Drop in Oil pressure and schreeching sounds

[ViperPete]

hey all maybe you can help me figure this one out.

Ok the specs. 2005 SRT-10 Quad cab. 83k.

Had the Power steering rack replaced and the power steering pump replaced and the tensioner for the serpentine belt.

Ocassionally the belt will squeel like a mo'fo and go away after a few seconds. The steering feels a bit stiff sometimes too.

My greater concern is that twice now I have seen "Check Gauges" on the instrument panel. The first time when it was around 40 degrees out I noticed that immediately after I started the truck the oil pressure gauge did not move. Then after a moment or two, it went to normal pressure.

The second time was last night. I was driving the truck and stopped at a red light. I heard the chime and then "Check Gauges" the damn oil pressure gauge was in the red again. I blipped the throttle and it went to normal pressure. The oil temp gauge did not fluctuate it's readings.

Think it's just a loose oil pressure sending unit? Or oil pump (hope not)

As for the screeching sound, any ideas? Everything is new under there. I keep the power steering fluid full.

A friend suggested that another pulley could be binding the system causing the screeching sound...

 

[VENOMOUS1 RACING]

Hopefully it's not the sound of your oil pump! Check a sample of your oil by collecting some from the oil Pan by drain about a pint and quickly replacing drain plug. Examine this sample for bearing material.
Hopefully it's all fluke and your oil pressure sender is going out. Did you hear lifters ticking when oil pressure dropped on gauge?

 

[VPRPWRD]

I would say bad / leaking oil pressure sending unit for that concern. The screeching I'm not sure about since you had all of the steering parts replaced. Maybe air in the steering system that wasn't bled out after the parts were replaced. :dontknow:

 

[Dom426]

What oil and filter are you using? Definitely do what venomous suggested.

 

[yellowfever#154]

Check the harmonic balancer retaining bolt too, doesn't explain the oil pressure but could explain the noise and "check gauges" light.

 

[ViperPete]

Ok thanks for the insight guys. The engine hasn't made any wierd sounds- like lifter tapping. I would have never noticed if it wasnt for the chime of the instrument panel.

Air in the lines could be a possibility. The problem is intermittent with the screeching.

 

[Dom426]

I had that happen before and it was a voltage issue???? Go figure replaced the battery and it was good

 

[ViperPete]

Voltage issue?

Can you elaborate?

Also on occassion the car will drop RPM's to 500 or so then catch itself and idle properly. Rarely but I can remember the truck doing that.

 

[ViperPete]

SO I was driving the other day and when I came to a stop the Oil pressure dropped to Zero and the "check gauges" light came on. Then it went away.

I tried to think of this.. Hmm maybe if the oil pan is low and when I come to a stop the oil rushes to the front of the pan and the slows the oil pressure... maybe the oil is low?

I checked the and the dipstick was bone dry. YIKES!

Stopped and put in 6 quarts of synthetic and half a quart of Lucas....

Problem solved...

I had no ideas these engines were so stout. I must have been running on 5-6 quarts of oil for months...

YIKES AGAIN>....

 

[Dom426]

Holy hell !!!! Check your oil evey time you drive it. It'd goin somewhere!!

 

[Dom426]

There is no tellin what damage you have done to this motor

 

[ViperPete]

Where could it be going? No leaks, no blue smoke... That's an awful lot of oil consumption...

 

[Dom426]

Who changed your oil maybe it was never full???

 

[Dom426]

Some of these motors burn oil. How long in between oil changes. Miles??

 

[ViperPete]

Maybe 4000 miles since the last change.

Really strange man really strange.

What's amazing to me is how well the truck ran with such low oil. No drop in power nothing out of the ordinary other than the occasional check gauges light.

I will say that when the oil pan was empty the oil temp was around 210. With it full its around 170.

 

[Dom426]

Have you changed it yet??

 

[ViperPete]

No? I added 7 or so quarts and the oil is still clean.

 

[VPRPWRD]

No? I added 7 or so quarts and the oil is still clean.

I think you are now driving a time bomb, and it's ticking. No engine can handle that much of a lack of lubrication for a prolonged period of time and be reliable afterwards. IMO.

 

[Dom426]

Agreed

 

[ARRESTmeRed04]

hey all maybe you can help me figure this one out.

Ok the specs. 2005 SRT-10 Quad cab. 83k.

Had the Power steering rack replaced and the power steering pump replaced and the tensioner for the serpentine belt.

Ocassionally the belt will squeel like a mo'fo and go away after a few seconds. The steering feels a bit stiff sometimes too.

My greater concern is that twice now I have seen "Check Gauges" on the instrument panel. The first time when it was around 40 degrees out I noticed that immediately after I started the truck the oil pressure gauge did not move. Then after a moment or two, it went to normal pressure.

The second time was last night. I was driving the truck and stopped at a red light. I heard the chime and then "Check Gauges" the damn oil pressure gauge was in the red again. I blipped the throttle and it went to normal pressure. The oil temp gauge did not fluctuate it's readings.

Think it's just a loose oil pressure sending unit? Or oil pump (hope not)

As for the screeching sound, any ideas? Everything is new under there. I keep the power steering fluid full.

A friend suggested that another pulley could be binding the system causing the screeching sound...

So when your oil pressure dropped your first thought was to spin the engine faster?

No? I added 7 or so quarts and the oil is still clean.

If you added 7 quarts you were running with roughly 3 in the pan, so there probably wasn't anything wrong with your gauges, you were just trying to kill your engine with stupidity:rock: