Well I started to have an issue.
On my way on a 30mi trip I noticed my oil pressure drop to 20lbs, so I figured this couldn't be right.
I pulled over to the side of the road and checked my oil and it was at the correct level. So I started the truck back up and I noticed a slight stumble/miss every now and again, it wouldn't do it all the time but just out of the blue.
I just O-ringed/Studded the head, .20 over gasket, 17.5 timing, 2095 rackplug, Max Spool 2.5 cam, ect.

The only thing is that my cheap autozone t-stat is messed up so it goes to 190, opens up runs back to 140 then back to 190, opens up, ect.. It wont stay at 180. I haven't gotten a chance to replace this yet, but I'm going to Cummins tomorrow to get one. I am almost certain this is the t-stat, and not the head gasket as I have no other symtoms of a blown hg. I also replaced the oil sending unit w/ a cheap autozone unit. What all does the Oil Sending unit relay? Just Oil pressure, or something else?

Anyways, I changed the oil filter and there was an abnormal amount of air coming out of the oil filter after I taken the old one off.. I dumped the oil into a drain pan and it looked like there was a film, or sludge, or something laying in w/ the oil... No water, I'm thinking fuel. I am not sure what fuel looks like mixed w/ oil tho??

Anyways, when I fire the rig up in the morning, oil pressure is @ constant 40 until the t-stat cycles acouple times opening/closing and it heats up and then my oil pressure is all over the place.

I am going to install a real oil pressure gauge, change oil, and filter tomorrow..
But wondering if anyone ran into this problem!?

 

DO install a real oil pressure gage, it sounds like fuel contamination.

BTW- the stat you refer to is operating normally- the original t-stat the engine had operated that way- consumers not made aware that was normal were concerned so DC and Cummins specs a replacement (from a big block v8) to hold the steady temp like a gas engine. The parts store gave you the correct original stat. Cummins will give you the original stat that came in the engine unless you want the updated one.

Non oem oil sending units don't last as reported in many threads- all they report is pressure.

 

Changed oil, oil filter, didn't hook up a real oil pressure gauge... but lost oil pressure again, and when I lose oil pressure motor stumbles a little bit.
If I pulled out in 2nd gear (NV4500) I can tell a difference, lack of power..