2000 Durango 5.9L 360ci Oil Pressure drop
Asked by Flex68 Feb 28, 2010 at 01:28 PM about the 2000 Dodge Durango SLT 4WD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
Hello!
I apologize if this is in any way a ‘duplicate’ post, but I searched the Forum and did not find anything similar…
I have a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT with the 360ci engine, auto tranny, bought new. Had all suggested maintenance performed, including oil and filter changes every 3000-5000 miles. Never ‘used’ oil (that we are aware of) and has no leaks at 168000 miles. Recently drove it approximately 800 total miles at mostly Interstate speeds. I noted Oil Pressure was fluctuating slightly. As I began stopping at the end of an off-ramp, it dropped far enough to trigger alarms, but came back up. Checked the oil level, and found the reservoir was nearly dry! (This approx. 5000 mi since last oil and filter change) Added a quart of oil, and took to nearest garage. The mechanic said it was not a good idea to flush the engine, nor add any type of additive, but to simply trade the vehicle. I don’t want to get rid of it, as it has been a great vehicle, and I had hoped to continue to drive it for a while.
Any suggestions what some logical “next steps” might include, based upon your knowledge and experiences with similar vehicles and/or similar situations?
What do you think of mechanic's suggestion not to flush engine, nor add any additive?
All that has been done so far is changing oil and oil filter. Switched from Castrol 10W-40, which had been used since new, to the type of oil the mechanic said he used in all his vehicles. (Said that he did not like nor recommend Castrol products)
Thanks in advance for your help!
13 Answers
first of all you should have been using 10w-30 (i recommend mobil 1) since that is what is called for but your next step is to go to a mechanic that will tell you what is wrong with the car not that you need to get rid of it chances are its not a big deal to get it fixed as long as it doesnt have smoke coming out the tailpipe
You and Flush the engine it shouldn't hurt it I had the same problem a few times and I have 204000 miles on it and there hard driving miles ignore that mechanic and do what you think is right trust me on this one I own 2
before you flush or do anything verify the complaint! Put a master pressure gage on it and proove you have a pressure problem. What do you mean by resivor? if you poured oil in some kind of holding tank I question you poured oil in the wrong place.
Quick response to the posts, thus far (thanks): I should have written that I had new 10W-30 put back into it. I use 10W-40 in the summer and 10W-30 in the winter months, per recommendation in the Owner's Manual for our location and temperatures. No smoke out of the tailpipe, at all. "Reservoir" = engine block. Checked level after motor cooled, and all oil had drained back down into the bottom of the reservoir.
I have repaired this type of problem before. First check and repair any oil leaks. If you never had an oil consumption problem before check your PCV system. If the PCV Valve is stck open you should have a rough idle and it suck up atomized oil into the intake and burn it up. Check also your vaccuum from your intake as well. The intake is a two part plate on the inside that can loosen off and leak causing an oil consumption problem or vaccuum leak. Pull your spark plugs and check for a black plug compaired to all others. That will tell you if you have a bad cylinder hole or where the intake leak is feeding. Castrol makes a great product, I allways recomend the major oil companies products. Find out what it is. any sealers or additives are a bandaidand not a repair. before you flush remove a valve cover and view for deposits of oil sludge. Recomend you remove the cover were the PCV valve cover is. If there is lots a flush could be bad becuse it can plug up the pickup screen causing oil starvation. If it is full of sludge so will be the oil pan usally as well.
bubbles_31 answered 10 years ago
hello I have a 2000 dodge Durango 5.9 and my SUV wont pick up speed went from 60 to 40 to 30 to 10 now just start then shut off my truck ran fine tell I let someone do my tune up what do I need to do to get it back running
spark plugs or desterebuter may not be in time or your roller butten may be bad
I have ever the durango 1999 - 2000 v8 4.9 litter I believe ... I had a oil leak problem soo had to replace the val cover gasket and then it was worst then ever and I went and had an oil change and it pretty much stopped the oil leAK. .. I believe my oil filter was lose which can be bad lol. .. plus the guy didnt tighten all the bolts on manafold
But it runs much much better after oil change got a lot more power .. but the oil pressure gauge still goes up n down I think cause I didn't tighten the bolts yet...
seeing this issue a lot..it is new to me.I just bought a Durango from neighbor.the car was well maintained oil changed on time.was not leaking or using oil but began to lose oil pressure after it was running.they bought new car and I bought their old one.I pulled engine and pulled oil pan.oh and oil sending unit was pulled and no oil pressure there.pick up was clean and no sludge build up.have not pulled oil pump yet but am going to do so.bearings will be replaced but still researching why it happened.will post more as I find out
Willschurr answered 4 years ago
Check your oil level, you may be low. If the oil pressure drops when stopping, you're low on oil.
