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Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go hereXJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.
I’m pretty new to all of this so I don’t really know is this is supposed to be like this so I’m coming here. I was looking at my oil and I’ve never seen oil new cause this is literally my first vehicle and it looked like a darker white(it looks a lot more light colored in person) and you can’t see to the dip stick and I also put a flathead in my rockers just to see and I pulled it out and it looked really dirty and dark like way darker than my oil and I don’t know if that’s normal. (I’m thinking i should probably flush the engine and replace my head gasket)I’m just wanting to know if all of this is normal
Last edited by Ayden Smith 2006; Jan 7, 2021 at 01:21 PM.
I can tell you it shouldn't look like that, but normally coolant and oil make a light brownish color. Did you drive the jeep right before you checked the oil? if so, it could be that color because of it all getting mixed up really well while it was circulating in the engine. I could tell you to change the oil and put in a new filter and see if it does it again, but that may also create further damage, if damage is already occurring.
Some people add graphite to the motor oil so it could also be from that considering the color, but I've never seen oil with graphite in it. So I dont know if it changes to gray or what...
In most cases, the rockers are gonna have gunk on them so that probably isn't the best way to check for contamination. Also if it hasn't been driven for a while, especially if it hasn't been warmed up, there could be condensation in the oil. Oil flush and change probably isn't a bad idea but you'll definitely need to do more testing before deciding to change the head gasket.
I can tell you it shouldn't look like that, but normally coolant and oil make a light brownish color. Did you drive the jeep right before you checked the oil? if so, it could be that color because of it all getting mixed up really well while it was circulating in the engine. I could tell you to change the oil and put in a new filter and see if it does it again, but that may also create further damage, if damage is already occurring.
Some people add graphite to the motor oil so it could also be from that considering the color, but I've never seen oil with graphite in it. So I dont know if it changes to gray or what...
yeah it’s a light brown it looks darker over the phones and it’s kind of a tan color and you can’t see through it at all and I let it run for about 10 minutes
In most cases, the rockers are gonna have gunk on them so that probably isn't the best way to check for contamination. Also if it hasn't been driven for a while, especially if it hasn't been warmed up, there could be condensation in the oil. Oil flush and change probably isn't a bad idea but you'll definitely need to do more testing before deciding to change the head gasket.
yeah i just jumped to the worse case seneeario with the head gasket but I’m probably going to change the oil because one it’s overfilled and two my pan gasket is leaking
If this is your first set of wheels, You could get someone to do a compression test and a cylinder leakdown test to determine if the head gasket is leaking. A compression test will show if the gasket is leaking between cylinders and possibly into the water jacket. A leakdown test is where you put air pressure into each cylinder and see where it's leaking out. If the head gasket is leaking into the water jacket, you will see bubbles in the radiator with the cap off. Normally you can tell if the valves are leaking compression or the piston rings are worn with a leakdown test. These 2 tests combined will give you a good idea of the health of the engine anyway.
Changing a head gasket is a major surgery type of operation and shouldn't be attempted lightly just because you think it might need it. As stated, if the engine hasn't been run long enough to evaporate the moisture that entered it when it cooled down, it will build up and cause a white milky deposit that eventually turns black as it absorbs carbon. This is called sludge. Short trips to the store will cause this and it can be controlled by running the engine on the highway for a hour once a week.
One other thing. Many times a leaking valve cover gasket or any other leak for that matter, will run down the engine in the back and appear like an oil pan gasket leak. Spray the engine down with degreaser and a garden hose, then keep an eye on it. The 0-rings in the oil filter adapter on this engine are known to be a problem.
If this is your first set of wheels, You could get someone to do a compression test and a cylinder leakdown test to determine if the head gasket is leaking. A compression test will show if the gasket is leaking between cylinders and possibly into the water jacket. A leakdown test is where you put air pressure into each cylinder and see where it's leaking out. If the head gasket is leaking into the water jacket, you will see bubbles in the radiator with the cap off. Normally you can tell if the valves are leaking compression or the piston rings are worn with a leakdown test. These 2 tests combined will give you a good idea of the health of the engine anyway.
Changing a head gasket is a major surgery type of operation and shouldn't be attempted lightly just because you think it might need it. As stated, if the engine hasn't been run long enough to evaporate the moisture that entered it when it cooled down, it will build up and cause a white milky deposit that eventually turns black as it absorbs carbon. This is called sludge. Short trips to the store will cause this and it can be controlled by running the engine on the highway for a hour once a week.
One other thing. Many times a leaking valve cover gasket or any other leak for that matter, will run down the engine in the back and appear like an oil pan gasket leak. Spray the engine down with degreaser and a garden hose, then keep an eye on it. The 0-rings in the oil filter adapter on this engine are known to be a problem.
Yeah I already did all of that when I first got it and I’m positive it came from the pan and I’ve been planning on getting my compression checked and I’m not really to sure why I haven’t yet I really should do that. it’s just so many issues with it that I’m worried about and I can’t sell the thing because it was a gift
I can’t really drive it right now but it does look like it’s went down because I start it sometimes to let the battery charge cause I don’t have a charger
I kind of thought you might be losing coolant. Definitely best not to run it. There are tests that be done as dave1123 mentioned you should do or have done.If you can't swing buying a charger you can get battery trickle charger cheap (< $20). Here's an example if your not familiar with them:
Coolant in oil maybe?
