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oil presure gauge problem

3 messages,  Last post on Mar 28, 2009 at 8:28 PM

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#2 of 3 Re: oil presure gauge problem [rkrichie] by dustyk Mar 01, 2009 (12:49 pm)
Replying to: rkrichie (Feb 26, 2009 2:41 pm) Although your new sending unit sounds a little more reactive than what I'm use to, your description matches the expected way oil pressure would be in a normal operating engine. Normally you don't see much oil pressure fluctuation on Mopar engines with factory gauges and sending units. It is possible to be bypassing some oil pressure if you have an incorrect oil filter installed. This would produce a wider variation in pressure, but it often is accompanied by very low pressure at idle speed. But that doesn't seem to be a problem in your case.   At full operating temperature in summer, healthy, low mileage 3.9s typically idle at about 35-40 pounds oil pressure with fresh 5W30 motor oil and the correct oil filter (factory spec. minimum is 6 lbs.). Cold starts and colder weather usually raise the pressure at idle speed slightly. The oil pressure bypass in the engine is calibrated to open at 80 lbs. at 3000 RPM. At moderate highway speeds LA-series engines will typically produce 50-60 lbs. pressure.   High mileage (150,000 and up) and engines not well maintained will produce lower pressure numbers.   Best regards, Dusty
#3 of 3 Oil Pressure Gauge by russelljal Mar 28, 2009 (8:28 pm)
I have a 01 Dakota 4cyl. with about 135k i sent it to the mechanic with oil gauge problems and a rattle in the top of engine. he changed the oil pump and the rattle is gone how ever when i picked it up the gauges looked fine.. stayed in the middle of operating range until i get about a mile down the road and it starts to drop to just over 1/4 while driving when i stop it falls to the lower line of the operating range and goes up when i start driving. so when i get home about 5 miles i let the engine run while i am checking for any leaks for just a couple of minutes and when i go to turn the truck off i noticed that my oil pressure has completely dropped and my like is on.

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