1998 dodge ram oil?

[kevfish1]

The other day my check engine light came on for a couple of seconds several different times. When it would come on i noticed that the oil preasue guage would go to 0. and then back up again. I checked the oil and was 3 quarts low. I filled the oil and now i notice that the oil preasure guage fluctuates? I am concearned that it was 3 quarts low. why? and the fluctuating guage now??? any ideas????

[Jeremy airjer W]

If you have not been noticing any leaks the first thing that comes to mind is the belly pan gasket on the lower intake. The gaskets rupture causing an internal vacuum leak in the engine. Oil will get into the intake and burned in the combustion chamber.

Typically they get bad enough and start to foul the passenger rear spark plugs.

The way you check is remove the the pcv valve from the valve cover. Pinch off the breather tube going to the other valve cover. Start it up and see if there is vacuum at the valve cover where the PCV valve goes. There should be non.