Low Oil Pressure Issues - Pull Pan/Replace Pump?

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sethmac

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I have a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi

On the way to work today, my oil pressure started going up and down...it would come up to below halfway on acceleration and then back down to zero.

Upon getting to work, I shut it off...checked the oil...was in safe range but added just a little. Upon start up, it when back to normal oil pressure for a trip around the parking lot.

It looks like I can drop the oil pan and try to clean out the sludge. I bought it used and I don't think it had regular oil changes, but I've been working to clean it out slowly. I changed oil about 2 weeks ago and added some Seafoam to crankcase and fuel. Had a check engine light recently for a misfire that cleared that I was thinking was the seafoam temporarily clogging injector with some debris.

What should I do? Was thinking to drop the oil pan, but have no means to lift engine. Looks like I can get clearance by loosening differential?

Can I change oil pump once oil pan is removed?

I still have to make the 20min drive home..

Other relevant facts..engine has very noisy lifters I've been working to clean with Magic Mystery Oil and Seafoam when oil changes come around.

Thanks!
 
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fastf

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Can you tell us how many miles is on your truck.Before I would go to the trouble of dropping the oil pan I would check the oil pressure sending unit it might be going bad.
 

fastf

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That's really not many miles by todays standards.But use too years ago it was considered wore out.If you could get yourself a bore scope when you change your oil run it up inside drain plug hole.This will let you know how much sludge is in the oil pan .Something you have to be careful flushing the engine is the sludge can stop up your oil galleys.If you are having problems with sludge or think you have sludge I would pull the valve covers off that will give you a idea how bad your sludge is.
 

HemiLonestar

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Oil pump isn't in the pan...
 

fastf

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I hadn't looked at a Hemi is it over near the oil filter this is a wild guess.Sorry to hear about your car and it was a good thing you weren't hurt I would say you are one blessed man.
 
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sethmac

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Started the car back up and oil pressure held fine with no unwanted noises. I started to limp it home listening for any issues or signs of pressure dropping..nothing and oil pressure held the whole drive. Right as I was passing autozone near my house, the check engine came on. I detoured to autozone to get it read and as expected it was the oil pressure sensor. Got a new one, but also picked up a oil presssure gauge at Harbor Freight...what are the specs for a 2006 Ram 5.7 and should I test cold/hot and rev it up to 3500RPM?
 

fastf

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I tried to look inside my Haynes repair book could not give the specs on oil pressure.Hemilonestar most likely could tell you all you want to know about a Hemi he is good on stuff.
 
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sethmac

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Just did a pressure test:

At cold start held at 40 solid
- As it heated up it dropped...after probably 30min of idling it was between 24 and 20 psi
- I revved it up a few times (2500RPM...somtimes 3000RPM) and it would climb up to 30 psi...no needle jumping around...always solid reading.

It was a bear getting fitting on...didn't see leaks, but was tough to make sure all fitting were tight...

Thoughts?
 

LoneWolf3574

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Oil pump isn't in the pan...
The pickup is though ;P

Just did a pressure test:

At cold start held at 40 solid
- As it heated up it dropped...after probably 30min of idling it was between 24 and 20 psi
- I revved it up a few times (2500RPM...somtimes 3000RPM) and it would climb up to 30 psi...no needle jumping around...always solid reading.

It was a bear getting fitting on...didn't see leaks, but was tough to make sure all fitting were tight...

Thoughts?

I won't claim to be an expert, but those numbers look about right to me. Don't forget that to much oil pressure is just as bad as not enough. I seem to recall reading somewhere once upon a time a good rule of thumb is 10psi per 1000rpm.
 
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sethmac

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Thanks for the feedback...I did notice while getting ready to remove the oil pressure gauge there was a small bit of oil on the ground that wasn't there before the test...i had a heck of a time getting the fittings together to work for the area...wondering if the readings were lower due to not have a good seal as the oil hotter/thinner?
 
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sethmac

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Yeah, i replaced the sensor which had thrown an engine light...drove about 10 HWY miles since the fix...not drop yet, no engine light...but man, makes me a nervous wreck watching that little gauge
 

LoneWolf3574

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Thanks for the feedback...I did notice while getting ready to remove the oil pressure gauge there was a small bit of oil on the ground that wasn't there before the test...i had a heck of a time getting the fittings together to work for the area...wondering if the readings were lower due to not have a good seal as the oil hotter/thinner?
I've seen the plug side of the sending unit leak oil and the pressure side leak at the crimp, so... Anyway, if it looks like it came from near the sending unit, there's your leak. My daughter's 04 Monte Carlo had a leaking sending unit, created a huge mess, but never gave me the time to replace it. After wasting about 6qts of oil and a couple of weeks, she finally let my son and I replace it.
Yeah, i replaced the sensor which had thrown an engine light...drove about 10 HWY miles since the fix...not drop yet, no engine light...but man, makes me a nervous wreck watching that little gauge
Always is man, best of luck, let us know how it goes after a few days.
 
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sethmac

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Yeah, I'm convinced the pan is full of sludge...thinking of just taking it too a trusted mechanic down the road as I hardly have time to look at it.
 

HemiLonestar

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I hadn't looked at a Hemi is it over near the oil filter this is a wild guess.Sorry to hear about your car and it was a good thing you weren't hurt I would say you are one blessed man.

Nah, it rides the crank up front, it's behind the front timing cover (like so):
hemi-build-oil-pump.jpg

Thanks, sucks but at least I got to walk away. I love my cars but I wouldn't stack my life against them.

I tried to look inside my Haynes repair book could not give the specs on oil pressure.Hemilonestar most likely could tell you all you want to know about a Hemi he is good on stuff.

Generally from my personal observations, stone cold at first start a 5.7 is right about 50-52 psi. Once you get some load going and it's up to full operating temp (depending on what thermostat you have) I've seen as low as 15 psi at idle (with stock 203° stat). Mine are generally right at about 20 psi at hot idle (180° stat). Straight out of the 2003 service manual:
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - CHECKING
ENGINE OIL PRESSURE
(1) Remove oil pressure sending unit and install
gauge assembly C-3292.
(2) Run engine until thermostat opens.
(3) Oil Pressure:
² Curb Idle–25 kPa (4 psi) minimum
² 3000 rpm–170 - 758 kPa (25 - 110 psi)
(4) If oil pressure is 0 at idle, shut off engine.
Check for a clogged oil pick-up screen or a pressure
relief valve stuck open.

Me personally, 4 psi at idle would freak me the **** out...I start to get twitchy if I've been flogging it and I end up at a light or a stop and it's idling less than 18 psi (knowing full well what the absolute minimum can be at hot idle)

Just did a pressure test:

At cold start held at 40 solid
- As it heated up it dropped...after probably 30min of idling it was between 24 and 20 psi
- I revved it up a few times (2500RPM...somtimes 3000RPM) and it would climb up to 30 psi...no needle jumping around...always solid reading.

It was a bear getting fitting on...didn't see leaks, but was tough to make sure all fitting were tight...

Thoughts?

That's normal. At 60 mph or so or higher you'll see it at 50+ psi

The pickup is though ;P

Correct, though that wasn't the question lol
 

Jason G Slabaugh

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Yeah, I'm convinced the pan is full of sludge...thinking of just taking it too a trusted mechanic down the road as I hardly have time to look at it.
Shouldn't be any sludge in your oil pan, your oil filter would be completely clogged if it were, and if you change your oil on a regular basis again, should not be gummed up at all. Ive rarely seen sludge in a vehicle oil pan except when lack of maintenance was the issue
 

HemiDrew

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Been having some issues also. If i brake hard, oil gauge will drop and check gauges indicator comes on. But then goes back to normal and its good.

Sometimes stalls at low rpm but starts back up and is fine.
Idel air control valve?

2004 1500 5.7L Reg cab 2wd 187,000 miles.
 
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