1998 Dodge Dakota Logo
Posted on Dec 18, 2009
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98 dodge dakota oil pressure problems

I just bought a 98 dakota the guy i got it from said he hadnt driven the truck much in the last year and a half and has just been sitting around. I have had a lot of oil pressure problems. I completely lost it on my way home from getting it. had it towed and replaced the sending unit. This fixed the problem for about 30 min and lost all pressure again. I did an engine flush which seemed to help a lot. Now i only loose pressure when driving and turning higher rpms around 2800-3000+ rpms. I can be idleing and rev the engine higher and wont loose all pressure just slight decrease. I think it may be a sludge problem since it has been sitting for a while or the oil pump pick up screen may be clogged. Is there any way to clean the screen without pulling or lifting the engine??? I cant do it myself and dont have the money to send it to a garage or dealer to fix. Could i shove a wire or somethign up the oil pan drain and possible reach the screen? where does the screen sit inside the oil pan? Any answers or help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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I personally would try pouring a bottle of Berryman's B-12 in the crankcase when it is warm and then changing the oil (which you have tried a similar approach with the flush). Or, I would add approx. 8 ounces of Sea Foam engine additive to the crankcase and drive it around for a little while to see if it helps. As a side note: You don't have to change the oil with the Sea Foam, only the B-12

  • Anonymous Nov 19, 2011

    That is strange because my 1998 Dakota Sport X-Cab 3.9 v6 is not equipped with a sending unit. Chilton and hayes also states that the 3.9 liter v6 has no oil sending unit. I searched for one on my rig after same oil pressure problem and could find no sending unit. Just FYI

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You need to drop the oil pan and clean screen and replace oil pump i did this to mine twice and i have 300,000 miles on my truck if this is a318 for some reason or another it builds up carbon which blocks the screen

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The screen sits in the lower part of the oil pan where the drain plug is. There is no easy way to clean it without dropping the pan. There could also be a pressure relief valve problem in the pump.

  • a77ramz May 15, 2010

    Hi there! Cant believe it either! I just bought a 98 4x4 sport excab with a 3.9L auto. I had to drive it back 130 km from where i bought it from. Half way back, it just dropped and the bell rang and light came on "check guages". It lasted the first time for just 10 sec, then back to norm. Everything seemed fine. A few minutes later it did it again, and again went out. Again and again, but sometimes it stayed dropped for up to 2 mins, and I had to be safe and stop and pop the hood and check oil. Everything seemed fine. I started it back up, and the light was off and the pressure seemed good. Minutes later, again and stopped in a gas station. I was going to wash it so it was turned off for 10 min. I started it up, and was good, drove it the remaining 5 mins home with out it dropping again, but I bet it would do it again it i went anywhere again......

    Please help me.......This truck is in great shape, no rust, and has 270k
    adam

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I would have the engine oil pressure checked by a mechanic with an independent oil pressure gauge to see what might be going on. I would want to do this on a cold engine and also after the motor has been operating for a while and the oil is quite hot.
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