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Anthony
Dodge Dakota
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10/30/2001
08:30:19

Subject: oil pressure
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I recently purchased a 2001 QC, 24K mi. I noticed that at highway speeds, the oil pressure gauge is up around the 2/3's mark, when I slow down or come to a stop it is on the 1/3 mark. Understanding that at highway speeds the engine RPMs is more consistent and there for oil pressure is more consistent, but shold their be that much of a fluctuation ? This is my first dodge. I previously owned a couple of ford rangers where the oil pressure was more consistent no matter what the engine rpms's were.

Thanks
Anthony



A Rittner
Dodge Dakota
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10/30/2001
08:34:00

RE: oil pressure
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I notice this too. I have a 2002 QC with less than 1000 miles on it still. When I'm driving at pretty much any speed the oil pressure is at 2/3, but if I'm at a stop light it drops down to about 1/2 or so.

Andy



MJ
Dodge Dakota


10/30/2001
11:00:58

RE: oil pressure
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Mine does the same thing as A Rittner describes. The thing that bothers me is that it takes almost 2 seconds to get any oil pressure during a cold start.



Dan Gruber
Gen III
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10/30/2001
12:16:12

RE: oil pressure
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I'm on my second Dakota, and this is normal. Dodge chooses to make their oil pressure gauges reflect what the truck is doing, more or less. Some manufacturers actually "tune" their gauges to read smack in the middle of the dial except under extreme circumstances (total loss of pressure or a wildly high oil pressure, for example) so that customers don't get concerned until something is really wrong. Most manufacturers (Dodge included) also play a mind game with gas gauges...the gauge will read full for quite some time, then drop slowly towards the half mark. Once past half or the 1/4 mark, most gas gauges will drop like a rock so that the customer will fill up before the vehicle runs out of gas. This does two things: convinces the driver that the vehicle gets good gas mileage, and prevents the driver from running out of gas and then complaining to the manufacturer that he/she ran out of gas when the gauge said they still had some left. Its all a conspiracy!

Dan
2000 CC SLT 4.7 4X4 Auto 3.55 LSD

Mar
Dodge Dakota


10/30/2001
12:42:18

RE: oil pressure
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The gauge is supost to go up and down. That is a sign that the senser and gauge are highly accurate and work.

Ford on the other hand have some of the slowest reaction gauges iv ever seen. Plus with there reliablility reacord the gauges are probably set by factory to show good all the time.



xplikt
Dodge Dakota
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10/30/2001
13:42:14

RE: oil pressure
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I was just about to ask about that, but I'm at 1/2 on idle, and when I'm on highway I'm at the stick marker thing before the High mark..now I know!



Troy
Dodge Dakota
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10/30/2001
14:29:46

RE: oil pressure
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I had a '99 Dakota 5.2 and currently have a '00 5.9, and both did this with the oil pressure. It is normal for a Dodge. Like others said, they chose to make the oil pressure read exact, instead of tuning it to make you believe that it is alright (Ford). On both of my trucks, it read just under 40 at idle (stoplight), and around 70-80 on the highway. Is this what you are experiencing? If so, it is normal.



Marc 99R/T
Dodge Dakota
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10/30/2001
14:58:46

RE: oil pressure
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I read in a MOPAR mag. how to modify the oiling system to give you better oil pressure. I'll try and find the article if anyone is interested...



MAD DUC
Gen III
 User Profile


10/30/2001
17:19:03

RE: oil pressure
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First Anthony, your gauge and pressure are fine. Second, more oil pressure??!! They have plenty already! I put on some AUTO METER gauges and one is oil pressure. At cold start-up it has 90psi idling, rev it up just alittle and it goes over the 100psi range. Once fully warmed up, driving around it has 80-85psi and if I floor it it goes to around 95-100psi. Sitting at a light it drops to a horrific engine destroying 45psi. I can't see a need for more, and I'm running Valvoline semi-synth 5-30.



Todd W
Dodge Dakota


10/30/2001
21:32:38

RE: oil pressure
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BOL

Reminds me of the day I went to pick up headers for my old Chevy. Got off the expressway and the oilpressure went from 80 to ZERO. Gave it some gas, got some oil pressure. Found out I'd driven for 30 miles with the rear intake manifold gasket blown half out. Didn't hurt the engine, god I loved that little V8... (mostly the experiance building it. Nothing like building an engine with your ex-drag-racing father while in your late teens!)

The oil pressure gauge is pretty accurate in the Dodge's. Like someone said, a lot of manufactures seem to smooth out the readings a bit. Two minutes for oil pressure when cold is probally normal too, since the sending unit is at the extreme top of the engine. After it's sit overnight all the oil has drained to the bottom. Takes it a bit to pump up. The engines are design to be able to withstand a bit of this, although it _is_ hard on them. Somewhere I read that 75% of all engine wear comes in the first 2 minutes of starting...

And yah, the fuel gauge thing is annoying as hell. My little light comes on when I've got 6 gallons left. At least I won't get stranded, I know enough people with S10s that report fuel left when they actually run out. :0)



Dave Mitchell
Dodge Dakota
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11/03/2001
03:13:24

Oil Pre-Pressurization Kit?
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Anyone know of a source for one to go on a '01 4.7L?

If 75% of engine wear is in the first two minutes of operation, one of these babies should help...



sandman
Dodge Dakota
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11/03/2001
15:42:53

RE: oil pressure
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Anthony, I have a 2001 4x4 QC with 4.7. My truck when cold has max pressure within 15 seconds of starting at idle. Once it warms up mine has the needle at the 12'O'clock postion and max pressure off idle about 1000 rpm's. I am useing 10W30 mobile one with mobile one synthetic filter.



sandman
Dodge Dakota
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11/03/2001
15:47:18

RE: oil pressure
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Anthony, I have a 2001 4x4 QC with 4.7. My truck when cold has max pressure within 15 seconds of starting at idle. Once it warms up mine has the needle at the 12'O'clock postion and max pressure off idle about 1000 rpm's. I am useing 10W30 mobile one with mobile one synthetic filter.



sandman
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2001
10:30:15

RE: oil pressure
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If you realy want to preol your system consider an oil accumulator with a control solinoid. They come in various sizes and can be plumped into any system. One you start the engine the extra oil will be pumped back into the accumulator. I realy do not think that it is a must have item. A good synthetic will leave a thin film on the parts for up to a month. It is diffacult to get a true dry start with synthetics.



DeaPee
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2001
16:14:48

RE: oil pressure
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I have a 22 gallon tank in my 01 4x4. When the gas gauge is slightly above 'E', I fill it up and it takes 16 gallons. I like that about Dodges though -- like someone said, that way, we'll never run out. My 89 Toyota would run out before it got to 'E' and my 93 Ranger wasn't much better.

- Dave
- 01 RC SLT 3.9 4x4 BLACK



Stephen
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
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12/05/2002
22:36:53

RE: oil pressure
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My Oil pressure just started reading lower when I am at a stop light and raises when I accelerate. I have been told this is normal, but it has never done it before. Just wondering why it is doing it now at 62000 miles. I have a 97 with the 5.2



Vice
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2004
09:28:41

RE: oil pressure
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I got one 4 ya guys.
I have a 1992 Dakota 3.9l,V6.
4 about 2 years now,when i start-up
my OP gauge reads 0,after about 2 or 3 miles I
get perfect OP w/no flucuations.Next morning
same thing.Temp seems to have no effect.
Any ideas?



   P 1


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