???I need some input on my 1999 Dodge Cummins. I have wanted a Cummins since I was 16 years old, Im 30 now and I finally bought one. I have owned it for almost 2 years. Sad to say but it has sent me walking 3 times. Here is the latest problem, The other night my truck dropped oil pressure.Im concerned about my engine(I had it shut off in less than 30 seconds). How do I know if there is damage if in fact there was no oil pressure? Im waiting to hear from the shop about what is exactly wrong. I checked to see If I had oil and also checked to see if my sending unit wire was off. It was good. I tried to start it again and still no oil pressure(ran about 10 sec then shut it off). If I had no oil pressure would my truck even start? Any comments are greatly appreciated.

 

Just because the sending unit had a wire on it doesnt mean that it was working....Did they tryy another sender or check your current one??

Take it easy until you hear back from the shop - you can worry then if you need to.

Good Luck.

 

The oil pressure senders are famous for going bad and making folks have to change skivies when they notice the pressure gauge reading "0".
That's probably what happened to you too.

Ed

 

If it is the sending unit the dealer told me it is not covered under warranty, Is this true?

 

I suppose it depends on your dealer. Mine covered the sending unit under the 100,000 mile warranty. (mine is a '99 )

I just about died when the buzzers went off and I looked at the gauges to zero oil pressure. Yanked it off the road and checked oil level, etc.

The sending unit, as said above, is a common thing to go out.

I would mention the 100,000 mile warranty on the cummins to your dealer and tell him you think it should be covered under that.

Good Luck!

 

If it is the sending unit, get the replacement from Cummins.
It's the same part, for probably about 1/2 the price.

 

The motor would grind to a stop very soon after loosing oil pressure.

I have heard more than a few experianced Cummins Mechanics say, concerning the Dodge, If you still have oil, you still have Oil pressure. Lucky for us, Oil Pumps have to be one of the most reliable parts in our motors.

You probably have a bad sender. Don't have the dealer "reflash" it for a fix. All that does is turn the gauge into a "dummy" gauge. If the pressure from the sender goes below 40PSI, the gauge will read 40PSI,, so if you have 35PSI, or 0PSI, the gauge will read 40PSI.

Merrick

 

Very simple to check, autozone has a test pressure gage for about $7. There is a 1/8 pipe plug on the top of your filter housing, screw it in there and start it up. You either have pressure or you don't.

 

;DI want to thank everyone for the GREAT help, I did find out that it is my sending unit, although warranty didnt cover it, But Hey I have my CUMMINS back......And that makes me Happy. Thanks Again Everyone

 

told ya ;D These are great trucks with a few small problems....

 

Yes, I know the hard way, an engine does not like to run without oil pressure. :-X
But, if the sender is famous for failure, is there a way to do a quick roadside check to confirm if you have pressure? What I mean is, if the gauge fails, is there a simple way to check while on the side of the road for pressure (without a gauge or special tools)? Thought this might be helpful, just in case the same situation happens to me or someone else reading this. Thanks, Kevin

 

[quote author=Haulin in Dixie link=board=13;threadid=22819;start=0#msg213749 date=1069724938]
Very simple to check, autozone has a test pressure gage for about $7. There is a 1/8 pipe plug on the top of your filter housing, screw it in there and start it up. You either have pressure or you don't.
[/quote]

Right there......

 

pull the valve cover..in fact do it know so you know what your looking for all should be oiling well...or put a T in where your oil p. sender is and install a mechanical guage and mount it anywhere you want...there will never b a question then.

 

Hey Thumper,

did you happen to build any extra piston cooling nozzles 8)

i need some...not much on the plastic cheapos

Don~

 

Yes sir ,did that ,in fact there is a picture of them in my post probly two mo. back..I can tell ya how to make them or ship you some..takes about 2 hours to make them..the little machine shop dwn the street made them for me