Spudchucker

in my truck (just registered it.. woo!!) the oil gauge will show normal pressure at idle when the engine is cold, but once it warms up a bit, the pressure at idle drops to nothing and the light comes on. however, when any gas is applied, the gauge goes back to showing normal readings and the light turns off.

once ive been driving for like 15 minutes though, the gauge stays mostly down and the oil light stays on.


can anyone explain this??? it worries me cause i dont wanna freeze my engine up. oh yea, it is fresh off an oil change (third one in 3 weeks with treatment added to clean out the formerly bogged up engine)

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Master of Paint

Well, the less rpms = lower oil pressure, although I dont think it should be that low. Naturally, when you accelerate, your pressure rises due to the signal from the Distributor telling the oil pump to pump faster, and while you are at idle, your pressure drops Now, are you losing oil at all? I know you said that you did another oil change but what is your dipstick reading? You may have a massive oil leak somewhere and are losing pressure in that respect. They sell an Ultra Violet dye that you put in your oil to find out just where it is leaking from. I believe you can purchase it from Pep Boys or Autozone or a store of the equivilent.

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_Clark


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Spudchucker

i know im not leaking oil, though it is burning some (smokey exhaust)

could the pump be broken?

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Dooms

First I need to know what your truck is and what engine is in it.

Oh, and what are the pressure readings?

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It is my sworn duty to comfort the afflicted, and to inflict upon the comforted.

Spudchucker

its a 97 ram 1500, with a 5.2 liter magnum v8

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Dooms

Four things to check right off the bat. First, did you change the oil yourself? I would change the oil again and make sure it is the right type. Second, check the on board computer readout, that might give you something. Third, check the oil pump. Get it rebuilt or replaced. Fourth is the cam journals (or something in the top end) may be worn or leaking. Therefore, it would be time to take it to a mechanic.

If there was any knocking, pinging, odd noises, ect than that might lead to a few other things. Also, see if it is overheating at all.

Anyway, it's definately mechanic time if you don't know what you are doing.

Edit: what is the mileage too?

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2003 Summer Super Moderator and Most Informative Award Winner

COG/TOG Member



It is my sworn duty to comfort the afflicted, and to inflict upon the comforted.

auto maggot

first find a local shop to check your oil pressure with a mechanical guage - that will let you know if your really losing oil pressure, or if the sending unit is bad, or if the dash guage is reading wrong. If you are really losing oil pressure, it's normally, scored bearings, oil pump is shot, your just really low on oil, or your orange fram oil filter has collapsed. What weight oil and what filter are you running right now?

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1337

Bad sensor?

Spudchucker

thatnks guys, yea i gotta check the truck out anyway because i want an exhaust leak fixed (too damn cold to do it outside myself) in order to pass inspection

anyone have any idea how much the oil pump would cost?

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Dooms

They arn't usually too much, $50 at most, it is the labor that kills though.

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2003 Summer Super Moderator and Most Informative Award Winner

COG/TOG Member



It is my sworn duty to comfort the afflicted, and to inflict upon the comforted.

auto maggot

20 bucks
edit : i keep posting at the same time as doom lol - yes the labor will bend you over and make you grab your ankles

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Dooms

I think auto maggot and I need to open a car tech help section or something. We both think the same way.

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2003 Summer Super Moderator and Most Informative Award Winner

COG/TOG Member



It is my sworn duty to comfort the afflicted, and to inflict upon the comforted.

auto maggot

how's that saying go? great minds think alike? haha i couldn't resist

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pballfreek19

Censor.

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ComradeMolyneux

use a thicker oil. ****in straight 30 that *****!

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BOO new layout

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Spudchucker

haha my truck is badass. it would eat straight 30 for breakfast, and ask for a few more quarts for lunch (does it anyways.. why the hell not )

but yea i talked to my boss and apparently he had the exact same problem once. i have to take off the oil pan, and the screen above it is going to be loaded with about 2 inches of gunk (which is what is bottle necking the system) and i have to just dump that, and i should be good to go. so happy this is gonna be an easy fix it also explains why there arent any problems until the oil has been circulating with the truck on for a few minutes. thanks for the input guys

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auto maggot

lol, you better hope it's a clogged pick up screen on the oil pump. you've done some damage via oil starvation if the pressure dropped below 10 psi for awhile.

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Dooms

How many miles on that truck? Major sludge like that is not a good sign.

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2003 Summer Super Moderator and Most Informative Award Winner

COG/TOG Member



It is my sworn duty to comfort the afflicted, and to inflict upon the comforted.

CoWcH

I told you not to use your oil filter as a pipe....

Look what happened to your poor truck now.

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