Oil Pressure Low Stop Engine (replaced sensor)

[Doubeleive]

well there's basically 2 scenarios 1. either the oil pump or o-ring on pump is bad (sucking air once part of the oil is up in the engine). 2. or something is seriously wrong with the engine. mine was the latter and the engine sounded perfect. most people have better luck, I would recommend checking the old oil for metal and/or drop the oil pan and inspect or replace the o-ring or pump.

 

[David Smith]

well there's basically 2 scenarios 1. either the oil pump or o-ring on pump is bad (sucking air once part of the oil is up in the engine). 2. or something is seriously wrong with the engine. mine was the latter and the engine sounded perfect. most people have better luck, I would recommend checking the old oil for metal and/or drop the oil pan and inspect or replace the o-ring or pump.

So no chance that the sensor is bad based on the video I posted?

Also, would the engine not start making noise if it were sucking air and not getting sufficient oil to the top end?

 

[Warriorpluto]

So no chance that the sensor is bad based on the video I posted?

Also, would the engine not start making noise if it were sucking air and not getting sufficient oil to the top end?

Just buy the truck and run it like my friend is doing. I would change oil pump and oring first. Just to make sure. If still no change then take a twenty minute trip. If you make it back home with no tapping then all is well.

 

[CobraKing]

So no chance that the sensor is bad based on the video I posted?

Also, would the engine not start making noise if it were sucking air and not getting sufficient oil to the top end?

@David Smith I think a faulty sensor would throw some type of engine code. Do you have an OBD-II reader to check for stored faults?

I think sensors aren't terribly expensive so you could try replacing that, but as @Doubeleive suggested you might want to take a look at the pump and O-ring first.

Any chance of you taking a look at the truck from the underside and checking the oil cooler lines?

 

[David Smith]

@David Smith I think a faulty sensor would throw some type of engine code. Do you have an OBD-II reader to check for stored faults?

I think sensors aren't terribly expensive so you could try replacing that, but as @Doubeleive suggested you might want to take a look at the pump and O-ring first.

Any chance of you taking a look at the truck from the underside and checking the oil cooler lines?

I look at the lines yesterday, they looked pretty good and clean. No apparent leaks or anything anywhere under the truck.

There is no CIL on right now, but I have a friend of mine bringing me his computer to hook up and check for stored codes and to also check that the gauge is reading correctly from the sensor.

 

[David Smith]

So I ordered a new sensor yesterday. This weekend, I intend on running some engine cleaner though the engine (any suggestions on best "on the shelf" brand?), doing an oil change and install new oil filter, install new oil pressure sensor and oil pressure sensor filter.

This way I can be relatively sure that there are not blockages elsewhere. If this does not work, I may end up pulling the pan and replacing the o-ring on the pick up tube. Hopefully it will not come to that, but if so, then I may just knock that out this weekend as well. Maybe.

Also I will be hooking up a computer to the truck the check for any stored codes.

 

[kbuskill]

So I ordered a new sensor yesterday. This weekend, I intend on running some engine cleaner though the engine (any suggestions on best "on the shelf" brand?), doing an oil change and install new oil filter, install new oil pressure sensor and oil pressure sensor filter.

This way I can be relatively sure that there are not blockages elsewhere. If this does not work, I may end up pulling the pan and replacing the o-ring on the pick up tube. Hopefully it will not come to that, but if so, then I may just knock that out this weekend as well. Maybe.

Also I will be hooking up a computer to the truck the check for any stored codes.

Kreen is my go to engine cleaner but it isn't available in stores.

 

[David Smith]

Kreen is my go to engine cleaner but it isn't available in stores.

That is what I have read so far on a lot of forums. Any idea on what the best stuff is that you could find on the shelf at O'Reilly or something? I don't have time to order anything. Sea Foam maybe?

 

[Doubeleive]

So no chance that the sensor is bad based on the video I posted?

Also, would the engine not start making noise if it were sucking air and not getting sufficient oil to the top end?

it just looks to me like when you start the engine the oil pan is mostly full, then as the oil level in the pan gets lower it starts to suck some air and cant keep the pressure up, it may be still giving enough oil to not cause a knock, then when you shut it off the oil goes back in the pan and it can make pressure again for a minute when you restart. that's just my theory.

 

[David Smith]

it just looks to me like when you start the engine the oil pan is mostly full, then as the oil level in the pan gets lower it starts to suck some air and cant keep the pressure up, it may be still giving enough oil to not cause a knock, then when you shut it off the oil goes back in the pan and it can make pressure again for a minute when you restart. that's just my theory.

Does the oil sit that high up in the pan when full? All the way to the oil pump?

It doesn't seem to drop pressure until the engine is warm. It will run for 10 mins when cold before the pressure drops. With your theory, wouldn't it drop as soon as some oil got sucked out of the pan?

Not knocking your theory, it really does make pretty good sense for when the engine is warm. Just not when cold.

 

[Doubeleive]

Does the oil sit that high up in the pan when full? All the way to the oil pump?

It doesn't seem to drop pressure until the engine is warm. It will run for 10 mins when cold before the pressure drops. With your theory, wouldn't it drop as soon as some oil got sucked out of the pan?

Not knocking your theory, it really does make pretty good sense for when the engine is warm. Just not when cold.

it's just a thought that it could be what is happening I have seen them be the o-ring and or pump, a couple of times the sensor. it just becomes a trial and error thing I went thru the same thing with mine and after the sensor was done moved on to the pump and found a chunk of metal stuck in it.

 

[kbuskill]

That is what I have read so far on a lot of forums. Any idea on what the best stuff is that you could find on the shelf at O'Reilly or something? I don't have time to order anything. Sea Foam maybe?

I really couldn't say.... I have substituted 1 quart of oil for a quart of high detergent ATF before with good results but it's not highly potent.

 

[PG01]

Personally i never had the problem but i think what’s happening is as the engine warms up, oil warms and thins out, o ring is prob cracked and as it gets warmer the thinner oil is getting by the cracked oring. I would, as you stated, dump a cleaner in the motor, change the oil and look for metal, change oil filter and get a new good oil filter but cut open old filter to look for metal, and do the screen and sensor. Honestly, youre in a situation where you dont own it and dropping the pan isn’t really feasible, UNLESS, you really want the truck. Personally, i would do the o ring before I bought it and if it doesn’t work buy it and drop a jy motor in , fix body and sell it.

 

[David Smith]

it's just a thought that it could be what is happening I have seen them be the o-ring and or pump, a couple of times the sensor. it just becomes a trial and error thing I went thru the same thing with mine and after the sensor was done moved on to the pump and found a chunk of metal stuck in it.

I picked up a sensor last night. I will be installing today. If that does not work, I intend on replacing the o-ring next.

 

[David Smith]

Personally i never had the problem but i think what’s happening is as the engine warms up, oil warms and thins out, o ring is prob cracked and as it gets warmer the thinner oil is getting by the cracked oring. I would, as you stated, dump a cleaner in the motor, change the oil and look for metal, change oil filter and get a new good oil filter but cut open old filter to look for metal, and do the screen and sensor. Honestly, youre in a situation where you dont own it and dropping the pan isn’t really feasible, UNLESS, you really want the truck. Personally, i would do the o ring before I bought it and if it doesn’t work buy it and drop a jy motor in , fix body and sell it.

This is basically what I am going to be doing.

I am putting a new sensor in today on my lunch break. If that does not work, I will be changing oil and o-ring. If that does not fix it, I probably just won't get the truck. Maybe. Who knows. Depends if I am feeling froggy or not.

 

[David Smith]

Well, it was not the sensor. I put it in and fired it up. Oil pressure still dropped. Hooked a computer to it to monitor the pressure, and it is exactly what the gauge is reading. At least now I know the gauge is not correct.

I will be replacing the o-ring in the near future...

 

[David Smith]

So, I have tried to skim through and find a write up and replacing the o-ring. I know that it is not a very difficult job, but I like to know specifics.

Torque specs of all nuts/bolts?
Proper alignment of pan? (I saw something about aligning with transmission?)
Use loctite on anything?

Anything I need to watch out for? Looks as simple as:

Drop cross member
Darin oil
Remove Oil Filter
Disconnect oil level sensor
Remove oil pan bolts
Take of 2 bolts that hold pick up tube
Take out bolt that holds flange to oil pump
Lubricate and install new o ring
Reinstall pick up tube (torqued?)
Reinstall oil pan (torqued?)
Connect oil level sensor
Install new oil filter
Reinstall cross member
Fill with oil
Crack open a cold one

Not sure if that last step should be at the beginning or end, but I know it goes somewhere!

 

[CobraKing]

Some instructions posted in the comment section. Is the truck RWD or 4WD?

I just hand tightened all my bolts till snug. Went under the truck for an oil change and there was no seepage/leaks.

You may need a new oil pan gasket if the one on there doesn't get too mangled up during removal.

 

[David Smith]

Mine is just RWD. I intend on getting a new oil pan gasket anyways. Thanks for the videos!

 

[David Smith]

Going to grab a new pan gasket and the new o ring. I will be installing after I get off work today. Do I need to use loctite on any bolts?