So while I've got my oil cooler out and the radiator removed, I decided it would be a good time to kill the KDP. I ordered the kit from TST and I was looking at the service manual and noticed that the oil pump lives in there too, and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to replace it while I have the cover off. My oil pressure gauge has been on the fritz for a while now, and it doesn't have numbers on it anyway, so I'm not sure of exactly what kind of pressure I was getting.

But if it were a gas engine with 265k on it, I might be worried about the oil pump. What are people's experiences with this? It's $215 from cummins for a new one.

 

The oil pressure gauge fluctuations are probably a faulty oil pressure sender (about $20 from an auto parts store). It's easy to replace and cheap.

You could also run a mechanical oil pressure gauge for pretty cheap and get a real number.

 

These engines have a gerotor style pump, they last a long time.

You can check the clearances in the pump if it would make you feel better.

Over rotors (cover off, straightedge across rotors) 0.004" max
Outer rotor clearance (between outer rotor and body) 0.014" max
Clearance between rotor tips 0.008" max
Cover warpage/scoring 0.0015" max (as long as the wear marks don't catch your fingernail it's fine)

 

Thanks. I found the procedure in the cummins book. I'll probably pull it out of there and look while I've got the cover off anyway.

Does the same sending unit run the gauge and the idiot light? Is the sending unit on the left side of the block rearward of the injection pump? My Dodge manual isn't here yet.

 

Be sure and check if there is Locktite on the pump bolts.
My re-con from Cummins had thread locker on them. When I
checked my pump I used Locktite....just to make sure.



$0.02

59

 

Oil pressure sender is down the block, right behind the power steering pump. Has 2 wires going to it.

I know several guys who have topped 500K with the original oil pump. I had a 84 Ford 6.9 with 117K that locked up when the oil pump quit on I70 in KS. No more old low mile vehicles for me

Daniel

 

interesting about the ford. I have been considering a second truck so I can still have a truck when this one breaks, as it occaisionally has. I was looking at 6.9 fords since they are so much cheaper than the cummins. I like straight sixes over v8s any day though. And I've never been a huge ford fan. I'm probably more likely to look for another seventies dodge. Kind of wish I had kept the old M880 I had when I bought this truck.

 

Oil pump lasts as long as the motor

Q) How far can this plane fly with a failed engine?
A) All the way to the scene of the crash !