Bobalos

The Fuel filter is OEM, but not the issue. Im one of those guys that cant walk by a garage w/o getting oil all over myself, so I change the oil cold, I dont dig having 3 gallons of hot oil running down my arm. LOL. Ive done every oil change on this motor for 198,000 miles, Ive NEVER had this issue with the oil in the filter I am not convinced that the oil level in the filter really has anything to do with the oil pressure not coming up as soon as I start it. the reason I say that is if I change the oil & fill the filter to the top (& I mean tippy top) & fire the motor up, it still takes a while for the oil pressure to show on the gauge. that said.............. It sure would make sense if that was what was going on. Bob (& his buddy John Jameson)

thanks Gents, Ive been prefilling filters for probably 30 years (since I was "enlightened" by the old guy @ the shop when I was in my late teens. LOL). I will do a little checking into it this weekend (if its not 100* out) & see if I cant find someplace local that can do the oil analysis. The thing thats bothering me is that this is a semi new thing. the oil presure never does anything stupid once its running, which leads me to think the sender is likely OK, but better to check than AssUMe. thanks again, it gives me some place to start. Bob

I change the oil every 3K to 5K depending on usage. I dont think I would be worried except this is a relatively new thing & Ive never had 1/2 full oil filters @ an oil change before. Wild & Free, pardon my ignorance, but is there someplace that gives you the 5W's on oil samples & tells you what is means once you get the results? thanks again Bob

OK, so while Im at it............. as I mentioned this is a 99 with the cummins motor, auto, 2x4, crew cab, Ive put all 195K on it. Ive noticed the last year or so, that as soon as I start the truck up it takes longer for the oil pressure to show on the gauge. I have not put a mechanical gauge on it yet so I dont know if its the sending unit or really the oil pressure. occationally it will take long enough that the dash will ding @ me & tell me to look @ the gauges. almost as soon as it does ding, the needle will shoot up. the presure seems to be right where it has always been (both @ idle & running down the road). one thing that I noticed changing the oil the other day was that the oil filter was only 1/2 full. then it occured to me that it has been like that for @ least 4 oil changes. I noticed it when I dumped the filter out to drain it when I was done with the oil change. Ive only used Wix filters since about 50K, but Im on my second fleetguard & there is no difference. so............. any thoughts?? I was going to take apart the oil bypasses & clean them & check them out. thanks Bob

OK, its official..................... Mopar73Man is THE Man when it comes to these trucks. I have been surfing around your site for the last year or so, & there is a TON of gold to be mined. thank you, for everything. Bob

I have a 99 Ram & was hoping that someone would have a good diagram of the oiling system. something that shows bypasses, coolers, filters, etc. Ive dont a bunch of searches & cant seem to come up with anything for the ISB. thanks Bob