I have a 99 dodge dakota sport. It doesn't have oil pressure.?

Question

This did this about a 1 1/2 year ago and we had the oil pumped changed. Now its doing it again. We have changed the oil regulary. The pressure would go out then come on. We could turn off the engine and back on & the the pressure would be back. However this time the pressure is not coming back. We have tried to change the oil and even had the engine flushed. It isn't leaking any oil. I don't think it was even the pump cause not even a year later it would blink on and off so to say. It would be fine for months than act up again.

Answer 1

Try changing the sending unit as it might be faulty and not allowing for a reading of oil pressure! Otherwise either your oil pump failed again or you have bearing problems!

Answer 2

I would check for a bad, broken, or burnt OPS unit wire/connection. I know some of these have plug type connections on the sensor wires. You may have a bad Oil Pressure sending unit/switch.

I have a 90 Dak and it had the same symptoms, turned out to be sludge in the oil pan, but mines got 230,000 on it, I flushed it with kerosene, drove it for a few days, rechanged the oil/filter and have been driving it for 2 years now.

I would put a pressure tester (gauge) on it just to be sure that you do have sufficient oil pressure, though. Install the tester, let it run til it's warmed up and drive it around like normal to see if there's any change in pressure when the engine warms up.

Mopars aren't known to eat oil pumps (V-8's). Usually it's something else like a plugged oil screen or a bad wire,sensor, or connection that causes the erratic gauge readings.

Oil screens in SB Mopars are screwed into the pump housing via pipe threads, not pressed in like other makes (i.e., GM). Once it has been screwed in, there's no way for it to come loose because at some point it would have to hit the oil pan or a crank throw. If the tube actually broke it would leave you with absolutely NO oil pressure.

Also, a diagnostic or code scanner would tell you absolutely NOTHING about your oiling problem.

Where do some of you guys come up with this stuff?

Answer 3

If you are driving the truck and it has run for more than 1/2 mile after the light came or (or the gauge went to 0), you don't have an oil pressure problem. With 0 oil pressure the engine would seize up after very little driving. Check the oil light (or gauge) operation.

Answer 4

i own a repair shop,and make sure its just not the oil pressure sending unit on it gone out,,it may still have oil pressure on it,it just wont be showing it,if in deed it has no pressure you may need to replace the pump on it,and the pick up tube also on it, but id take a valve cover off,and try to start it just for a few seconds,and see if i had pressure,this is one sure way to find out,good luck i hope this help,s.

Answer 5

I would definitely replace the oil pressure sending unit before anything else, should be cheap and eliminate the possibility of the gauge being wrong. You might have good oil pressure but if the sending unit is bad it will show none and be intermittent.

Answer 6

There is a clearence problem , the sixs are known for cam bearing wear problems . All you can do is flush and add 6 quarts of Valvoline 50 W oil and hope for the best unless you have a warranty on engine...

Answer 7

Another problem it could be is that the oil pickup in the pan fell of the oil pump. My son is a mechanic and I have seen him have to bang the oil pickup back on the pump.

Answer 8

If the engine does not start knocking or ticking when the pressure goes away then you need a new sending unit. Take it in and get the diagnostic codes read that should help with finding the problem. (Autozone reads them for free)

Answer 9

Sounds to me you have bad main bearings.That is what really give you oil pressure.If your mains are bad you have low oil pressure,are no oil pressure.