Hey all. My '97 TJ's been acting weird lately. This morning I woke up and started driving to work. I got about a quarter mile down the road and noticed that she was being kind of hesitant. Wasn't knocking or anything, just kind of jerked when I let the clutch out like there wasn't enough power or something. Well I looked down at the guages and the oil pressure was just above zero. So I turned around and went home...still at zero with the "check guages" light on. So I shut it off and checked for oil leaks and stuff...found nothing. Climbed back in, started it up, and the pressure went up to about 18 psi. still about half of normal, so I started driving to work. I got about a mile down the road and the pressure started climbing again. A half mile later it was sittin pretty at about 38 psi. It did this once about 2 or 3 weeks ago too. Last time I was down the road about 20 miles before I noticed it, this time the engine was cold so it doesn't seem like an oil viscosity issue. I've also been noticing a kind of whistling noise coming from the engine when I turn it off...almost like I'm running a blower or something. Not sure if that's related but I thought I'd throw it in there. Anyway, does anyone have any ideas what this might be? I'm tempted to take it to the dealer and not piss around with oil pressure problems, but would rather not get into the expense if it's something I can handle.
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low oil pressure
- Thread starter indiemo
- Start date
BakedAlaskan
New member
As you probably assume oil pressure isn't trival. So unless you prove mechanically by yourself I would at least let a dealer tell you the problem. Then you can make an educated decision on whether you can repair it or not.
I would bet you have some sludge build up in the motor from a previous owner and lack of routine maintanance.
You could run a quart of ATF in her for 30+ minutes at or just above idle. Keeping a CLOSE EYE on the gauge. (Diesel is best for quick removal also but is a whole lot easier to screw the pooch with.) Then drop the oil pan and remove the valve cover and remove any sludge you see. Also clean off and out the oil pick up tube and screen. Be prepared if she is really bad you will have do this several times.
The shop most likely will have to drop the pan anyways to prove there theories, so expect thast cost before you hope for a cheap fix.
Chances are if you chose to keep driving her she will not make it to another birthday, so get it fixed ASAP.
I would bet you have some sludge build up in the motor from a previous owner and lack of routine maintanance.
You could run a quart of ATF in her for 30+ minutes at or just above idle. Keeping a CLOSE EYE on the gauge. (Diesel is best for quick removal also but is a whole lot easier to screw the pooch with.) Then drop the oil pan and remove the valve cover and remove any sludge you see. Also clean off and out the oil pick up tube and screen. Be prepared if she is really bad you will have do this several times.
The shop most likely will have to drop the pan anyways to prove there theories, so expect thast cost before you hope for a cheap fix.
Chances are if you chose to keep driving her she will not make it to another birthday, so get it fixed ASAP.
Definatly sounds to me to be a internal problem. do as B.A. said! I would not put the diesel in there though, could lead to all sort of problems. another/safer solution would be to use a solvant designed to clean the oil passages, I believe "gum out" and "royal purple" both make a reliable product!
ok, the latest. went to lunch, started the jeep and it was running around 20 psi. not the usual 40, but hey, I'll take it. ran fine to lunch. got out of lunch, started jeep, 0 psi. shut it off, start it again, 0 psi. did this about 3 times....on the 4th start, went straight up to 40 psi. then it started running a little bit above 40 psi, which I've never seen it do before. ran around 40 all the way back to work. this is starting to seem like something electrical to me, like a sending unit maybe. the reasoning behind that, is that it seems to be running fine even when the gauge is reading zero. no knocking or anything. the hesitation I felt this morning might have just been the normal, "i'm cold, it's early, and I don't want to run" hesitation. any thoughts?
BakedAlaskan
New member
It could be just a sending unit. But remember your the one that has to buy a motor. Get it checked or figure out a way to check yourself. You could buy a sending unit cheaper then an hour of diag at a shop. But the ball is in your court. (I doubt anything is seriously wrong) But it is serious enough to find out what the hell is going on. If it is clogging up and starving for oil your killing your motor. Hear it or not you're taking massive years off her life. Solve it or park it. The other option is too expensive to risk.
Seat Covers
i have teh same problem with my 97 TJ, but mine happens after i drive it a little while i was thinking that it was a pile of stuff in the oil pan so i would check that first drop the pan clean it out and then run some engine cleaner in it best of luck with ur problem i will let u know if i find nething out with mine this weekend
i have teh same problem with my 97 TJ, but mine happens after i drive it a little while i was thinking that it was a pile of stuff in the oil pan so i would check that first drop the pan clean it out and then run some engine cleaner in it best of luck with ur problem i will let u know if i find nething out with mine this weekend
K_K_PSI_GUY
New member
In my opinion, I wouold have it TOWED!!!, to your mechanics shop and have them look at it. They have all kinds of fancy gadgets that will let them know if your oil pressure is there or not. I would highly recomend that you not drive it or turn it on anymore. You really do not want to have to buy an engine. If I was in your shoes, I'd rather pay $100 for towing and a check up than to pay a couple of thousand dollars to replace the engine. But then again, it is your Jeep, and your are the one that pays for the thing, so you should do whatever you think is best.-Al
johnny7point0
New member
Roll Cage fabricator
I had the same problem with my 97. I noticed that the oil pressure was always around zero but the engine wasnt over heating and I didnt hear any funny sounds, so I simply wiggled the wire that reads the oil pressure and the problem was solved. I hope the mechanic doesnt charge you up the wagzoo for wiggling a wire.
I had the same problem with my 97. I noticed that the oil pressure was always around zero but the engine wasnt over heating and I didnt hear any funny sounds, so I simply wiggled the wire that reads the oil pressure and the problem was solved. I hope the mechanic doesnt charge you up the wagzoo for wiggling a wire.
they just called back. they tested it and found the sending unit was bad. $126 for labor, testing, and parts. $70 for the damn sending unit alone. I called advance auto and it'd cost me $50 there and then I'd have to figure out where it was and how to replace it myself, since it was nowhere to be found in my factory service manual. oh well. I wouldn't have known for sure if it was the sending unit if I never got it tested. guess i'll take the hit on this one, but at least I'll be able to sleep tonight.
BakedAlaskan
New member
Good deal, glad it was nothing too major. Peace of mind, $130 buck?.....SOLD!!!!!!
