MAJOR Oil Pressure Problems.

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LeesZ

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VA
Ram Year
2006
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Almost two months ago, I was driving my dodge. Riding down the road, and noticed that my oil pressure gauge was slightly below the middle line. Mind you I was riding on 95 doing about 70. It's always about a tad above that middle line. Noticing this I got off on my regular exit, and instantly the oil pressure started dropping. All the way down to 0, and then slowly rising back up again, and then dropping back down all the way to zero once again. I proceed to turn my hazards on, and drive about 15 mph in a 35 zone. Finally got to my stoplight, to make my turn. Once again the Oil Pressure gauge dropped. But this time it dropped all the way to zero, but for about 2 mins straight. I never heard a knock or a tick when taking a left at the light. Mind you that my RPM Gauge is sprung backwards, so I supposed it was the Dash Cluster. Pulled into my school parking lot, and parked the truck. Went into school, and talked to a couple of friends about it, we all came to the conclusion that it was just my dash cluster. This being with proof of no knock / tick. Went outside to fire up the truck scared out of my mind. Instantly heard the lifter tap, you could easily tell that it was RPM dependent. I owe money on the truck so I let it sit for about 2 months, and did not drive it until "I fixed it".

TL;DR :
2 months ago driving down 95, noticed that my Oil Pressure was lower than usual. Got off on my exit, oil pressure dropped all the way to zero, and started fluctuating. Kept driving down the road. Went to take my left turn, and the oil pressure dropped all the way to zero for 2 mins straight. Never heard a knock or a tick. This is until I parked the truck and went to school for the night, came back out and hear a lifter tap.

Fast Forward to today.

2 Weeks ago I replaced the Oil Pump on the truck. This being an extraordinary event because ever since I bought this ******* truck I didn't even know how to change rotors and pads. Thank god for YouTube. Replacing the Oil Pump, I also replaced the Oil Sending Unit ( Oil Pressure Switch ). Put the whole truck back together, and fired her up. Obviously I heard the lifter tap, and was feeling more confident in the truck. From the amount of research that I've done. You can run the truck with a lifter tap for years, of course adding oil additive, and using thicker oil. With this I put insurance back on the truck, and got the tags reactivated. First off after adding new coolant I drove around until the truck warmed up, and stayed close to the work area. Making sure that I got all of the air bubbles out, and not overheating the block. Doing this everything was running fine, was constantly watching the Oil Pressure gauge was rocking it, and doing great temperature was fine. I was in love, returned the loaner car that a friend of mine was letting me borrow for the time, until I got back on my feet. Finally started driving back to the house. About 30 mins away from home I noticed it again. I noticed that the needle was slightly below the middle line. Getting off on my exit, and merging back onto a highway. I watched the oil pressure gauge drop, and then go back up. Just like 2 months ago whenever the truck dropped the lifter. The truck indicated that it ran dry for almost 4 mins. Yes I did drop out of over drive, and put her to the floor. I was tired of the truck, and all of it's problems. No the Oil Pressure gauge did not move one bit. Pulled over, and stopped at a gas station. Checked the dipstick, I was low on oil. Needed what I thought was half a quart, walked inside got some oil poured half a quart in. Fired the truck back up, and the oil indicator was back to normal. Truck drove home perfectly after that. Didn't notice a difference in the volume of the lifter tap, truck was performing perfectly. Pulled into Advanced Auto, the lifter tap was gone. Of course when I had a worker look at it, it didn't tap. Checked the dipstick again, we were still low about a quart. instead of adding 5W-20, I added Lucas Oil "Oil Stabilizer". After doing this the tap is completely gone, and the gauge seems to be keeping up, and staying steady. Pulled into the house, and now I'm here.

TL;DR
2 weeks ago replaced Oil pump, and sending unit in truck. Got back on 95, got off on my exit merging onto the highway. Oil pressure gauge acted the same way it did 2 months ago. This time it sat on zero for about 4 mins straight. No volume change in the lifter tap. Pulled over checked the dipstick, added a half quart of 5W-20. Pulled into advanced, and the lifter tap was gone. Still needed about a quart, Added Lucas Oil "Oil Stabilizer" haven't heard it since, and the truck seems fine.

Conclusion :
Went out, and bought a mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge. Also went out, and bought a 1/8th inch brass tee. The plan is that I'm going to tie in the Oil Sending Unit to one side of the Tee, and the line that connects to the Mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge. I feel as if it's actually just the dash cluster, this being because the dash cluster is one cluster. Mind you that the RPM gauge is sprung backwards causing problems / and or the switch it's self is just ****** up. If you have any advice please write below, thank you for you're time and reading!
 

Karlsweg

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Lucky you didn’t blow it up. Me personally I would have pulled over as soon as I saw the pressure not normal. It doesn’t take long to damage a motor with 0 oil pressure. But hey that’s my thought and I was gonna guess sending unit. #keepoilfull lol
 
OP
OP
LeesZ

LeesZ

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Lucky you didn’t blow it up. Me personally I would have pulled over as soon as I saw the pressure not normal. It doesn’t take long to damage a motor with 0 oil pressure. But hey that’s my thought and I was gonna guess sending unit. #keepoilfull lol
Lmao you'd think if I know how to get to the oil pump I could atleast fill it with the correct amount right? Not really sure why it was low, primed the oil pump, and the filter. I've never had it low before. But there is a first for everthing!
 

Redtruck-VA

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Assuming its a hemi, the oil pressure switch are common failures. If its a 3g the Chrysler engineers have pulled a trick. The oil pressure guage is actually a idiot light. It will indicate mid range on the guage until the pressure is below 5psi then drop to zero and throw a code. The idea is that mid range makes the drver comfortable where a actual pressure gauge doesn't. You most likely had a bad switch. The mechanical guage is a good idea..
 

Lizzy B

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2019
Posts
28
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Location
Houma,La.
Ram Year
2006
Engine
4.7L
Almost two months ago, I was driving my dodge. Riding down the road, and noticed that my oil pressure gauge was slightly below the middle line. Mind you I was riding on 95 doing about 70. It's always about a tad above that middle line. Noticing this I got off on my regular exit, and instantly the oil pressure started dropping. All the way down to 0, and then slowly rising back up again, and then dropping back down all the way to zero once again. I proceed to turn my hazards on, and drive about 15 mph in a 35 zone. Finally got to my stoplight, to make my turn. Once again the Oil Pressure gauge dropped. But this time it dropped all the way to zero, but for about 2 mins straight. I never heard a knock or a tick when taking a left at the light. Mind you that my RPM Gauge is sprung backwards, so I supposed it was the Dash Cluster. Pulled into my school parking lot, and parked the truck. Went into school, and talked to a couple of friends about it, we all came to the conclusion that it was just my dash cluster. This being with proof of no knock / tick. Went outside to fire up the truck scared out of my mind. Instantly heard the lifter tap, you could easily tell that it was RPM dependent. I owe money on the truck so I let it sit for about 2 months, and did not drive it until "I fixed it".

TL;DR :
2 months ago driving down 95, noticed that my Oil Pressure was lower than usual. Got off on my exit, oil pressure dropped all the way to zero, and started fluctuating. Kept driving down the road. Went to take my left turn, and the oil pressure dropped all the way to zero for 2 mins straight. Never heard a knock or a tick. This is until I parked the truck and went to school for the night, came back out and hear a lifter tap.

Fast Forward to today.

2 Weeks ago I replaced the Oil Pump on the truck. This being an extraordinary event because ever since I bought this ******* truck I didn't even know how to change rotors and pads. Thank god for YouTube. Replacing the Oil Pump, I also replaced the Oil Sending Unit ( Oil Pressure Switch ). Put the whole truck back together, and fired her up. Obviously I heard the lifter tap, and was feeling more confident in the truck. From the amount of research that I've done. You can run the truck with a lifter tap for years, of course adding oil additive, and using thicker oil. With this I put insurance back on the truck, and got the tags reactivated. First off after adding new coolant I drove around until the truck warmed up, and stayed close to the work area. Making sure that I got all of the air bubbles out, and not overheating the block. Doing this everything was running fine, was constantly watching the Oil Pressure gauge was rocking it, and doing great temperature was fine. I was in love, returned the loaner car that a friend of mine was letting me borrow for the time, until I got back on my feet. Finally started driving back to the house. About 30 mins away from home I noticed it again. I noticed that the needle was slightly below the middle line. Getting off on my exit, and merging back onto a highway. I watched the oil pressure gauge drop, and then go back up. Just like 2 months ago whenever the truck dropped the lifter. The truck indicated that it ran dry for almost 4 mins. Yes I did drop out of over drive, and put her to the floor. I was tired of the truck, and all of it's problems. No the Oil Pressure gauge did not move one bit. Pulled over, and stopped at a gas station. Checked the dipstick, I was low on oil. Needed what I thought was half a quart, walked inside got some oil poured half a quart in. Fired the truck back up, and the oil indicator was back to normal. Truck drove home perfectly after that. Didn't notice a difference in the volume of the lifter tap, truck was performing perfectly. Pulled into Advanced Auto, the lifter tap was gone. Of course when I had a worker look at it, it didn't tap. Checked the dipstick again, we were still low about a quart. instead of adding 5W-20, I added Lucas Oil "Oil Stabilizer". After doing this the tap is completely gone, and the gauge seems to be keeping up, and staying steady. Pulled into the house, and now I'm here.

TL;DR
2 weeks ago replaced Oil pump, and sending unit in truck. Got back on 95, got off on my exit merging onto the highway. Oil pressure gauge acted the same way it did 2 months ago. This time it sat on zero for about 4 mins straight. No volume change in the lifter tap. Pulled over checked the dipstick, added a half quart of 5W-20. Pulled into advanced, and the lifter tap was gone. Still needed about a quart, Added Lucas Oil "Oil Stabilizer" haven't heard it since, and the truck seems fine.

Conclusion :
Went out, and bought a mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge. Also went out, and bought a 1/8th inch brass tee. The plan is that I'm going to tie in the Oil Sending Unit to one side of the Tee, and the line that connects to the Mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge. I feel as if it's actually just the dash cluster, this being because the dash cluster is one cluster. Mind you that the RPM gauge is sprung backwards causing problems / and or the switch it's self is just ****** up. If you have any advice please write below, thank you for you're time and reading!
 

Lizzy B

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2019
Posts
28
Reaction score
32
Location
Houma,La.
Ram Year
2006
Engine
4.7L
Almost two months ago, I was driving my dodge. Riding down the road, and noticed that my oil pressure gauge was slightly below the middle line. Mind you I was riding on 95 doing about 70. It's always about a tad above that middle line. Noticing this I got off on my regular exit, and instantly the oil pressure started dropping. All the way down to 0, and then slowly rising back up again, and then dropping back down all the way to zero once again. I proceed to turn my hazards on, and drive about 15 mph in a 35 zone. Finally got to my stoplight, to make my turn. Once again the Oil Pressure gauge dropped. But this time it dropped all the way to zero, but for about 2 mins straight. I never heard a knock or a tick when taking a left at the light. Mind you that my RPM Gauge is sprung backwards, so I supposed it was the Dash Cluster. Pulled into my school parking lot, and parked the truck. Went into school, and talked to a couple of friends about it, we all came to the conclusion that it was just my dash cluster. This being with proof of no knock / tick. Went outside to fire up the truck scared out of my mind. Instantly heard the lifter tap, you could easily tell that it was RPM dependent. I owe money on the truck so I let it sit for about 2 months, and did not drive it until "I fixed it".

TL;DR :
2 months ago driving down 95, noticed that my Oil Pressure was lower than usual. Got off on my exit, oil pressure dropped all the way to zero, and started fluctuating. Kept driving down the road. Went to take my left turn, and the oil pressure dropped all the way to zero for 2 mins straight. Never heard a knock or a tick. This is until I parked the truck and went to school for the night, came back out and hear a lifter tap.

Fast Forward to today.

2 Weeks ago I replaced the Oil Pump on the truck. This being an extraordinary event because ever since I bought this ******* truck I didn't even know how to change rotors and pads. Thank god for YouTube. Replacing the Oil Pump, I also replaced the Oil Sending Unit ( Oil Pressure Switch ). Put the whole truck back together, and fired her up. Obviously I heard the lifter tap, and was feeling more confident in the truck. From the amount of research that I've done. You can run the truck with a lifter tap for years, of course adding oil additive, and using thicker oil. With this I put insurance back on the truck, and got the tags reactivated. First off after adding new coolant I drove around until the truck warmed up, and stayed close to the work area. Making sure that I got all of the air bubbles out, and not overheating the block. Doing this everything was running fine, was constantly watching the Oil Pressure gauge was rocking it, and doing great temperature was fine. I was in love, returned the loaner car that a friend of mine was letting me borrow for the time, until I got back on my feet. Finally started driving back to the house. About 30 mins away from home I noticed it again. I noticed that the needle was slightly below the middle line. Getting off on my exit, and merging back onto a highway. I watched the oil pressure gauge drop, and then go back up. Just like 2 months ago whenever the truck dropped the lifter. The truck indicated that it ran dry for almost 4 mins. Yes I did drop out of over drive, and put her to the floor. I was tired of the truck, and all of it's problems. No the Oil Pressure gauge did not move one bit. Pulled over, and stopped at a gas station. Checked the dipstick, I was low on oil. Needed what I thought was half a quart, walked inside got some oil poured half a quart in. Fired the truck back up, and the oil indicator was back to normal. Truck drove home perfectly after that. Didn't notice a difference in the volume of the lifter tap, truck was performing perfectly. Pulled into Advanced Auto, the lifter tap was gone. Of course when I had a worker look at it, it didn't tap. Checked the dipstick again, we were still low about a quart. instead of adding 5W-20, I added Lucas Oil "Oil Stabilizer". After doing this the tap is completely gone, and the gauge seems to be keeping up, and staying steady. Pulled into the house, and now I'm here.

TL;DR
2 weeks ago replaced Oil pump, and sending unit in truck. Got back on 95, got off on my exit merging onto the highway. Oil pressure gauge acted the same way it did 2 months ago. This time it sat on zero for about 4 mins straight. No volume change in the lifter tap. Pulled over checked the dipstick, added a half quart of 5W-20. Pulled into advanced, and the lifter tap was gone. Still needed about a quart, Added Lucas Oil "Oil Stabilizer" haven't heard it since, and the truck seems fine.

Conclusion :
Went out, and bought a mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge. Also went out, and bought a 1/8th inch brass tee. The plan is that I'm going to tie in the Oil Sending Unit to one side of the Tee, and the line that connects to the Mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge. I feel as if it's actually just the dash cluster, this being because the dash cluster is one cluster. Mind you that the RPM gauge is sprung backwards causing problems / and or the switch it's self is just ****** up. If you have any advice please write below, thank you for you're time and reading!
 

Lizzy B

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2019
Posts
28
Reaction score
32
Location
Houma,La.
Ram Year
2006
Engine
4.7L
Almost two months ago, I was driving my dodge. Riding down the road, and noticed that my oil pressure gauge was slightly below the middle line. Mind you I was riding on 95 doing about 70. It's always about a tad above that middle line. Noticing this I got off on my regular exit, and instantly the oil pressure started dropping. All the way down to 0, and then slowly rising back up again, and then dropping back down all the way to zero once again. I proceed to turn my hazards on, and drive about 15 mph in a 35 zone. Finally got to my stoplight, to make my turn. Once again the Oil Pressure gauge dropped. But this time it dropped all the way to zero, but for about 2 mins straight. I never heard a knock or a tick when taking a left at the light. Mind you that my RPM Gauge is sprung backwards, so I supposed it was the Dash Cluster. Pulled into my school parking lot, and parked the truck. Went into school, and talked to a couple of friends about it, we all came to the conclusion that it was just my dash cluster. This being with proof of no knock / tick. Went outside to fire up the truck scared out of my mind. Instantly heard the lifter tap, you could easily tell that it was RPM dependent. I owe money on the truck so I let it sit for about 2 months, and did not drive it until "I fixed it".

TL;DR :
2 months ago driving down 95, noticed that my Oil Pressure was lower than usual. Got off on my exit, oil pressure dropped all the way to zero, and started fluctuating. Kept driving down the road. Went to take my left turn, and the oil pressure dropped all the way to zero for 2 mins straight. Never heard a knock or a tick. This is until I parked the truck and went to school for the night, came back out and hear a lifter tap.

Fast Forward to today.

2 Weeks ago I replaced the Oil Pump on the truck. This being an extraordinary event because ever since I bought this ******* truck I didn't even know how to change rotors and pads. Thank god for YouTube. Replacing the Oil Pump, I also replaced the Oil Sending Unit ( Oil Pressure Switch ). Put the whole truck back together, and fired her up. Obviously I heard the lifter tap, and was feeling more confident in the truck. From the amount of research that I've done. You can run the truck with a lifter tap for years, of course adding oil additive, and using thicker oil. With this I put insurance back on the truck, and got the tags reactivated. First off after adding new coolant I drove around until the truck warmed up, and stayed close to the work area. Making sure that I got all of the air bubbles out, and not overheating the block. Doing this everything was running fine, was constantly watching the Oil Pressure gauge was rocking it, and doing great temperature was fine. I was in love, returned the loaner car that a friend of mine was letting me borrow for the time, until I got back on my feet. Finally started driving back to the house. About 30 mins away from home I noticed it again. I noticed that the needle was slightly below the middle line. Getting off on my exit, and merging back onto a highway. I watched the oil pressure gauge drop, and then go back up. Just like 2 months ago whenever the truck dropped the lifter. The truck indicated that it ran dry for almost 4 mins. Yes I did drop out of over drive, and put her to the floor. I was tired of the truck, and all of it's problems. No the Oil Pressure gauge did not move one bit. Pulled over, and stopped at a gas station. Checked the dipstick, I was low on oil. Needed what I thought was half a quart, walked inside got some oil poured half a quart in. Fired the truck back up, and the oil indicator was back to normal. Truck drove home perfectly after that. Didn't notice a difference in the volume of the lifter tap, truck was performing perfectly. Pulled into Advanced Auto, the lifter tap was gone. Of course when I had a worker look at it, it didn't tap. Checked the dipstick again, we were still low about a quart. instead of adding 5W-20, I added Lucas Oil "Oil Stabilizer". After doing this the tap is completely gone, and the gauge seems to be keeping up, and staying steady. Pulled into the house, and now I'm here.

TL;DR
2 weeks ago replaced Oil pump, and sending unit in truck. Got back on 95, got off on my exit merging onto the highway. Oil pressure gauge acted the same way it did 2 months ago. This time it sat on zero for about 4 mins straight. No volume change in the lifter tap. Pulled over checked the dipstick, added a half quart of 5W-20. Pulled into advanced, and the lifter tap was gone. Still needed about a quart, Added Lucas Oil "Oil Stabilizer" haven't heard it since, and the truck seems fine.

Conclusion :
Went out, and bought a mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge. Also went out, and bought a 1/8th inch brass tee. The plan is that I'm going to tie in the Oil Sending Unit to one side of the Tee, and the line that connects to the Mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge. I feel as if it's actually just the dash cluster, this being because the dash cluster is one cluster. Mind you that the RPM gauge is sprung backwards causing problems / and or the switch it's self is just ****** up. If you have any advice please write below, thank you for you're time and reading!
 

Lizzy B

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2019
Posts
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Location
Houma,La.
Ram Year
2006
Engine
4.7L
LeesZ, I just spent the entire day doing the same thing. Bought a oil gauge at O’Reillys. T’d it off at the sending unit. Now my pressure is between 55 and 80. I’m worried why it’s so high!!!
 

Redtruck-VA

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I suspect you used the high volume spring in the the pump you installed. Which many don't think is a problem including myself. Cold pressure @85psi is normal in my book and not a problem. 35psi @idle warmed up is also good in my book. Like I said earlier, the oem oil pressure switch is not a pressure sensor persay.
 

Lizzy B

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Redtruck, I didn’t install a pump. I installed a new oil pressure sending unit and T’d it off with a mechanical oil gauge.
 

Redtruck-VA

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What pressure does the engine idle at with the engine at normal temperature?
 

Karlsweg

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Rule of thumb is 10 lbs of oil pressure for every 1000 rpm’s in the olden days. But like stated, I would like to see a minimum of 30 at idle.
 

Harley Harrold

USAF Ret. 36+ years service
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This is out of the factory 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:

Curb Idle– 4 psi minimum



3000 rpm– 25 - 110 psi


4. If oil pressure is 0 at idle, shut off engine. Check for low oil level, a clogged oil pick-up screen, or a pressure relief valve stuck open.
 

Redtruck-VA

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I would crush my truck before I'd let these idiots touch it.
 
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