heykw

I just bought a 98 and the factory oil pressure gage reads 0 psi at idle or near idle! Needless to say I am concerned the truck has 180k miles on it and was being driven by a young kid who got it about 6 months ago when his grandfather died he clams that it has always been like this also the check gage light comes on all the time and it makes a dinging noise when it does very irritating. The gage will come up about half way in the safe range at highway speeds.

scout98

You may have a pressure problem.

Goto your local parts house and get a mechnical gauge to verify it the op you may read a little diffrent from the location you tap vs. the reading you get with the factory pressure sender. For the 24V is located on the lifter oil feed and reads lower than if you pull a pressure reading from the top of the filter housing.

heykw

my truck is a 12V

scout98

The top of the oil filter hsg should have a 1/8 NPT plug in it you can install a mechnical oil pump there.

When at 2000 rpm what oil pressure do you read?

Also have you changed the oil yet?

If not get it changed the previous owner could have ran it to long and broke down the oil if you have changed the oil, did you use 15W-40 oil recomended for diesel engines?

If not change the oil and filter again.

If these items dont help, and the reading with the mechnical pump dosent improve you may be in for some costly repairs.

You could start with a new oil pump and filter housing which contains the pressure relief valve. if that does not do it you may be in for a bearing job which can be done inframe but very diffacult.

I know your pain I unknowingly purchased a 2500 earlier this year with a bad piston / cylinder and have rebuilt the engine DIY after dropping a valve

ccmckee

I would be more apt to suspect the sending unit. But definately throw a mechanical guage on there first.