Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) WARNING: Oil Pressure Sending Unit!!!

[dthollis]

On the road the other day, the oil pressure gauge started to get flakey. Within 50 miles, it dropped to 0 and stayed there. I had already stopped and checked oil and saw no leaks, so I drove 300 more miles to my destination figuring that I had a bad oil pressure sending unit that I would replace after returning home.



So... here I am at my destination 400 miles from home making short trips mostly in town and checking under the truck for oil at every stop. Came out of a store and saw a 3' diameter puddle under the truck. Lifted the hood and started engine and saw about 3 drips per second coming from the end of the sending unit! Lucky for me there was a parts store nearby that had a sending unit, so I was able to change it out and all is well.



Bottom line is as cheap as these sending units are, it may be a good idea to change them before they fail or at least carry a spare with you. My 96 has 160,000 miles on it and the sending unit went from fine to spewing oil in 400 miles

 

[JDKammin]

My 96 acted up a year and a half ago, when traveling across country. I figured the sending unit was bad. Oil level was up and no leaks. Got home and installed a new one and has been fine since then. Kind of a pain to get to the sender. Might not be a bad idea to keep one in the truck. Friend of mine had an S-10 Blazer and blew the sender out and leaked oil all over. Could have ruined an engine, if not caught in time. It has been a common thread on here for senders to go bad. If new sender does not fix pressure readings, I would screw in a mechanical gauge and check again.

 

[WDixon27]

loosing function and taking a dump i find is usually a common issue with oil pressure senders

 

[EWalshak]

Thanks for the post. I noticed mine does something funky. While at idle it will just cut in and out. I figured it was just a guage malfunction. I will have to check it out.

 

[norcalram]

Boy, you guys with the 24 valves sure take a bath on parts!! On the 98 and earlier I paid $40 at the dealership. Unfortunatly, my replacement unit started doing the same thing after less than 6 months. the odds of a mechanical oil pump on the Cummins actually going out is very slim. There is a fault in the ECM that causes the eradic action of the dash guage. The dealer has a flash that eliminates this, however it turns the guage into an idiot light. Anything less than 12psi the guage will drop to zero, anything above shows as 40. I just keep the stereo loud enough so as not to hear the annoying beeping!

 

[surfbeetle]

tjpatte,

I see your in Lakeside. I broke my sending unit when I was fixing my vacuum pump leak. I went to Napa on Woodside and the sender was around $25. 00. It's been fine for few years now. Maybe the 24 sender is more, but I wouldn't think that much more.