brokenspokes181

Hi to everyone, and best of the New Year to you all! I'm wondering if the group can help me out. I was driving my '95 DTC 2500 4x4 automatic ( approx 205,000miles) home this morning when I noticed I all of a sudden had zero oil pressure. Pulled over shut truck off checked oil level, it was OK. However there was a fair puddle of coolant dripping onto the road, couldn't see where it was coming from as it was rather dark at 1:30 this morning, seemed to be coming from side of radiator tank?? Rad wasn't hot so I removed the cap, coolant was down an inch or so and had stopped leaking. I started the engine, oil pressure was fine, however when I went over 1300 rpm it would fall to zero. Let off the throttle, oil pressure would return. There was no increased noise from engine such as noisy valve lifters when this would happen, so I thought perhaps the gauge has screwed up?? Same thing going down hill, no throttle applied, but as speed picked up on a long down hill and rpm's exceeded 1300, again oil pressure would fall off to zero. Could this be a head gasket problem? I have had a small external leak at the right front of the cylinder head that seemed to have stopped with addition of irontite, but I have still had to top rad up every couple of days. There is no obvious water in engine oil, nor oil in radiator ( oil is pretty clean so I may be overlooking it in the coolant). Oil pressure has been rock solid since buying the truck about 2 years ago. Any input? As far as I know, truck is basically stock with possible exception of a shift kit Thanks, Rick

Fueling around

A head gasket leak (coolant) near the thermostat housing is very common.
If you think the rad/head gasket is leaking get it pressure tested.

On the other issue, your oil pressure (gauge) problem is the sending unit.

brokenspokes181

John thanks for the input, I will order a replacement sender. Rick

Fueling around

I've had 2 sending unit failures. The first was on the freeway and cooking along at .... we won't got there. Needle bounced all over and finally dropped to zero. Scared me but after using the ear gauge and realizing the engine was fine I let it go for a bit longer. That was a mistake as the whole unit failed and puked about 2 quarts of oil. Just glad I caught that quickly and had the new unit in hand to quickly change out.

Replacement unit failed in 3 weeks. I've heard that is common with after-market sending units but this one I got from the local Dodge dealer.
2nd replacement is going on 3 years.