1998 Dodge Ram Oil Pressure Drops out

DODGERAM

MEMBER
1998 DODGE RAM
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
170,000 MILES

My dad has a 98 dodge ram 1500 1/2 ton 4wd and the oil pressure will drop on the guage he said to zero truck has oil in it . He can go back to it later and crank it and let it run for 40 mins and the pressure stays at a average of 40 psi idling what could cause this to happen Please help he just bought it

Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 AT 10:55 PM

3 Replies

BMRFIXIT

MECHANIC
19,053 POSTS

Oil pressure switch
replace it as a 1st step
cheep and easy to do
good luck

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Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 AT 10:59 PM

DODGERAM

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks we'll try that first, I really apprecaite it :)

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Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 AT 11:16 PM

DAFULLER61

MEMBER
3 POSTS

For what its worth, I had the same problem with my 98. I changed the Oil Pressure sender, but it didn't solve the problem. What I found was the problem was sludge build up in the engine. I changed my oil at the normal interval, and instead of using 5 quarts of oil, I used 4 quarts of oil and one quart of Marvel Mystery Oil. After about 60 miles of EASY driving the problem went away. I changed the oil after 500 miles and it was thick black and dirty. I again used the 4 quarts of oil with one quart of MMO and drove the truck normally for 3000 miles and changed the oil again. The problem never returned and my oil ismuch cleaner now at the end of 3000 miles using the 4 to 1 ratio of oil to MMO.
Dave

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Sunday, March 16th, 2008 AT 5:38 AM