I called Cummins looking for an oil pressure sending unit and was told that it is a dodge part. So I called my dealer and was told that the sender was superceeded by the part number for the gas engine and is $35. Does this sound correct? I've replaced mine with an elcheapo from Autozone temporarily to insure that the sender was bad and no engine oiling problem existed. I want to be sure I'm not getting another Niehoff, repackaged by the dealer.

 

not sure about the gas engines having the same sending unit. but cummins cal pacific, out here in california, refers to it as an oil pressure switch. And if you have the engine serial no. ready, they can tell you if its a part that was installed by them or dodge. the dodge dealer near me wanted $235.00, Cummins cal pacific in ventura,CA. has em for 43 bucks.
Cummins Cal Pacific Incorporated
3958 Transport St
Ventura, CA 93003-5128
(805) 644-7281

 

Well the Niehoff oil pressure switch gave up so I thought. I went to the local dealer today and bought a new Dodge oil press. switch and it is also swinging up and down on the gauge while holding at a steady RPM. I hooked a mechanical gauge to the oil filter housing to verify that nothing is wrong with the engine and am getting a constant 35-75 PSI depending on RPM, so at least I know the motor is in good condition What could be causing the problems with the electrical gauge??

 

Sounds like a bad ground but you would think that your other gauges would be acting up too.

 

Is the Oil Pressure gauge governed by the PCM in a truck built 11/97 (98 model) ??

If so, can the Dealer "TWEAK" the range (with a code reader or whatever it's called) so the Oil pressure can be kept from constantly dropping to zero at idle ?

 

The dealer can reflash the OP gauge to act an idiot light, only on '98 12 valves. It will then only read zero and normal, not something I would like.

 

I bought the gas oil sending unit that superceeded the diesel sender and it has been working great for a couple of months now.