Oil Pressure

Shatteredglass · #1 05-21-2008, 03:02 PM

Hello newbie here bought a 1985 CJ7 Jeep with the inline 6 258 102,000 miles has 10w30 for oil well drove it all winter no probelm but now that is is warm when i first start it has about 35 to 40 psi oil pressure on gauge after i drive for like 30 mins and temp gauge is in the middle when i would have it idling i started hearing a ticking so i gave it some gas and it went away then i looked at oil gauge and the oil preassure was at 10 or even at 0. Once i give enoughf gas it goes away seems to only do when it has been drove alot has anyone heard or had this happen thanks for your help.

LEVE · #2 05-21-2008, 03:13 PM

I use 10w40 in my CJ7, that may help. It seems your engine may be getting tired if you're hearing ticking, or it's down on oil. The head is starving for oil. Try cleaning the oil pump screen and and a new filter and oil. With any CJ, it's not a bad idea to replace the oil pressure sender.

Shatteredglass · #3 05-21-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEVE

I use 10w40 in my CJ7, that may help. It seems your engine may be getting tired if you're hearing ticking, or it's down on oil. The head is starving for oil. Try cleaning the oil pump screen and and a new filter and oil. With any CJ, it's not a bad idea to replace the oil pressure sender.

I will try that like i say it only ticks once the oil gauge drops down to 0 which if true makes sense needs oil once gas push it climbs back up does not run as high as it did when cold but still around 15 to 20 and using 10w 40 might be a good ideal too

Jim_Lou · #4 05-21-2008, 04:33 PM

Welcome! Glad to see you finally made it!

At 102K miles your engine shouldn't be worn out, but if it was abused or neglected it could be. You should have more oil pressure than that. There could be a problem with the gauge or sender, but everything you say is consistent with actually having low pressure.

Do what LEVE suggests. It's not that difficult to drop the pan, but you will have to first support the engine from above and remove the passenger-side mount.

If the intake screen is clear you probably have a worn out oil pump or a worn out engine. There are high-volume pumps that will get a little more life out of the old girl but you'll probably have to do a rebuild before long. Don't worry - it's not terribly expensive or difficult as long as you do it before something gets trashed from lack of oiling.

mach2_nh · #5 05-21-2008, 06:28 PM

well 0 is bad. But i think at idle it is around 7-12 psi.

Shatteredglass · #6 05-21-2008, 06:54 PM

Would it make sense in the winter monthes it never did this it is almost like the oil get hot and then drops the pressure so what should my oil pressure be at idle running thanks for idel i see the answere below

Shatteredglass · #7 05-21-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim_Lou

Welcome! Glad to see you finally made it!

At 102K miles your engine shouldn't be worn out, but if it was abused or neglected it could be. You should have more oil pressure than that. There could be a problem with the gauge or sender, but everything you say is consistent with actually having low pressure.

Do what LEVE suggests. It's not that difficult to drop the pan, but you will have to first support the engine from above and remove the passenger-side mount.

If the intake screen is clear you probably have a worn out oil pump or a worn out engine. There are high-volume pumps that will get a little more life out of the old girl but you'll probably have to do a rebuild before long. Don't worry - it's not terribly expensive or difficult as long as you do it before something gets trashed from lack of oiling.

is this usally what they do was they heat up or could be the screen is plugging up i will have to give this a try and check the screen

WILL · #8 05-21-2008, 07:44 PM

These engines hold 6 quarts of oil also, not 5 like a lot of cars. Make sure you have enough oil first before dropping the pan.

LEVE · #9 05-21-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

is this usally what they do was they heat up or could be the screen is plugging up i will have to give this a try and check the screen

As an engine warms up, the oil heats too. This causes the viscosity of the oil to lower. That can cause a problem with oil pressure if the engine is margnial. Is you're marginal? Who know yet...at that mileage you quoted, it shouln't be. An I6 should last upwards of 200,000 miles, or more, if it gets good maintenance.

RickCJ7 · #10 05-22-2008, 05:03 AM

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

Do you know what kind of use our Jeep got before you bought it? If it spent a lot of time in Low Range then the mileage doesn't give you the best indication of it's condition.

I have been running 5w30, and I do see an oil pressure drop after it warms up. I haven't had it out for a while, but I think the lowest oil pressure I see at idle is about 20.

Low oil pressure is not something to ignore and hope it fixes itself. It won't fix itself, but eventually makes sure that you do the fixing.