Here's how I noticed I had zero oil pressure:
  • 30 minute highway drive, didn't notice any issues
  • Park for 1.5 hours
  • Start car, immediately notice oil pressure dash light
  • Check gauge, pressure at zero (typically around 50-60 ish, can't remember)
  • Turn car off, probably ran for 20 seconds like this
  • Didn't hear any ticking
  • Have car towed home

At this point, I was 50/50 on whether I really had oil pressure. Sending units and dash light switches fail often, but it was weird that they did it at the same time (as far as I could remember). I try to regularly keep an eye on my gauges, but who knows.


Initial investigation:
  • Checked oil level, was at middle of dipstick, last changed 800 miles ago
  • Disconnected sending unit, verified gauge did needle sweep with key on
  • Installed mechanical oil gauge in place of sending unit
  • Removed fuel pump relay
  • Turned engine over for 15 seconds
  • Mechanical gauge showed no pressure
  • Replaced fuel pump relay
  • Started car for 15 seconds
  • Mechanical gauge showed no pressure

At this point, I was confident I didn't have oil pressure.


Yesterday's tear down:

Oil pump looked fine

old oil pump_25.jpg


The oil pump housing had a few scratches around half of its circumference. You can barely catch these with a fingernail.

oil pump housing_15.jpg


The oil pan wasn't blocked. Screen was clean and oil flowed from the pickup (red arrow) to the screen area.

oil pan_15.jpg


The oil passages in the timing cover seemed fine. The section that mates to the oil pan (red arrow) looked like it was sealing well. I don't see any indication of an air leak, but I'm not sure I know what I'm looking for there.

timing cover_25.jpg


Current thoughts
Did I falsely conclude that I don't have oil pressure?
Should I pull the crank next to check for a spun bearing? I'm told this can cause zero oil pressure.
What do I do next?


Other notes
This is my first Viper, and I've had it 6 months. My car often doesn't match the parts fiche I downloaded from Roe (using 1997 to avoid Gen 1.5 complications). Is this normal for Gen 2 Vipers?
  • My oil pan looks completely different. My pickup is cast into the pan. The fiche shows a tube with a round screen.
  • Roe shows 4 bolt main caps. Mine are cross bolted.
  • The oil filter adapter gasket is different. I ordered the part number on the fiche. It arrived and is wrong.