When I'm stopped with the tranny in drive, my oil pressure drops. It is still in the "safe" range but it's down there. Is this normal?
I only have 11,000 miles on the truck. Thanks

 

Yes

 

Thanks Supergewl, It's my first diesel

 

The oil pressure gauge on these is basically an idiot light with a stick. If you watch it over time, you'll notice your oil pressure never varies from when it's really cold out on start up to really warm out. It's controlled by the computer to "meet customer expectations".

 

yes I was told the exact same thing when I asked the dealer.... He said that the "sending unit" for the gauge only gave two signals on or off.... To which it gives the ok signal at 13 psi and the not ok signal at 10 psi. The computer generates the actual gauge reading based soley on engine rpm's!!!

 

as per the factory service manual...

Engine Oil Pressure Message - The instrument cluster circuitry restricts the oil pressure gauge needle operation in order to provide readings that are consistent with customer expectations. Each time the cluster receives a message from the PCM or ECM indicating the engine oil pressure is above about 41 kPa (6 psi) the cluster holds the gauge needle at a point near the middle increment within the normal range on the gauge scale

Engine Oil Pressure Low Message - Each time the cluster receives a message from the PCM or ECM indicating the engine oil pressure is below about 41 kPa (6 psi), the gauge needle is moved to the graduation at the far left end of the gauge scale, the check gauges indicator is illuminated, and a single chime tone is generated. The auge needle remains at the left end of the gauge scale and the check gauges ndicator remains illuminated until the cluster receives a message from the PCM or ECM indicating that the engine oil pressure is above about 41 kPa (6 psi), or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first. The cluster will only turn the check gauges indicator on in response to an engine oil pressure low message if the engine speed message is greater than zero.

 

Wow! Why did they bother putting numbers on it then.

 

who knows....?

more from service manual...

The oil pressure gauge consists of a movable gauge needle or pointer controlled by the instrument cluster circuitry and a fixed 90 degree scale on the cluster overlay that reads left-to-right from “L” or Low) to “H” (or High) for gasoline engines. On vehicles with a diesel engine the scale reads from 0” kPa to “760” kPa in markets where a metric instrument cluster is specified, or from “0” psi to 110” psi in all other markets.

 

Thanks guys, you're a wealth of information.
I really appreciate your replies.

Paul