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dave284
Enthusiast
/ Moderator
May 9, 2008, 10:54 AM
Post #1 of 6
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oil pressure check
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Hey guys, I got a dodge ram 1500 5.2 with 178,000 miles on it.....the oil pressure guage sometimes drop to zero after the truck has warmed up, most of the time it stays between o-40 at idle and when I rev the engine the oil guage moves in sync with the tach.....and there is a small rattle in the lower part of the engine at 2000 rpm...you can hardly here it...but its there...rod bearings maybe?..or oil pump failing? Any advice????
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 9, 2008, 12:07 PM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: oil pressure check
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Yea - you know the scoop - test with a mechanical pressure tester not just the vehicle'sgauge. The rattle is tell-tale though That's all too familiar though for a worn lower end engine as bearings are leaking down faster than they can get pressure to where it's measured. Just like you said they behave a bit when cold (oil thicker) and lose it when warmed up.
That's where the old STP syrup in a can used to be a mainstay to up the viscosity and could buy time.
So far in a career I haven't seen an oil pump fail in that way but it's possible that a high output replacement could buy more time than just playing with oils,
T
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dave284
Enthusiast
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May 9, 2008, 12:30 PM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: oil pressure check
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Tom, the fella who owns it ask me about what should he do?, he just bought it a month ago, repair?/ oil, temp fix/ or sell it.....its just a back-up truck for his siding business,...I thought the same but I was wondering if there were any other possibilities of something else....man,... I dread this, I know he gonna want to have them bearings replaced.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 9, 2008, 1:03 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: oil pressure check
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IMO - if worn bearings it's over for this engine so buy some time. I've kept junk like that for years. You can spend tons redoing the crank and bearings and it's still an old worn engine. His call - your advise.
You want a good fake? Use syn or reg 20-50 oil or add two of the 15oz STPs and pressure will come up. It'll still drop off when warm/hot but not so much and even at 10-15psi it might not make a peep. That's a lot of miles for spending big bucks on that motor,
T
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dave284
Enthusiast
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May 9, 2008, 1:52 PM
Post #5 of 6
(2760 views)
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Re: oil pressure check
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I agree, I'll call him tonight and let'em know the info and he can decide.....I don't like making decisions like this cause of the fact that the engine milage is high and any repairs can be followed by regrets....I understand a complete overhaul would be the logical thing to do....most people cringe at that suggestion, they rather drive it til the motor blows then have a used one installed....thanks Tom, every now and then I need an extra brain .
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 9, 2008, 9:05 PM
Post #6 of 6
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Re: oil pressure check
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 I like that idea! "We report - you decide" ---- Kind of like the Fox News jingle.
Folks need to realize the 178,000 miles is a lot! Every screw in the vehicle has gone that far. Ya - we've all seen or had stuff that went much more but face it. I've had a few over the 200K mark that ran well and held my breath if on a longer trip as to just what may decide to rear it's ugly head up at just the wrong time!
I'm not a fan of reworking lower ends of engines. Top end stuff is fine. When lower end goes it's over IMO or the $$ isn't worth it. Again IMO - there's just one shot at line boring an engine when new and everything after that is a band-aid fix,
T
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