318 magnum,is my oil pump failing?

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BeatersRus

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i have a 1994 318 magnum motor in a 4x4 thats been giving me some odd readings.
i run regular 10-40 in it.
it will show around 40lbs pressure warmed up,
but can and will drop low enough to pop the oil light at times,
sometimes while Driving others when coasting to a stop.
this Doesnt happen All the time either which is why im a bit puzzled.

initially i thought i had bad bearings,but the pressure comes right back up to 40??
theres no noise at all/complaints from the engine itself.
i regularly wind this to around 4 grand/manual trans.

and,this week the plenum gasket went bad completely,
im sure its been bad for awhile but now im at barely driveable.
ive looked up the hughes kit and will be getting that shortly.

are these 2 events connected?
or do you think the oil pump is getting ready to quit..?
i thought if it was bad it would just stop working but ?
what is your opinions and maybe recommendations?
 
erm,i Have to keep oil in it weekly because the plenum eats well.
so yes,it has oil and enough of it.
 
yes,i did see that one and Ty but im gonna need it all.
the whole intake set,along with the new bolts.
looks like i can score the set you posted and the intake gasket set for around 125.
plus id like to get this oil pump thing figured out so i can do it all same time if i have to.
@AJ/FormS
 
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the 200K mile 5.9 we are using as a bracket motor only had one thing in it that was really worn.
Cam bearings.
They were literally falling apart!!
 
BeatersRus said:
i have a 1994 318 magnum motor in a 4x4 thats been giving me some odd readings.
i run regular 10-40 in it.
it will show around 40lbs pressure warmed up,
but can and will drop low enough to pop the oil light at times,
sometimes while Driving others when coasting to a stop.
this Doesnt happen All the time either which is why im a bit puzzled.

initially i thought i had bad bearings,but the pressure comes right back up to 40??
theres no noise at all/complaints from the engine itself.
i regularly wind this to around 4 grand/manual trans.

and,this week the plenum gasket went bad completely,
im sure its been bad for awhile but now im at barely driveable.
ive looked up the hughes kit and will be getting that shortly.

are these 2 events connected?
or do you think the oil pump is getting ready to quit..?
i thought if it was bad it would just stop working but ?
what is your opinions and maybe recommendations?
Click to expand...

I'd replace the sender first, or put a mechanical gauge on it and remove the bulb from the the light. (or leave it if it won't bug you.

Seriously doubt it has anything to do with the plenum gasket.
 
well, I'd say there would be a "check-off" list.
  • Verify the gage/sending unit is working correctly
  • I would question the pressure relief spring on the oil pump
  • Perhaps something floating (???) that now and then plugs up the screen on the pickup tube...??..
  • I would doubt the oil pump, because they are usually "good" or "bad"
  • I doubt the pressure drop (if it's real) would be tied to the intake gasket, but stranger things have happened
 
I took it in the shorts one to many times from dave hughes. He will have a hard time getting any more money out of me.
I wish you luck in dealing with him. He's totally dedicated to helping you relieve yourself of cash to him.
 
318willrun said:
well, I'd say there would be a "check-off" list.
  • Verify the gage/sending unit is working correctly
  • I would question the pressure relief spring on the oil pump
  • Perhaps something floating (???) that now and then plugs up the screen on the pickup tube...??..
  • I would doubt the oil pump, because they are usually "good" or "bad"
  • I doubt the pressure drop (if it's real) would be tied to the intake gasket, but stranger things have happened
Click to expand...
yeah thats what was freaking me out,was the > sometimes it does it and most times it doesnt.
ive been wondering what the screen itself looks like...
im gonna go ahead and change the pump out anyways and i can get a good look at that pan/pickup
the gauge is usually spot on,altho it maybe a bad wire or perhaps connections?

to Jadaharabi,
erm,dave? hughes?
sorry im not up to speed on any of that,
i thought that he was a Company and had the best product.
plus the kit had everything i needed in one shot.
now im wondering....whats up?
 
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I am suspicious of crud in the pickup screen. It'll do just like that.

Like your site name LOL. So are they 'beaters' in NY and 'bombers' in Phillie? I don't know the protocol....
 
nm9stheham said:
I am suspicious of crud in the pickup screen. It'll do just like that.

Like your site name LOL. So are they 'beaters' in NY and 'bombers' in Phillie? I don't know the protocol....
Click to expand...
yes,beatersRus is a small club of various brands of cars and owners that drive beaters instead of trailer queens.
most of us have so many projects we couldnt afford a restored car anyways lol.
the only advantage of driving the beaters is if they get scratched or smacked up,
its not a total loss.
plus,we get to spread the love of mopars everywheres,
it makes people realize they could be driving one of their own cheap.
cheers,Rob
 
I don’t understand. Your going to go thru all that before you verify wether or not the sender is bad?
 
Oil pumps rarely just arbitrarily "fail". It's just RARE. Think about where it spends its life. There's almost always an outlying reason. Stopped up pickup, run low on oil too long......almost always "something else" that contributed. I tend to agree with the stopped up pickup screen theory. Pretty popular. Also, you'll do yourself a big favor by listening to @Jadaharabi and @318willrun. Those two guys know a hell of a lot and will not steer you wrong. Although I've had no issues with Hughes, I've read of a lot who have and I have experienced Dave's attitude. Their marketing wants you to think they're the best. Think about that a while.
 
gliderider06 said:
My 97 ram did this. It was a bad sending unit. Replaced it and everything was fine.
Click to expand...

It could well be. That's the slap first thing I would check......because I'm a cheapass. Although Chrysler did have some problems with their oil sensors, not nearly as much as GM did......and still does.
 
I'd put an aftermarket gauge and sender on there to be sure, those 90s Chrysler oil pressure gauges aren't very accurate even when they're working properly. On that note neither are the older ones lol.
 
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