Oil Pressure

[Froboy7391]

Is there a common known problem where the XJ(88) has oil pressure issues. I just noticed today that my XJ's oil pressure gauge is at zero!!! Does this mean I can't drive it?

 

[mcnamaag]

Get a mech gage and double check the pressure.

 

[Tommy4949]

If it really has zero oil pressure, it is not OK to drive it. You will blow the engine in a short amount of time. Check the connection at the oil pressure switch, it is next to the oil filter on my 91 4.0L, not sure on the older ones. Mine was covered in oil and had a really bad connection where a previous owner had cut the wire and then spliced them back together. Best way to know for sure is to get a mechanical gauge to check the pressure manualy, but I wouldn't drive it anywhere until you know if it has oil pressure or not.

 

[Froboy7391]

Wow, technical ,I have no idea how to do anything engine related btw.

 

[McQue]

nominated....

 

[BillBraski]

A few years ago, i was going to work and I noticed as I would accelerate the oil pressure would drop to 0. I got to work and noticed oil pouring out of the oil filter adaptor. Then I found out about 4.0's and this problem.

 

[mcnamaag]

Sounds like a good time to learn. Do you know how to change your oil? If so look at your oil filter. How about your jeep specs. Year, engine, etc.

 

[Froboy7391]

Sounds like a good time to learn. Do you know how to change your oil? If so look at your oil filter. How about your jeep specs. Year, engine, etc.

Specs are
-1988 XJ Laredo
-4 liter
-auto tranny

and I know nothing about cars whatsoever, never grew up around cars and this is my first one.

 

[mcnamaag]

So..... are you wanting to learn? I would be more than happy to walk you through some of the basic things to look for. But if not then spend the money and have it towed to a shop.

 

[Froboy7391]

Definately it's good to know this stuff.

 

[mcnamaag]

OK so do you know how to change you oil? If so look to the right of your oil filter. You should see a elect connector attached to a small round looking "thing" about 2 in long at the bottom of the distrib. That is your oil pressure sending unit. Unplug it and look at the gage with out the engine running and the key on. It should max out. If not you have a gage problem. If so we need to look elseware. Let me know and we can move on to the next step.

 

[Froboy7391]

Not a clue how to change my oil like I said i'm totally mechanicaly defficient

 

[mcnamaag]

Not a clue how to change my oil like I said i'm totally mechanicaly defficient

Do you know where the oil filter is?

 

[Froboy7391]

Is it under my truck? I was just looking at my pics and I saw one under a car

 

[mcnamaag]

Standing in front of your Jeep facing the engine. It is on the left side, near the bottom about halfway back. Pretty easy to see.

 

[Froboy7391]

K I see it, and it looks fairly wet all around it

 

[mcnamaag]

OK look just to the front of the filter and you will see the ditributer. It is a cap with 7 wires going to it. 6 of those wires go to the spark plugs. The middle wire goes to the coil. Anyway. At the base of the distributer is the oil pressure sending unit. it should have a small single wire going to it. let me know when you find it.

 

[Froboy7391]

Pretty sure I found it it's a green wire going into a cylinder shaped thing.

By Froboy7391_99
Is that it?

 

[mcnamaag]

Correct. with the key on unplug it. Your gage should max out. If not its a gage issue. If so we can move on.

 

[Froboy7391]

Gage is maxed, I was hoping it was only a gage problem