New Gal on the block-Oil Pressure Problem (i'm new to this forum too - be kind)

[golf_alx]

Ok. so I have a problem with my 2001 RAM 1500. I recently got it back from the mechanic who replaced the oil pump. When I started it, it sounded niiiiiice...even flow, nice humm from the engine - i thought, good choice to go with the high volume oil pump. SO i drove to the car wash, drove it to fuel up (all this while oil pressure started at about 60 then as it warmed up and I drove it it droppped down to a little under 40 not quite 35-oil pressure) As I got home, the check gauge light came on and my oil pressure gauge was at 0. What is going on? Any suggestions? I'm loosin' my hair over this. Mechanic thinks he needs to take out the engine, take it to an engine shop, maybe replace the cam bearings and so on and so forth.

[75K30]

Welcome to the site:

I am always concerned when an oil pump has to be replaced. This is like a heart transplant, and often can be mis-diagnosed.
What reasons, or circumstances led up to the decision to replace the pump?
Did the engine already have problems, and the pump replacement was an attempt to remedy a problem?
What was the oil pressure like prior to the replacement of the pump?
Honestly, many pump replacements are never necessary, and these replacements are failed attempts to fix other problems. I have rarely seen the actual pump failures.
More times than not, they fail completely, and do not just wear out.
Perhaps a little more information could help here.
Again welcome, this could be a great topic.

[RoadHammerTLM]

I know I am not that smart. But wouldn't bad bearings make noise and not low pressure? Aside from that I would like to know why it oil pump was replaced. I have never known anyone to replace an oil pump unless they were rebuilding the engine.

Hammer

[gmctrucks]

75K30 has good questions that we all need to know what he asked you? Now im thinking if this guy didn't place the pick up tube correct it could have fallen off that's why theirs no oil pressure and I have heard that placing a high volume pump makes your oil run hot and can cause problems unless you place a bigger oil pan to make up for it. Now also how long did you drive the truck with no pressure and how did the engine sound like? Don't trust that guy anymore I get a bad vibe about him did he not place the tube on correct so this could happen and now he wants to charge you an arm and a leg stay away from him not unless you have to get him to replace your engine or give you money to have it replaced since he might have messed it up. And last welcome to the club and howdy from TEXAS I wish your first question wasn't so bad. Good luck! GMC
PS-75K30 what about that check valve for the oil could this high volume pump be making it read wrong maybe place a direct gauge on it to get a correct reading?

[leolkfrm]

I agree, need to know the problems before it was put in? If it was loss of pressure a spun cam bearing would do it. I certainly would not give this guy anymore money after doing a major repair like this and not being right afterwards. At least get a second opinion

[golf_alx]

Ok. Here we go. It's a 2001, so in 2004 i was driving out of town when I started to notice that check gauge light going on AND the oil pressure gauge was going all the way to the right. (it looked like a wiper, if you will) The light would go on, the oil pressure would drop to 0 and go back up and so on. So, at that time I pulled over called Roadside, called my extended warranty with Dodge (worthless) and they sent someone to pick me up. I still had to drive farther to get picked up though and the engine started ticking, it wasn't so bad so i drove as slow as I could on frontage roads for a while until i just didn't like the sound. Long story short, Dodge dealership opened up something, (manifold i guess?) said, "it appears to be sludged up so you never changed the oil and its your fault and we don't cover that" ok. so I have it towed to a mechanic that charges me 385$ to do, i don't know what other than clean it up, the oil pump was not changed at that time. This current problem started suddenly as well, the check gauge light goes on, the oil pressure drops to 0 and this time I just parked my truck at home and haven't touched it. A family friend, this mechanic did the work for nearly nothing and thought this might do the trick without having to take out the engine. He said, the oil pan did have some little pieces of something that would indicate to him that he would have to take out the engine and take it to an engine shop to have them repair or look at it to tell us if we need to replace the cam bushings. I've got to admit, the sound the truck made when I first got in it was niice. a nice healthy humm to the engine. Something that since I have owned it, i had not heard, it has always clacked like a diesel and I think I just got a lemon from the get-go. So in an attempt to fix the problem and save me money he went with this first. Now, I don't know. But it had good oil pressure for at least about 20-25 miles.(around town) It just suddenly dropped. This time though, the engine wasn't knocking or clicking, then again i did not drive it but maybe 2/10 of a mile.

sorry guys, i dunno how to repost this at the top or how to do this at all. Be patient and Thanks for the Welcome!

Also, a friend said something about a "sending unit" or a sensor for this said, "sending unit"

[stumpuller454]

gonna have to stick in a manual oil pressure gauge to confirm oil pressure prob...oh an WELCOME ABOARD!

[leolkfrm]

ok now it makes sense. If it is not knocking or ticking now its possable the computer is not getting a good reading off the oil pressure switch. It might be something simple like a loose wire, or plugged oil gally to the sensor. Find it wiggle the wire see what happens, if nothing pull it out, If you want to make a mess you could turn the engine for a second and confirm oil to the switch, Mifgt even throw in a new one shouln't be too bad in cost.
As stump says you could tie in a manuel guage where the switch goes to confirm oil pressure and check it while driving. if you do you will most likely set codes you will need to clear
Good luck!