). Their are many knowledgeable people owning RAM trucks from many different years after 2009 models up to the newer Classic trucks sharing info and advice of what they have learned.

Hopefully the OP that originally initiated for help from folks here will have good luck with replacing the oil pressure sending unit/switch/or sensor (whatever name is used for that nowadays) and maybe just changing the oil and filter resolves his concern(s).

JHoward
 
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Mister Luck

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While I'm not condoning being ignorant, I figure that I can own things, or have things own me. I get the oil changed when the indicator gets down to 10% or so, and it's done at the dealership or at a valvoline. Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough. Am I confident the best oil is being used? No. The best filters? No. Is it good enough? Yes. And guess what? Despite me not worrying over stupid stuff, the world keeps turning.

I used to have a Honda Ridgeline, and was at a local gas station getting my inspection sticker. Feel free to go on about how it's not a real truck, blah blah. Now that's out of your system, as I'm waiting for my sticker, a second Ridgeline pulls up. It's an older one, the rims are starting to rust, the tires have very little tread left, and the clear coat is shot. I say "hi". Normally if you see someone with the same vehicle you'd say "nice truck" or something, but his didn't look very nice and I thought he might take it the wrong way. He comes back with "yeah, this ones not a looker". I chuckle and we get to talking. He had over 600,000 miles on that thing! He didn't do anything special, and always used the cheapest oil he could find and pushed it through a Fram filter. And he always waited until the Maintenance Minder came on to say he needed to change oil.

So I figure he did about 120 oil changes on that thing. And it was still running. How exactly would changing the oil on an accelerated schedule and fussing over brands and oil weight have helped him? I'm sure top tier filters and more expensive full synthetic would have been better, but maybe "good enough" was good enough?
At least it was kept out of a salvage yard, that’s mediocre ambition.. you’d be amazed at the percentage of vehicles that are planed into minimalistic existence where they’re something out of tales from the crypt maybe held together by ectoplasm with layered dust and rot you’re be concerned touching a control or part would crumble in your hand.
but it’s got tires and it stops but what else who knows.
 

John Schmidt

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FWIW, After I read here in the ramforum about the possibility of HEMI tick/cam/lifter failure I starting using Red Line 5w/30 with a PUROLATER BOSS oil filter in my HEMI @39,000k miles back in August last year with great results.

My HEMI didn't have the famous HEMI Tick. Just an occasional noisy drivetrain that is now super quiet and smooth on Red Line.

My oil psi increased ~ 5psi at 70 mph on the highway and hot idle on changing oil from Pennzoil Platinum 5w/20 to Red Line 5w/30. I would think that that is good

My 2017 HEMI now has 41,000k miles and still has a little warranty left until that expires later this year. I'm not the least bit worried, my HEMI runs and sounds better than it did brand new on Red Line oil and putting less than 2500k miles on it a year it'll be more prone to being wrecked by a crazed driver or a tree falling on it. I hope that neither happens.

I won't ever use 5w/20 in my HEMI engine again ... way to thin of oil. jm2¢.

JHoward
Not trying to be a total smart a$#, but what did you mean by "less than 2500k miles on it a year"? A k typically represents 1,000, like if you buy a car for $25k, that would mean you spent $25,000. So 2500k would be 2.5 million ... I'm thinking that you are correct, you DEFINITELY will be putting less than 2.5 million miles per year on your vehicle, but how much less is the question! I'm a Redline user as well. I put about 5k miles on my truck per year. Thanks. - John
 

JHoward

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Not trying to be a total smart a$#, but what did you mean by "less than 2500k miles on it a year"? A k typically represents 1,000, like if you buy a car for $25k, that would mean you spent $25,000. So 2500k would be 2.5 million ... I'm thinking that you are correct, you DEFINITELY will be putting less than 2.5 million miles per year on your vehicle, but how much less is the question! I'm a Redline user as well. I put about 5k miles on my truck per year. Thanks. - John


Thanks, I corrected my error. I'm retired now so my mileage will be around 2500 miles a year or less.

JHoward
 

John Schmidt

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Thanks, I corrected my error. I'm retired now so my mileage will be around 2500 miles a year or less.

JHoward
Super congrats on your retirement! I retired 3 months and 10 days ago. Still figuring out what to do with myself. I do a complete clean/detail of my 2020 Ram 1500 about once each week - that might get old after a while! I'm thinking about a DIY spray-in bedliner for a project this summer, and I also may paint my brake calipers/hardware bright red. My yearly mileage would be closer to yours but I'm trying this "snowbird" thing. I live in Wisconsin during the summer and Florida during the winter so that there-and-back trip alone will be about 2500 miles. Good chatting! Thanks. - John
 

JHoward

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Super congrats on your retirement! I retired 3 months and 10 days ago. Still figuring out what to do with myself. I do a complete clean/detail of my 2020 Ram 1500 about once each week - that might get old after a while! I'm thinking about a DIY spray-in bedliner for a project this summer, and I also may paint my brake calipers/hardware bright red. My yearly mileage would be closer to yours but I'm trying this "snowbird" thing. I live in Wisconsin during the summer and Florida during the winter so that there-and-back trip alone will be about 2500 miles. Good chatting! Thanks. - John


Thanks and congrats on your retirement! I've been retired a little over a year and just now have gotten used to everyday being a "Saturday".

I also wash/detail my 2017 RAM often and being retired I can avoid driving it when the weather isn't good so it stays clean and is easier to keep it that way!

Be good and enjoy your retirement.

JHoward
 
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zogg

zogg

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U P D A T E > > > > >

Well, the low oil pressure issue seems to be finally fixed, I guess.

I decided that I was going to go back to the factory recommendation for oil and use a Mopar 339 filter....I opted for Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 this time, just to reset everything.

Also, I replaced the oil pressure sensor with a Mopar OEM unit for $38.00.

I changed the sensor while I had drained the oil and installed the new filter. Topped it off with 7 quarts of Pennzoil and fired it up. Immediately the oil pressure went to 55 psi...never saw that before.

Took it for a long drive (10 miles) both city and interstate. Seems that everything has reverted back to what it was when I bought the truck. Oil pressure at warm idle varies between 26 and 28 psi. On the hiway at 70-75 mph, the pressure generally rode at 48 psi, and occasionally dropped to 47, or jumped to 50 based on the terrain...goofy.

Anyway, it's all better than the 39 psi I was getting at 75 mph but not as good as some folks say they get....50+

As I was runni9ng Royal Purple 5w30 and a Royal Purple filter, I do believe the culprit was the pressure sensor. It seems that over time the engine heat interferes with the accuracy of the sensor....the brass nut on the sensor was actually green. Doing some research, it appears that the pressure sensor going bad is not that uncommon, according to the local dealer who was actually out of them and they were on back order.

So, I appreciate everyone's input to the problem solution, and I am glad that I bought an extended warranty...just in case!! HA.

BTW, I think I go back to Royal Purple 5w30 next time, since I have a bunch left, or I may go to Redline......
 

JHoward

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U P D A T E > > > > >

Well, the low oil pressure issue seems to be finally fixed, I guess.

I decided that I was going to go back to the factory recommendation for oil and use a Mopar 339 filter....I opted for Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 this time, just to reset everything.

Also, I replaced the oil pressure sensor with a Mopar OEM unit for $38.00.

I changed the sensor while I had drained the oil and installed the new filter. Topped it off with 7 quarts of Pennzoil and fired it up. Immediately the oil pressure went to 55 psi...never saw that before.

Took it for a long drive (10 miles) both city and interstate. Seems that everything has reverted back to what it was when I bought the truck. Oil pressure at warm idle varies between 26 and 28 psi. On the hiway at 70-75 mph, the pressure generally rode at 48 psi, and occasionally dropped to 47, or jumped to 50 based on the terrain...goofy.

Anyway, it's all better than the 39 psi I was getting at 75 mph but not as good as some folks say they get....50+

As I was runni9ng Royal Purple 5w30 and a Royal Purple filter, I do believe the culprit was the pressure sensor. It seems that over time the engine heat interferes with the accuracy of the sensor....the brass nut on the sensor was actually green. Doing some research, it appears that the pressure sensor going bad is not that uncommon, according to the local dealer who was actually out of them and they were on back order.

So, I appreciate everyone's input to the problem solution, and I am glad that I bought an extended warranty...just in case!! HA.

BTW, I think I go back to Royal Purple 5w30 next time, since I have a bunch left, or I may go to Redline......


Excellent!

FWIW, here are a couple of pics of my HEMI's oil psi(s) at 70 mph(top) and hot Idle (bottom). These pics are from last September 2021when I had just changed the oil (end of August 2021) from Pennzoil Platinum 5w/30 to Red Line 5w/30 and is very consistent with these readings now.

I wish you continued good luck.

JHoward
 

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zogg

zogg

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Wish my psi was like yours. I hear so much good stuff about redline. Are you using the regular api oil or the high performance??
 

pacofortacos

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Thank Goodness they haven’t started selling
gasoline in quart cans …

yet

I see FCA Stellantis RAM owner manuals are recommending 0/20 and 0/30 for most 5.7 Hemi’s
I’ve been thinking of changing over to Red Line just to try it.
I think I might try Rotel too
I used to see chevy and ford diesels come in smoking clouds and leave purring like kittens after using Delco back in the day but Standard Oil was still Standard oil then too.
I’ve been using 5/20 Royal Purple for a few years now with no problems,
I see the Oil Pressure gage fluctuate but that’s from engine temperature changing the oil viscosity
metal expands when heated and the tolerance between the bearings decreases, the main job of the oil is to move the heat.
In the morning it’s 55 psi after the engine heats up it can go as low as 28 psi.
Does anyone who is concerned with their engine’s oil pressure know the location of the oil pressure gauge?
The Recline 0-30 isn't a very thick oil cold that's for sure.
 

JHoward

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Wish my psi was like yours. I hear so much good stuff about redline. Are you using the regular api oil or the high performance??


This is what I'm using. The ester-based High Performance lubricant 5W/30. I will continue to use it in my HEMI for as long as it is made and sold.

JHoward
 

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zogg

zogg

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Good to know. So what are your psi numbers??
 

MontanaHandyman

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Good to know. So what are your psi numbers??
About 35 hot idle, and 54-59 on the highway depending on speed. During winter I put in the stock 203 thermostat so the oil pressure is a bit lower when the temps are up there. Come spring I swap that out for the 179 stat and with the engine running cooler the hot idle psi will be around 40.
 

JHoward

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About 35 hot idle, and 54-59 on the highway depending on speed. During winter I put in the stock 203 thermostat so the oil pressure is a bit lower when the temps are up there. Come spring I swap that out for the 179 stat and with the engine running cooler the hot idle psi will be around 40.


That is about the same psi numbers my HEMI had when I made the change to Red Line 5W/30 with exception on hot idle (48psi). I use a Purolator BOSS PBL 25651 oil filter that is the same size as the Royal Purple 20-820.

I'm still on the fence going to the Royal Purple oil filter even though the filter media (spun mico glass) is superior compared to the Purolator BOSS (full synthetic media) because of the plastic bypass valve spring loaded thingy. The Purolator BOSS is all metal. And that is jm2¢.

JHoward
 

JHoward

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Good to know. So what are your psi numbers??


If you have some spare time, read the synthetic oil and oil filter threads. There are all kinds of good info to review and about similar things that has been discussed here in your post. Alot of knowledgeable folks there.

Be good and happy motoring!

JHoward
 

Dusty

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Well, the Honda Ridgeline doesn't have the HEMI engine and isn't prone to having lifter/cam issues?


JHoward
Perhaps a definition of "prone" is in order, but Honda, like other manufacturers, is not exempt from having camshaft issues. Although I only know personally of two of these, the Honda bulletin addresses a known problem on some engines:

Warranty Extension: 2017-18 CR-V: DTC P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, or P0172; Whirling Noise from Engine (nhtsa.gov)

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 03 June 2018. Now at: 064994 miles.
 
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zogg

zogg

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I would guess that most every manufacturer has issues now and again. My son-in- law bought a used 2010 silverado with 46,000 miles. The cam and lifters went out before 60,000…but at least the drive train warranty covered it.
 
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