Lost oil pressure!!!

[steermaster]

Yesterday I was driving home in my 2001 Ram 2500 5.9L Cummins. I got the check gauges light and realized I had no oil pressure, I went ahead and hooked up a manual gauge to the plug on top of the filter and started it up, I started building pressure immediatly so I shut it off and went and got a new Oil pressure switch ($195!!!) installed it and cleared the codes for it. Started up and still no pressure any ideas?!?!?!?!

 

[DodgeHimRamHer]

Change your filter recently?

 

[NYCruiser]

If I'm understanding, the engine has oil pressure as indicated by the manual gauge you connected. The issue is that the dash gauge is not reading it? You changed the sensor, and still no reading? If I'm understanding, then it is either the gauge is bad, or the wiring from the sensor, no?

 

[DodgeHimRamHer]

If I'm understanding, the engine has oil pressure as indicated by the manual gauge you connected. The issue is that the dash gauge is not reading it? You changed the sensor, and still no reading? If I'm understanding, then it is either the gauge is bad, or the wiring from the sensor, no?

I skimmed past that part of the post, dang. Possibly the wiring to the gauge.

 

[steermaster]

Change your filter recently?

Yes, I replaced it right after the sensor did not work again. no luck.

The gauge sits below zero when truck is off, when I turn the ignition on (engine off) the gauge sets up to the zero mark awaiting readings. I attempted to have my dad watch the gauge as i jiggled with the connection and the wiring.

He thinks it is the oil pump, but I would assume that if it was the pump, since it is internal I would have heard and would still be hearing some sort grinding?

I also took it to the end of the driveway and atempted to see if i could get it going and see if anything changed, would no oil pressure affect my turbo as well? My turbo did not kick in, but then again its only 40 yards i may not have got going well enough....

 

[steermaster]

When i did the manual gauge check, It started building pressure immediately like I said, I didn't let it build fully but i watched my nylon line fill with oil and pressure hit 20 before I shut it off because i assumed well its got pressure...I checked the fuses for the cluster hoping maybe it was there but no luck. I cant get a check engine light again either, just check gauges....

 

[dapepper9]

I'm not saying I recommend this but since I hate wiring I'd personally say screw the dash gauge and run the mechanical in a pod on the dash. I just really hate wiring though when there's some much in one spot or it's difficult to get to.

 

[rowdyram]

I know your CEL isn't on but did you check for codes?

 

[steermaster]

Yup got 0522 which is the switch, I replacdd it and no luck, ended up leaving it completely out and starting the engine, no oil blowing out so I'm convinced it's the pump

 

[steermaster]

Ugh

ok so replaced the oil pump AND the sensor...still no pressure!!!! does oil actually pass by the sensor on this or just provide a air pressure to the guage? I pulled the gauge out and started and no luck either

 

[Merc225hp]

Did you prime the new pump before installing it? If not you must start over. If yes you have a bigger problem going on.

 

[steermaster]

I poured oil into the "rear": gear ratio, then spun the front gears and cverified it was moving hte oil around, then I installed it...sound about right?

 

[Merc225hp]

I thought I was dealing with a gas motors oil pump, dsl motors are not my thing at all so sorry but I am of no help to you at all motor wise. So I can't say if thats right or wrong, someone with much more dsl experience will chime in soon.

 

[steermaster]

alright folks I AM AN IDIOT!!!!!!!!!! I had repalced some sorts of air sensor (looks exactly the same) and when i had lost all hope it was having trouble starting, becuase I had the filter laying sideways....when imoved it I noticed another sensor below, a 3 days job coudl have been solved in 20 min just remember if you are changing a sensor, even if you truly have no oil pressure there will be a LITTLE oil come out when you take sensor, go ahead and have a laugh!!! ahhh

 

[Arlucian]

Did you prime the new pump before installing it? If not you must start over. If yes you have a bigger problem going on.

Not particularly, ive put in 2 oil pumps on 2 of my previous vehicles and i didnt do anything special i got everything back together. Unplugged the coil and cranked it over for a while plugged the coil back in and start her up check oil pressure good to go. If this was a powerstroke id agree cause they use high pressure oil systems and i dont know much about that, if these cummins are anything like the cummins in the semis at work, they dont buy into high pressure oil the designers think its highly unnecessary. ehh just my oppinion.

 

[Merc225hp]

Not particularly, ive put in 2 oil pumps on 2 of my previous vehicles and i didnt do anything special i got everything back together. Unplugged the coil and cranked it over for a while plugged the coil back in and start her up check oil pressure good to go. If this was a powerstroke id agree cause they use high pressure oil systems and i dont know much about that, if these cummins are anything like the cummins in the semis at work, they dont buy into high pressure oil the designers think its highly unnecessary. ehh just my oppinion.

I have done a few hundred and have built lots of motors. It is common knowledge and practice to any engine mech/tech to always prime an oil pump before its installed, check fsm's web sites that sell the oil pumps, ask any good engine builder and see what you get for an answer. Magnum motors do not go above 80psi thats not a high psi oil system at all. You will not find a high psi oil pump for the Magnum motor high volume yes high psi nope.

 

[Arlucian]

I have done a few hundred and have built lots of motors. It is common knowledge and practice to any engine mech/tech to always prime an oil pump before its installed, check fsm's web sites that sell the oil pumps, ask any good engine builder and see what you get for an answer. Magnum motors do not go above 80psi thats not a high psi oil system at all. You will not find a high psi oil pump for the Magnum motor high volume yes high psi nope.

He said he has a cummins so i was just stating what i know about diesels and the engineers liking to put high psi oil systems into diesel engines. Absolutely its best to prime the pump but you can prime it by cranking it and not starting the engine, is what i was saying. I didnt say no you shouldnt do that i said you dont particularly have to do that in most cases. I wasnt trying to say you were wrong, i was saying you dont have to.

 

[Merc225hp]

I am saying you do! And you prime it before you install it to the motor. Turning over a motor until it makes oil psi is wrong and a bad practice. They sell oil pump priming shafts that go into drills so you don't turn the motor over dry. DSl or not always prime the oil pump so it does not starve the motor of oil. As most oil pumps use a meshed gear system it needs to have oil in those gears to make it suck up oil. Do some research about diff types of pumps oil and water.

Out of the 2002 fsm v8

ASSEMBLY
(1) Install pump rotors and shaft, using new parts
as required.
(2) Position the oil pump cover onto the pump
body. Tighten cover bolts to 11 N·m (95 in. lbs.)
torque.
(3) Install the relief valve and spring. Insert the
cotter pin.
(4) Tap on a new retainer cap.
(5) Prime oil pump before installation by filling
rotor cavity with engine oil.

Out of the 2001 fsm for a 5.9 dsl

INSTALLATION
(1) Lubricate the pump with clean engine oil. Filling
the pump with clean engine oil during installation
will help to prime the pump at engine start up

I can get more if needed.

 

[rowdyram]

You always prime an oiling system before cranking the engine with a new pump, sometimes air gets trapped in the pump and will not prime right away and sometimes you can get away with it, that is an expensive gamble.
Navistar is the only diesel manufacturer to use a high pressure system others don't not because its unnecessary its just a different way of doing it.

 

[Arlucian]

I guess well have to agree to disagree but you guys are clearly more experienced. I've ran an engine without oil ( oil pump shaft fell into the pan) for a few miles reaching 4k rpms with fluctuations, and had no problem once i realized she was pretty damn noisy i pulled over and parked it a few miles from my house. Put in a new shaft and oil pump a couple of days later, primed it by cranking and she was still running strong when i traded her for my dodge a week or so ago. I just dont see how cranking at 50 rpms for 30 seconds is gonna do any damage when you compare it to normal driving without oil. But like i said you guys are the experts. Just had an afterthought merc if i have to do another oil pump and have an engine failure because of my priming method ill personally travel to you and lick your boots clean.