i have the same problem this is what i read about it and my mec did it i have had no more problems
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RE: 1998 Dodge Durango - 318cid V8 engine - 61,562 miles - oil pressure dropped to zero - happened several times - oil pump pickup screen was completely clogged, not with sludge, but with carbon deposits
08/2001 – I bought a pre-owned 1998 Dodge Durango with a 318cid V8 engine and 61,562 miles. Now, I had no idea how the previous owner had maintained this vehicle so to be on the safe side, I purchased an extended bumper to bumper 7,000 mile warranty which came with 24, “free” 3000 mile dealership oil changes. As I realized later, it was one of the best investments I could have made with this Durango ($3400.00 worth of warranty repairs unrelated to my oil problem)!
Anyway, here’s my oil pressure ordeal: At 74,234 miles (warranty expired several thousand miles ago) I was driving on the highway and the oil pressure gauge dropped to 0 for about 4 seconds. The “Check Gauges” dummy light also came on and I heard the “you have a problem chime”. I immediately pulled to the side of the highway, shut the engine off and checked the engine oil level. The level was right at the full mark so, I restarted the engine and everything seemed fine.
At that point I figured “better safe than sorry”, I used one of my “free” oil change stubs and had the oil changed at the dealership. I also replaced the oil sending unit at that time. Life was good until the same condition resurfaced at: 74,678 miles, 75,469 and 75,866. Each time I shut the engine down and checked the oil level which was always at or just below the full mark. I continued to drive the vehicle until that dreaded day arrived. At 77,243 miles, the oil pressure gauge dropped to 0 and did not return to normal. Again I shut it down and checked the oil level. It was good.
I restarted the engine and my worst fear was confirmed, as the slight tap-tap-tap rang louder with each second. I shut the engine off and knew that I had no oil flow. Being mechanically inclined I decided to complete the repair myself (at the time I suspected a bad oil pump). I had the vehicle towed and I began my work. After removing the engine oil pan the problem was evident. The oil pump pickup screen was completely clogged, not with sludge, but with carbon deposits.
There was no visible sludge at all. I removed the oil pump and screen and was able to clean the screen with a wire brush and a lot of cleaner. I tested the pump and it worked fine but I decided to replace it with a TRW High Volume unit just to be on the safe side. Upon further investigation, I discovered that the entire lower end of the motor was covered in this “carbon deposit” material. The crank lobes, block walls and every other non moving part was covered with this stuff.
Again, I went at it with the wire brush and many gallons of cleaner. As a final measure, I reinstalled the oil pan filled the crankcase with oil and two quarts of Decarbonizing Engine Flush, ran the motor for 10 minutes, drained the oil and pulled the pan. To my surprise, the oil pump pickup screen already had more buildup on it. I cleaned the screen, replaced the pan and filled the crankcase with 5 quarts of oil, 1 gallon of diesel fuel and ran the engine for 3 minutes.
What I was looking for here was a good internal engine rinse to get rid of any loose carbon deposits. I repeated this process until what I was draining came out clean (the first rinse came out black). It took three of these oil/diesel flushes to complete the job. I then pulled the pan one final time, cleaned the oil pump pickup screen and reassembled the Durango. I now have 120,265 miles on the same engine and have not had any additional oiling problems.
I change my oil religiously at 3000 miles and use a decarbonizing oil flush at each oil change. Where, how and why this buildup is occurring I don’t know. But I can tell you this, I have owned other vehicles with 170,000+ miles on them and never had the amount of problems that I’ve had with this Durango. If you are loosing oil pressure stop driving your Durango and have the oil pump screen checked out. And do not run your engine at all if your oil pressure reads 0! Doing so will result in engine failure.
From: Message Author (click here to email author)
Date: Friday, 07-Nov-03 00:00:00 CST
