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Jeff Da Idiot
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/16/2010
23:48:06
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 Subject: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
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Message:
What's up wit this? Is it the 180 tstat.
I live in Vegas and it's hot here,
My trucks oil gauge drops to red and goes back up,
The dash says check gauges and it keeps
Going normal then drops to red and check gauges light come
on again.
I scan for codes, p1281.
It's a dakota slt 2000 v6.
Any explanation or help from anyone?
Thanks.
|
here
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/17/2010
02:10:43
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
1281 The engine is staying cold too long - check
your thermostat.
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Jeff Da Idiot
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/17/2010
02:22:06
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
I know that, but that doesn't explain my oil gauge thing.
And it's a failsafe 180T stat. Should I get a different brand or
put the stocker back on her.
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yea
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/17/2010
12:08:45
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
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Message:
I did a write about 1 or 2 summers ago.
Failsafe T-stats are no good, When you take it out
I'll give you 10 - 1 it's locked wide open.
Start with a good T-stat and see what the oil gauge
does after that.
Avoid failsafe
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Jeff Da Idiot
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/17/2010
13:48:22
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
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Message:
Thanks yea. And I figure it had to be the brand
I got, damn autozone parts. Well I want to put a
180 degree tsat on there but what brand
You guys recommend works the best.
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yea
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/17/2010
15:18:55
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
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Message:
Good ole cheap stant.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/17/2010
19:56:15
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
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Message:
A 180 tstat may keep throwing that code and keep the PCM from going to closed loop as it should when the engine is at proper operating temp. Your fuel mileage will suffer if that happens.
Try a 185 tstat or 190.
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dakota49
Gen I
8/17/2010
21:20:35
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
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Message:
Jeff, I had a problem like that and it was the oil pressure sending unit, it was leaking oil and it made it read all over the place when I replaced it I also sprayed the connector with carb cleaner and its worked great since. It may not be your problem, but you can unplug the sending unit and see if there is oil in the connector if so clean it out and see if that works. If its not oily, then most likely that's not the problem. The sending unit is at the rear of the engine towards the passenger side of the truck next to the distributer
Good Luck
Dakota49
dakota49
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yea
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/17/2010
21:41:54
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
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Message:
I'm telling you that T stat is locked open!
when you take it out give me an update please..
Thank You
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Jeff Da Idiot
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/18/2010
00:03:07
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
Yeah it was locked open. So I put roller rockers harlands on
there and I think that's the oil pressure problem.
I put the the stock back on. No problems!!!
So I ran the truck and it's fine. The fail safe are supposed to
Lock open when they mess up. It was locked open.
The oil pressure is fine but it runs a little low forty. When I
accelerate it goes up to forty or a little tiny bit above.
My thermostat problem is fixed.
I raced my truck and then the oil pressure gauge
Dropped to red and the check gauges light came
On. I said FUc!!!!! And it kept tripping out, even with
The new tstat. The p1281 code don't show up anymore
Either. I know and am positive I put the roller rockers on
there right. I ran the truck later on the freeway and the city,
normal riding, and oil pressure was fine.
I'm too scared to race it again because each time my oil
gauge trips. Goes low then normal then red then normal and
so on. The check gauges comes on and then off and on! So
annoying!!! I'll check that piece by the distributor thanks dude.
Anyone got any ideas? Coincidence that my oil pump went
bad maybe?
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yea
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/18/2010
11:15:09
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
I've replaced over a dozen fail safe T-stats. They
were all the same (they suck).
No idea why the RR's would mess with oil pressure
though. But anyway avoid them failsafe Tstat like
the plague.
Jeff pull the dip stick out smell the oil. With it
running cold for so long you might have gas washed
it. If so you'll want to change that oil and
filter. (another thing to avoid is fram oil
filters).
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Jeff Da Idiot
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/18/2010
13:56:52
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
No i just gave my truck an oil chnge about 500 miles ago. I
still havent gotten a chance to check the oil pressure sendig
unit thing. And are you positive my roller rockers arent the
problem?
Its only when i accelerate hard when my oil pressure dropa to
red.
I drove it today like i stole it and oil pressure dropped.
When i drive normal, it rides like new :/.
Would it be the oil pump?
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yea
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/18/2010
20:16:26
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
How many miles on this engine again?
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Jeff Da Idiot
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/18/2010
22:59:20
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
Yep that sensor was fine. It was dry like the land in Vegas!!!
And my last solution is that it's gotta be my oil pump.
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Jeff Da Idiot
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/18/2010
23:04:00
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
It's got 93,500 miles. And oil didn't smell like gas. It's clean
and nice brown :).
I raced it again and pressure dropped. I was driving earlier
like a grandma...and it was fine.
Btw I whooped a 2006 sentra hahahaha.
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Jeff Da Idiot
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/19/2010
01:50:54
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
Oh crap, I just read many post with Dakotas and oil pressure
sludge problem....I'm worried...my sensor was fine...
Hmm I go to school and work, I don't have time to check the
oil pump..ah I'm worried...well I got a mechanic and he is
very good..I will keep you guys posted on it. I hope my dak
doesn't die, man I just got it painted too!!! Sigh!!! I did run
seafoam when I replaced the RR's which then dropped my oil
pressure...hmmm maybe the sludge from the top of the
engine fell to the bottom and clogged my oil pumps
screen...well I read many posts where people switched the oil
pump, screen, hoses, the oil pressure sensor sending unit,
the gauges...and still had the problem...tough call but I
definitely don't wanna gamble, I might trade for a
mustang(convertible) 2002, or a 2006 cobalt with some extra
cash...oh man...what you guys think?
And thank you everyone for your help.
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yea
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/19/2010
10:02:35
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
Jeff I can explain what I do (always worked for me)
Closing in on 170,000 and motor is clean.
Make note however this will take an additive and 2
oil changes. You want the info let me know I'll post
it later tonight.
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Jeff Da Idiot
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/19/2010
12:39:55
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
Yea I'll give it a shot. I just hope my truck isn't dead yet.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/19/2010
20:42:20
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
How do you know your sensor is fine? If you're worried about oil pressure, pull the sensor and connect a mechanical gage to the sensor port. then you'll know for sure what's going on.
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Jeff Da Idiot
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/19/2010
21:50:00
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
Well I don't...hmm I don't have a mechanical gauge. I'm a
check it out when I have some time.
And I would still like to flush it out like" yea" does on his
Truck because when I put my RR's there was sludge on the
valve covers and all over the heads. I'm thinking hen I ran
seafoam through my truck twice, the sludge must have gone
all the way to the oil pan and blocked my oil pumps screen.
Thanks daddio, I'll try that too, sensor looked fine but never
hurts to test it with a mechanical gauge.
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Jeff Da Idiot
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/21/2010
01:18:05
| RE: Oil gauge drop red, p1281
IP: Logged
Message:
I can hear my lifters so I come to a conclusion that its the oil
pump for sure. I'll let you guys know what happens with the
new oil pump. Btw I got a high volume melling oil pump.
What u guys think?
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