Oil pressure

[goldeneyee]

Heavy weight oil will always raise the oil pressure by filling the voids in the cam, rod and, main bearings and thereby raising the pressure. Sounds to me like the engine is way past its prime and ready for a rebuild. Changing the oil pump and shimming the oil pressure spring will also raise the pressure. If you can't afford to rebuild or replace you'll be able to stretch the rebuild time by trying the above... Good luck....

 

[malsup83]

I've already switched over to 5w30. Did that on the first oil change.

 

[Hemi395]

Damn. It could be the oil pump itself too. I'm skeptical that the main/rod bearings are worn out because when my truck was new it would dip down to the mid 20s at hot idle. I'm suspecting either the oil pump itself of something blocking the pickup screen...

 

[57buick]

yea sounds like you have a lot of worn parts. But I would drive it till it dies. My 1957 Buick, when I bought it 15 years ago it had the original engine still and always read very low pressure like around 15 to 30psi but I continued to drive it for years like that and it never let me down lol Granted I did put Amsoil oil additives and things in it but I was amazed how many years it continued to survive including driving it across country

 

[malsup83]

In that case, if I dump seafoam in it will that help clear up any clogs?

 

[malsup83]

I just read that after putting seafoam in the crank case the oil needs to be changed.

Granted I added seafoam after my check engine light came on and I ran my code. Could this be a reason my pressure is dropping?

 

[OCDTech]

If your just wanting to try to just take care of it and do what you can for as long as you can i can recommend ENGINE RESTORE, i've used it few times long ago, worked for me, and theres a guy on youtube always putting things like that in his lawnmowers and tractors, he gained a lot of compression in three cylinders on his old tractor. He uses a compression gauge before and after. It won't do anything for the low oil pressure, but the blow by it should.

 

[OCDTech]

On the seafoam, how much did you put? Its pretty thin, only meant for a mild cleaner probably. Might have diluted your oil. I would definitely get that out. Think its only meant to run temporarily and get out.

 

[malsup83]

I used maybe 10 ounces

 

[OCDTech]

Ok, thats probably not enough to dilute, but i would still dump and put 5w30 back in drive for couple hundred miles and see if one or both of the problems persist. Or was it doing this before the seafoam?

 

[OCDTech]

Sorry just read it again. i see you added after.A vehicle may run for years with pressures like that, although they look uncomfortably low. Such as 57Buick said.

 

[malsup83]

I'll do an oil change either way. With the things are headed looks like I'm going with the cheap AutoZone oil. But either way, it'll be going to a shop soon to get a proper diagnosis.

I appreciate all the help everyone has on this forum.

 

[Hemi395]

When you change the oil this time, let it drain for several hours if you can. The seafoam will have cleaned any sludge and varnish out and the more you can get out the better....

 

[malsup83]

Will do. Sounds like a job for Wednesday.

 

[crackerjack1957]

Will do. Sounds like a job for Wednesday.

Those borescopes are fairly priced these days.......could check out screen on oil-pickup thru drain plug hole.
https://www.amazon.com/CLY-Semi-Rigid-Inspection-Megapixels-Smartphone/dp/B07K21JM94/ref=sr_1_13?crid=38C96W866OBMJ&keywords=borescope&qid=1575233769&sprefix=bore,aps,164&sr=8-13

 

[malsup83]

If I use one, what would I be looking for

 

[crackerjack1957]

What you are trying to clean with the Seafoam.......gunk/buildup on the screen & around in the oil pan

 

[malsup83]

Yikes. I'm sure mines at least close to that

 

[sac neal]

solve your oil pressure by changing to this
Mopar Performance High-Volume Oil Pump 25% more oil pressure

 

[Dusty]

I think Malsup83's engine symptoms of excessive blow-by and low oil pressure are related. Excessive blow-by could mean worn piston rings, but it could also mean there's no vacuum on the PCV valve. A clogged throttlebody port or clogged vacuum hoses are usually the cause.

As to low oil pressure, I think the suggestion that the pump pickup screen is restricted is a logical cause, partially because of the mileage, the fact that it was a fleet motor, and the fact that oil pump failures on Hemis is not a common occurrence. This deserves a compression check.

Lot's of short trip driving in high moisture environments, infrequent oil changes, and coolant/engine not coming up to temperature are predominant causes of oil sludge.

Pull a valve cover. That will give you lots of insight.

Best regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram DT 1500 Silver Billet Laramie, Quad Cab, 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, 18 inch wheels. Build date: 17 July 2018. Now at 026321 miles.