Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Help w/ factory oil pressure gauge.

[J.Post]

I was driving down the highway last night when I hear a chime and look down to see the check gauges light on. I look through all my guages to find the oil pressure gauge showin no pressure.

I pull off and turn off the truck and then turn the key to the on position and the needle comes up to the max normal pressure. How can you have oil pressure if the engine is not running? So I then restart the engine and the needle stays at the max normal position for a minute or so then drops back to zero. I do this several times w/ the same result each time.

I decide to drive my truck to my nearby business to park it in a safe place untill I can get it towed to my mechanic. Reasoning that it most likely is a bad sender. The pyro guage was at normal temps and it also cooled fairly quickly as well. Wouldn't the pyro temp spike or at least climb fairly high if no oil is being fed to the turbo?



So my question is: Is there a known problem w/ factory oil pressure guage or sending unit?



This is an 01' 4x4 w/ 67,000 miles.

 

[Texas Diesel]

You can bet $$$ it is a bad sender.



Two options for you:



1. Go to the dealer and they will install a PCM reflash that will forever ruin your oil pressure gauge. Basically the reflash tells your PCM to write 40PSI to the dash gauge. Period. I had DC do this to my truck before I knew better, hot, cold, idle, redline, 40PSI.



2. Buy a new sender from Cummins, approx $50 I think.



Your choice.



Yes, this is a fairly common problem.



The 02 and up have a normal "open-close" oil pressure switch. The PCM approximates the oil pressure reading based on engine temp and RPM.



The bottom line is that english is a second language to most Chrysler "engineers" and I dont mean that German is their first language. ?Se Habla Espanol?

 

[cyborg]

I think you have it confused with the '03 and above. The 02 has a pressure sensor and it's operation is described below, copied from the '02 FSM.





Each time the cluster receives a message from the PCM indicating the engine oil pressure is between about 517. 1 kPa (75 psi) and 755 kPa (109. 5 psi) for gasoline engines, or 551. 6 kPa (80 psi) and 755 kPa (109. 5 psi) for diesel engines, the cluster holds the gauge needle at a point about 7. 4 degrees below the high end of normal increment on the gauge scale. When the cluster receives messages from the PCM indicating the engine oil pressure is between about 137. 9 kPa (20 psi) and 517. 1 kPa (75 psi) for gasoline engines, or 58. 6 kPa (8. 5 psi) and 551. 6 kPa (80 psi) for diesel engines], the gauge needle is moved to the actual pressure position on the gauge scale.



'02 are the last of the real trucks, with real gauges.

(that really rattle)

 

[Texas Diesel]

I'm glad you corrected me, my son just bought an 02.



The whole idea of using an on/off pressure switch and then computer mapping to guess at the oil pressure makes me sick. Full circle engineering, essentially the 03+ have a 70's style idiot light.

 

[cyborg]

I couldn't believe either.

They make the cummins more civilized and then DC has to go and pull krapp like that. How barbaric. Deceitful. FRAUDULENT!!

Selling an oil pressure "instrument", that isn't.

There are a lot of things I like about 3rd gens, but there are things I just can't accept. It must cost three times as much for the technology for "the gauge that isn't" as it would be to put a simple sensor and gauge.



Okay I'm done venting.

(dammm lift pumps )

 

[jkalchik]

No kidding.



I discovered this "feature" on my 99 that I bought used in 2004. I added an oil pressure gauge to my A pillar pod when I put in the fuel pressure, boost and EGT gauges because I just couldn't rely on the dash gauge.



And now I find out I gotta go get another friggin' lift pump. It started showing funny pressures on the way back from Maine last week. And it's only been in since March.

 

[J.Post]

Did some searchin' and found the correct part number went to Cummins Rocky Mountain and purchased it for $75. Fixed it in about 1/2 hour because it's a beotch to get to. But easy other than that.



Yes it was the sender.