Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Oil Pressure - Reflash or Sender??

[Scheibins]

OK, I've gathered that the oil pressure indication has been a common problem. And people who have a "0" indication problem have fixed the problem with a new sender. And DC has done a reflash on ones that have been taken to the dealer to make them read a certain pressure all the time.



Now... . mine reads 80 at any RPM or engine off (key on). I'm guessing the reflash has been done to mine. Would I be wasting my money by changing the sender? Can the reflash be reset? What to do? I'd like to use the stock gauge.

 

[HEYBOSS]

They will first do the reflash and the gauge will read high all the time, it happened to me. You need a new sender and you'll be all set. I don't think they can reverse the flash.

 

[Scheibins]

Maybe I don't get what the reflash is..... I thought it was DC setting the ECM to tell the gauge to read "80" or whatever regardless of oil pressure. So, if I get a new sender, is it still going to read 80 all the time?

 

[HEYBOSS]

Here's what happened to mine, when driving occasionally it would drop to "0"

When I took it in to dealer they told me a reflash would fix which I wasn't convinced it would. After the reflash my gauge would read high all the time, can't remember if it was 80, I think it would go to "0" with key off but that was long ago and I'm not sure. When the sender was replaced it fixed it. If I'm not mistaken if you disconnect the sender and with key on your gauge should read around 40psi which I believe is middle of the gauge, try it and if it does one can assume you have a bad sender.

 

[BPrifty]

I have the exact same problem. Key in on position, engine off, reads on the hash between 40 and 110 psi (about 80psi?). Is the reflash the cause of this? I suppose I can safely assume that even though the DC "fix" cause this problem, they won't do anything to take care of the new problem... Can anyone confirm the price of a new sender? I went to my local dealer and was quoted about $150 for the damn thing. If that's the case, then I'd rather save the $100 and buy a nice Autometer or something.



Thanks - Brian

 

[Thomas]

"I'm guessing the reflash has been done to mine. "



If TSB 09-001-01 had been performed on your truck you should see stickers like these.



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[Texas Diesel]

The dealers dont always put the sticker on show reflash history.



Trust me on this, you DONT want the reflash. The sender is the problem, replace it. The reflash tells the ECM to ignor the sender *IF* it indicates out of spec pressure.



After they reflashed mine I had 40 PSI, cold, hot, idle, red line. Unplug the sender, guess what? I have a nice 40PSI on the dash, sometimes DC really sucks, this is a good example.



After taking it back and complaining about the constant 40PSI they replaced the sender and now I have a working gauge but if the pressure goes out of spec, I get 40PSI on the dash, neat huh? My gauge is totally worthless now. I sure miss the feeling know the dash unit would "chime" if I lost oil presssure.

 

[willyslover]

buy you parts whenever you can at Cummins... you'll save a ton over dealer prices [we have a term for the dealers / dealer prices, but the thread police won't allow it's use anymore ]. . on that sender there are two types. . a 3 wire and a 2 wire. . be sure of which one you need / have if your replacing the stock one.



and IMHO just spend your $$ on a SPA gauge and get one of the many configurations they have [all SPA's are dual gauges]. . or get another brand of digital from Summit or Jegs

 

[BPrifty]

Thanks for the tip on the Cummins dealer. I just purchased my truck a week ago. Not knowing any better, I went in to price the sender, and came out feeling like the Ned Beatty character in Deliverance when the parts guy quote me the price. I think I actually squealed... To his credit the parts counter guy actually suggested I try the local Cummins dealer.



Brian

 

[HBarlow]

My dash oil pressure gauge went to zero, the chime sounded, and the "check gauges" light lighted a couple of days ago. I took the truck to the closest dealer.



It was just before 5 p. m. and the service department kept it overnight and called me the following day. I was told the engine had 65 psi oil pressure but the oil pressure sender had failed. The service writer said the cost to remove and replace it was, is everyone seated with your seat belts tight?... ... ... . $435!!!!! I told the service writer to forget it and I'd be over in a few minutes to pick up the truck.



This dealership is the reason I traveled 300 miles to purchase my truck from an honest and reputable dealership.



The service writer called me back about two minutes later and said that since they'd have to charge me one hour labor to diagnose the problem anyway they would reflash the computer at no extra charge since that was always part of the repair anyway.



I was not aware of the history of the Dodge oil pressure gauge or the computer reflash. Now I have a useless instrument panel oil pressure gauge like others have described above. I'm sure I don't need to go into detail about my opinion of this "solution" to the problem.



Is there a way to restore the original computer program so the dash gauge will work when the oil pressure sender is replaced?



If I decide to install an aftermarket oil pressure gauge where do I tap into a source of oil under pressure?



Harvey

 

[MCummings]

Originally posted by HBarlow

Is there a way to restore the original computer program so the dash gauge will work when the oil pressure sender is replaced?



If I decide to install an aftermarket oil pressure gauge where do I tap into a source of oil under pressure?



Harvey

You are stuck with the idiot gauge. Maybe a New ECM or PCM?



Look at the top of your oil filter mount, and there should be a plug, I think it might be 1/8". Good pressure there. That port will reflect almost exactly what your turbo is recieving.



Merrick

 

[HBarlow]

Merrick,



Thanks for that info. I remember seeing the pipe plug on top of the oil filter mount.



Will a mechanical gauge survive the mighty Cummins engine? I'm thinking of the vibration the Cummins will transmit to a length of copper tubing routing oil to a gauge mounted in the cab. Or should I buy an electric oil pressure gauge and just mount the sender on the engine? Or can I purchase a steel braided flexible line to transmit oil from engine to gauge?



Harvey

 

[MCummings]

Originally posted by HBarlow

Will a mechanical gauge survive the mighty Cummins engine?



vibration the Cummins will transmit to a length of copper tubing routing oil to a gauge



electric oil pressure gauge and just mount the sender on the engine?



steel braided flexible line to transmit oil from engine to gauge?



Harvey

Best not to put mechanical gauge in the cab. 80 Pounds of oil pressure can be 8" away from your face if in the top A-Pillar mount.



Electric sender mounted on the motor will probably die quickly,, just like the electric fuel pressure gauges.



I personally feel the braided SS will be the best option.

You could mount an electric sender on the end of the braided line, and put a valve, that is nearly pinched all the way off to act as a snubber to keep from pounding the gauge with vibrations.



Merrick

 

[HBarlow]

Merrick,



None of those choices are real encouraging.



What I really want is my ECM restored to factory original and a new factory oil pressure sender installed.



I'm mad as h... at the dealership service writer for telling me the reflash was a possible cure and at myself for being stupid enough to believe him.



Harvey

 

[MCummings]

Don't worry.



When the '98. 5's came out, almost everytruck on the road was getting 20MPG, and had awesome pulling power.



Little did EPA know that Cummins had written it's programming in the ECM in such a way that it changed its own power level for more power after about 15 minutes of driving. So EPA Approved it, without knowing the changing ECM, and Dodge sent them out for production on the trucks.



Well, EPA found out about the changing ECM, and was not happy at all, the programs that were in place after 15 minutes were not tested, nor approved, so, back into the shop for a silent recall.



Guess what happened on our first free oil change,, That's right.

We got 23MPG going to the dealer (250miles away) and 17MPG returning, and lost the power we had when pulling the trailer.



Oh well, Live and learn.



Nice to know is, Oil Pumps are one of the rarest things to go out on a Cummins. Pistons, Piston rings, Piston Coolers, injectos, bearings, and turbo's all go out before the pump does.

The Million mile rigs I have seen, still had the original Oil Pump.



Merrick

 

[jhellmers]

When I was going through my episode with low power and crappy fuel mileage, a diagnostic trip the regional Cummins service center was in order. While in the process of checking out everything, one thing that was tried was to re-flash the ECM with a different profile to see if it was a profile issue. (They could even load in the H. O. profile into my non-H. O. motor if I had wanted it! ) Long story short; a good Cummins service center might be able to "clean-out" the re-flash. They will, however, probably inform you of warranty issues. Good Luck!!

 

[HBarlow]

jhellmers:



Thanks for the suggestion. You answered my question. I didn't know whether Cummins could reprogram our ECMs or if the ECM and software was unique to Dodge Ram applications.



I'll try calling Cummins South Plains tomorrow. It would be worth a trip to Amarillo to visit a competent service center.



Cummins SP can probably install a new oil pressure sender at a price much more attractive than my local Dodge dealer as well.



Harvey

 

[JR2]

I must be one of the few blessed memebers here as I have a very good relationship with my dealers service department. I am on a first name basis with the service manager and his boss and both of them told me that they have NEVER* seen a Cummins that did not have oil pressure, no matter what the gauge said (*assuming there is oil in the pan of course but that is another story, they have good stories). They both told me that if my gauge reads 0 to pull over and check to be sure I have oil in the truck, after that drive on and don't worry about it till I have time for a new sender.



With all that said I would not want the reflash and if I got it I would install at least an extra warning light or gauge to keep an eye on the pressure.



JR2

 

[HBarlow]

I have an excellent relationship with Glenn Polk Autoplex, the dealer where I bought my truck but, unfortunately, that dealer is 300 miles away in Gainesville, TX. I have taken my truck back there several times for warranty service but it is obviously not real convenient.



Frontier Dodge, the local dealer here in Lubbock where I live, the dealer that just performed the reflash without advising me of the consequences, the same dealer which I would not buy from, is about one mile from my home. When the oil pressure gauge went to zero I was pretty sure I had oil pressure but it seemed pretty risky to ignore the indication or to drive it 300 miles to my dealer of choice.



It was at least half my fault for not being better informed. I know this dealer's service department is not a professional operation.



When I was having problems with the Jacobs Exhaust Brake a few months ago and Carlton Bale had already told me the problem was the APPS and it was covered under warranty I took the truck to Frontier Dodge in Lubbock, the local dealer. I provided copies of the internet and TDR forum discussion along with Carlton Bale's name and position and his offer to advise if someone would call him.



The so-called Cummins technician refused to work on it because he said he didn't work on "aftermarket equipment. " I had already explained to the service writer that it was a dealer installed and Dodge-Cummins approved exhaust brake and also provided copies of that invoice.



It's hard to explain anything to dummies like that. I gave up and drove the 300 miles to the selling dealer. The new service manager listened carefully to my explanation, took one look at the Dodge service manuals, and told me he'd take care of it and did.



Harvey