[Golfnut Michael]

I'm curious if anyone else has this happening.

This is a 2004 4wd KC with 64,000 miles. 1/2 way to oil change, no drop in oil level on dipstick.

Lately I've noticed that my oil pressure gauge is showing a drop when coming to a stop. I never noticed this before, but when driving and stop at a light, the oil pressure drops between the 1/4 and 1/2 mark on the gauge. when I hit the accelerator to go it goes back up to the 1/2 mark on the gauge.

When I stop and shift into park, it goes back up to the 1/2 mark.

Anyone else notice this? Do I need to be worried and get a new oil pump in ASAP?

Thanks

 

[KING_Polaris]

Entirely normal, earlier year model Titans have a real-time oil pressure sensor...

At idle your oil pressure should drop, and under acceleration the oil pressure should rise and the gauge reflects that as it should.

If it shows no change at all is when you should worry.

 

[Golfnut Michael]

Thanks. It worries me because my parents just had a vehicle loose it's oil pump on the highway while traveling. Can you say DEAD?!!!

I never noticed it happening before this last week and have owned it for 2 years now.

 

[Steamguy]

I have had this very thing happen with my '04. My mechanic (I have advanced arthritis and so can't turn a wrench any more) was using the 'recommended replacement' from his usual parts source. Now this guy is as fussy as I am, so I trust him implicitly. But neither of us saw any root cause, until I happened to think back to something that happened at the local outfit I used to use, ten years ago...

Those morons had put a Purolator filter on the truck, and when I b!tched about using the low-quality filter, the mechanic in charge of the lube shop said, "If you have any trouble, bring it back and we'll change it." Next morning on cold start, the engine complained like crazy: I could hear much more noise than usual on startup. After warmup, I stopped at a stop sign, and sure enough, the oil pressure plummeted. I went straight down there and made them change the filter to a NAPA Gold (Wix). Never had a problem afterward.

I remembered that these trucks can be fussy about the oil filter used and so for this last oil change I asked my guy to use a NAPA Gold on it. That fixed it. Now the oil pressure only drops a little at hot idle in gear.

 

[LUBECAKES]

I can't argue the importance of a quality filter, but the filter is not responsible for keeping the chains tight when the engine is off. The tensioners have their own little check valves and ratchet mechanisms incorporated into the design.
Regardless of that, your gauge does seem to be providing real time feedback. My 07's gauge only reads in the middle under all running conditions.

 

[Goose_Zeus]

I had this same issue. Oil change, 10W30, and a high quality filter alleviated a little of the extreme changes, but it still does. Doesn't seem to affect anything!

 

[LUBECAKES]

If you knew how much pressure comes out of the vk56 oil pump you would forget that it has a pressure gauge.

 

[Golfnut Michael]

Appreciate all the responses guys. Thinking I'll check what filter was last used and unless I see an extreme swing in pressure not be too concerned.

 

[Steamguy]

...The tensioners have their own little check valves and ratchet mechanisms incorporated into the design.

Aw for Pete's sake.
Yes, you're right.... I'd been typing too fast and left that in; I'd meant to delete it because I'd meant to say instead that because of the wrong filter on the truck, I heard far more engine knocks and such on startup that SOUNDED like the chain tensioners weren't working right. Then before posting, I didn't delete it. Aargh. Fingers working faster than brain thinks...

It's fixed now.

 

[LUBECAKES]

Aw for Pete's sake.
Yes, you're right.... I'd been typing too fast and left that in; I'd meant to delete it because I'd meant to say instead that because of the wrong filter on the truck, I heard far more engine knocks and such on startup that SOUNDED like the chain tensioners weren't working right. Then before posting, I didn't delete it. Aargh. Fingers working faster than brain thinks...

It's fixed now.

I only know that because the one on my Z likes to rest on the ratchet clicker, which makes it rattle on startup. The little pressure check valve is not holding oil, which is common in the older Z.
When I inspected it I thought I'd find my tensioner guide broke or the tensioner fully relaxed, but I couldn't even tell that it was slightly loose. Eventually the tensioner will hit that next step and make very little if any noise at all.
For the risk involved in changing the tensioner I decided to leave it be.

 

[Jcampbellh]

Is it normal for the older gauges to drop off to 1/4 or so only after it’s warmed up and in gear?


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[titan14]

Is it normal for the older gauges to drop off to 1/4 or so only after it’s warmed up and in gear?


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I wouldn't sweat it. I think mines stays in the middle, but i don't look at it much. But going down when you lower your rpm (warmed up and in gear) would be considered ok.

 

[jdmartin]

Is it normal for the older gauges to drop off to 1/4 or so only after it’s warmed up and in gear?


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That's about what mine does (2004). No problems.

 

[Titan Tay]

Is it normal for the older gauges to drop off to 1/4 or so only after it’s warmed up and in gear?


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I don't know about the older trucks but when my 07 did that, it ended up being oil filter.

 

[Jcampbellh]

Thanks guys.



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[Nick Name]

I had this same issue. Oil change, 10W30, and a high quality filter alleviated a little of the extreme changes, but it still does. Doesn't seem to affect anything!

0-20 is spec'd for your truck. I'm certain that the guys who engineered these V8's were on the ball when they determined what the ideal oil spec was.

using the wrong oil for too long, whether too heavy or too lite, the components of the engine won’t be lubricated as much, which will result in shortened engine life. too thick..... cold weather pumpability-makes the engine harder to crank over & start, & slower to get oil pressure & flow to critical distant areas such as cam bearings & up to the underside of pistons & rings. It's harder on fuel economy as well.

Not one single vehicle manufacturer in my short, 55 years of buying cars and trucks, since my first one at 15, has ever even suggested that an engine with a lot of miles on it is justification for using a heavier grade of oil. Only oil manufacturer's do that.

 

[Titan Tay]

I had this same issue. Oil change, 10W30, and a high quality filter alleviated a little of the extreme changes, but it still does. Doesn't seem to affect anything!

0-20 is spec'd for your truck. I'm certain that the guys who engineered these V8's were on the ball when they determined what the ideal oil spec was.

using the wrong oil for too long, whether too heavy or too lite, the components of the engine won’t be lubricated as much, which will result in shortened engine life. too thick..... cold weather pumpability-makes the engine harder to crank over & start, & slower to get oil pressure & flow to critical distant areas such as cam bearings & up to the underside of pistons & rings. It's harder on fuel economy as well.

Not one single vehicle manufacturer in my short, 55 years of buying cars and trucks, since my first one at 15, has ever even suggested that an engine with a lot of miles on it is justification for using a heavier grade of oil. Only oil manufacturer's do that.

Which model year are you talking about? My 07 is specs for 5-30. 0-20 is for the new truck I believe.

 

[Nick Name]

Not sure where in this thread I picked up that it was a 2017......my bad.