oil pressure light

kjfj · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 6:26 pm

my oil pressure light is coming on sometimes when i slow down to a stop. I checked the oil it is at the high side. it happens when i slow stop never at a hard stop. it doesnt happen all the time maybe once or twice in a 45 minute ride home in new york traffic. what do you think out there

geordi · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 7:20 pm

Question #1, and I'm going to say the answer is no because you would have already said something: Is your engine making any unusual noises or performance problems?

If the answer is no, then I am 99% positive that the sender is bad, and that is the only symptom. Should you be low on oil pressure, either from a problem with the crankshaft-driven pump or from low oil... You will know it QUICK because your engine will tear itself apart. The LAST thing that will happen is that the idiot light will come on to alert you.

This scenario is because Mopar decided to locate the oil pressure sender directly opposite the outlet of the oil filter, where it will be at the highest-pressure point of the entire system. As long as there is at least 1 quart in the system for the pump to pick up and shove into the filter, the sender will not light. The rest of the engine will be starving for oil, but the sender will be well-lubricated.

Seem like a dumb decision from Chrysler? Yea, I thought so too. Luckily, the sender is a cheap part to keep that light off. I'm working on a mod (for those so inclined) that will put a sender location onto the line that feeds the turbo from the top of the engine, so that a gauge can be used to read the oil pressure into the turbo (and also Cyl #1). If pressure there drops suddenly, it will most likely indicate a blown turbo seal, and the engine can be shut down LONG before it runs low enough on oil to hurt the cylinders.

Unrelated note: Where in Long Island are you? I'm originally from Huntington, and will be staying in Yaphank with a relative just after the 1st for a couple days. I won't have my CRD with me, but it is good to know that there is at least one around the NY area.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:01 pm

Unscrew the sender and screw in a gauge. I use a gauge with an 1/8" NPT male grease gun hose coupled to the gauge. Sure you will need to get underneath, but you will know the sender a standard Mopar sender used on other Chrysler products is bad or good.

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

geordi wrote:

Question #1, and I'm going to say the answer is no because you would have already said something: Is your engine making any unusual noises or performance problems?

If the answer is no, then I am 99% positive that the sender is bad, and that is the only symptom. Should you be low on oil pressure, either from a problem with the crankshaft-driven pump or from low oil... You will know it QUICK because your engine will tear itself apart. The LAST thing that will happen is that the idiot light will come on to alert you.

This scenario is because Mopar decided to locate the oil pressure sender directly opposite the outlet of the oil filter, where it will be at the highest-pressure point of the entire system. As long as there is at least 1 quart in the system for the pump to pick up and shove into the filter, the sender will not light. The rest of the engine will be starving for oil, but the sender will be well-lubricated.

Seem like a dumb decision from Chrysler? Yea, I thought so too. Luckily, the sender is a cheap part to keep that light off. I'm working on a mod (for those so inclined) that will put a sender location onto the line that feeds the turbo from the top of the engine, so that a gauge can be used to read the oil pressure into the turbo (and also Cyl #1). If pressure there drops suddenly, it will most likely indicate a blown turbo seal, and the engine can be shut down LONG before it runs low enough on oil to hurt the cylinders.

Unrelated note: Where in Long Island are you? I'm originally from Huntington, and will be staying in Yaphank with a relative just after the 1st for a couple days. I won't have my CRD with me, but it is good to know that there is at least one around the NY area.

makes sense I want that!

kjfj · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:18 pm

I am in Lake Grove right between huntington and yaphank. thanks for the responses i will look into it more.

racertracer · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:24 pm

geordi wrote:

I'm working on a mod (for those so inclined) that will put a sender location onto the line that feeds the turbo from the top of the engine, so that a gauge can be used to read the oil pressure into the turbo (and also Cyl #1). If pressure there drops suddenly, it will most likely indicate a blown turbo seal, and the engine can be shut down LONG before it runs low enough on oil to hurt the cylinders.

I'll be one of the first inline for this mod.

geordi wrote:

I won't have my CRD with me, but it is good to know that there is at least one around the NY area.

I am near the NYC metro area and if you all can swing it, I can meet you in the city somewhere for a drink. I'll have my CRD with me and an adjustable wrench incase we get bored we can always take the timing belt off or check for air leaks in the fuel filter or something.

Let me know.

changingtime · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:10 pm

this happened to me when i bought mine. The used car dealer took it to a local guy...got the part from carquest, and put the new one on...no problems since.

geordi · **Posted:** Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:35 am

racertracer wrote:

geordi wrote:

I'm working on a mod (for those so inclined) that will put a sender location onto the line that feeds the turbo from the top of the engine, so that a gauge can be used to read the oil pressure into the turbo (and also Cyl #1). If pressure there drops suddenly, it will most likely indicate a blown turbo seal, and the engine can be shut down LONG before it runs low enough on oil to hurt the cylinders.

I'll be one of the first inline for this mod.

geordi wrote:

I won't have my CRD with me, but it is good to know that there is at least one around the NY area.

I am near the NYC metro area and if you all can swing it, I can meet you in the city somewhere for a drink. I'll have my CRD with me and an adjustable wrench incase we get bored we can always take the timing belt off or check for air leaks in the fuel filter or something.

Let me know.

LOL! Fly 1500 miles, and all I can find to do in the city that doesn't sleep is open the hood on a CRD? I think I like the drinking idea better after how much hood-time I have with mine! :5SHOTS:

I'm down with meeting up somewhere, but the people closer to the city will need to suggest a place and LMK how to get there - I'm "from" NY, but my parents moved to Florida when I was 2. I flat REFUSE to be "Floridian" tho, all the natives I know are completely insane. I'm there from the 4th to about 6pm on the 7th. Just say when and where. :BANANA:

racertracer · **Posted:** Sat Dec 18, 2010 8:00 pm

Geordi,

The place is The Beer Bar, 200 Park Ave., in the city.

Come one come all.

cerich · **Posted:** Sat Dec 18, 2010 8:38 pm

i had that problem once, changed oil filter and solved about 40k ago....

VMKJCRD · **Posted:** Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:02 pm

geordi wrote:

racertracer wrote:

geordi wrote:

I'm working on a mod (for those so inclined) that will put a sender location onto the line that feeds the turbo from the top of the engine, so that a gauge can be used to read the oil pressure into the turbo (and also Cyl #1). If pressure there drops suddenly, it will most likely indicate a blown turbo seal, and the engine can be shut down LONG before it runs low enough on oil to hurt the cylinders.

I'll be one of the first inline for this mod.

geordi wrote:

I won't have my CRD with me, but it is good to know that there is at least one around the NY area.

I am near the NYC metro area and if you all can swing it, I can meet you in the city somewhere for a drink. I'll have my CRD with me and an adjustable wrench incase we get bored we can always take the timing belt off or check for air leaks in the fuel filter or something.

Let me know.

LOL! Fly 1500 miles, and all I can find to do in the city that doesn't sleep is open the hood on a CRD? I think I like the drinking idea better after how much hood-time I have with mine! :5SHOTS:

I'm down with meeting up somewhere, but the people closer to the city will need to suggest a place and LMK how to get there - I'm "from" NY, but my parents moved to Florida when I was 2. I flat REFUSE to be "Floridian" tho, all the natives I know are completely insane. I'm there from the 4th to about 6pm on the 7th. Just say when and where. :BANANA:

Ninja thread jack!

Let me know when you guys decide to meet at the Beer bar. The only thing I hate about the city is the parking...

flman · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:08 am

geordi wrote:

I'm working on a mod (for those so inclined) that will put a sender location onto the line that feeds the turbo from the top of the engine, so that a gauge can be used to read the oil pressure into the turbo (and also Cyl #1). If pressure there drops suddenly, it will most likely indicate a blown turbo seal, and the engine can be shut down LONG before it runs low enough on oil to hurt the cylinders.

The old Chevy Vegas had a pressure switch that would not allow the engine to start until it developed sufficient pressure by turning the engine over with the starter. That would be a good feature for those inclined to run an engine while it was knocking, as long as you put it in the turbo line location. That would be good for my wife, cause I can see her driving it till it died. :dead:

geordi · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 1:29 pm

I was thinking about that, and the thought of supplying the turbo with ONLY oil from the current pressure sensor location (with a flexible line to the turbo) and blocking the line from cylinder #1. The idea was that if something were to happen to the engine, the turbo is the first (and most likely) place to start losing oil. If the turbo seal blows, you have basically lost the turbo anyway, but you do NOT want to also lose the engine. So separate the cylinders from the turbo's oil supply, then put in a shut-off or some form of blow-out preventer that would let you sacrifice the turbo so you can limp it home.

That is less of a project for me instead of the gauge on the current feed line, just because I personally would not continue driving it even with the turbo sealed off from oil, knowing that the thing is so fragile when there is an oil problem. I just don't like the idea that they linked the cylinders and the turbo in the first place. Separating that seems like something to think about, but then how do you monitor the oil pressure / flow to the turbo to ensure that it hasn't blown? If the add-on gauge is ONLY monitoring cylinder #1 and pressure drops there... Problems might already have happened.

Help me out here. Suggestions?

oil pressure light

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