Hi all. I messed up today in a very embarrassing way, and want opinions on how bad everyone thinks I messed up!

Here’s what happened: I changed my oil today for the first time on my 98 XJ. After finishing the job, I noticed I had 0 oil pressure. Come to find that I broke my oil pressure sending unit sensor when replacing the oil filter (the metal part was still plugged in the engine block). I figured I would unscrew the metal part until I can get a new one — this was my mistake 🤦🏻‍♂️

I let it run at idle for 3-4 minutes in my drive way before realizing what I did. I turned off the engine (which was starting to get a little loud) to find 6 quarts in my driveway.

I replaced the sensor, and of course refilled it. It idled a little funny at first , but mellowed a little after idling for 5 mins. I noticed some weird hesitation issues on my drive after wards. I think it seemed to go away after I got back home.

my questions are:
1. How bad did I hurt my engine?
2. any idea what could be causing the hesitation issues?

Oil went everywhere on the left side of my engine block of course. I have to think the hesitation was because some sensor got oil soaked. Or maybe my distributor,,, which is next to the oil sending unit plug hole.

I feel like a total idiot. Any input would be appreciated.

 

I would pull the pan and check rod and main bearings, cam and cylinder walls. What's your oil pressure now at hot idle. It might be time to look for a replacement motor.

 

It's probably fine.
Did it get hot?

Clean your distributor, wires, and anything else that got oil soaked, and just run it.

 

It never got hot. Other than my ticking getting slightly louder, it idled fine. Engine only has 121k on it. On my drive after this fiasco, it maintained good oil pressure at 40psi.

 

Years ago, in a commercial they changed the oil adding STP, started it up and let it run for a few seconds. Then they drained the oil out, started it and ran a lap around the track explaining that the film of lubrication on the cylinders was sooooooooooooooo good - they could get away with it. Clean up your mess and refill the oil. You can further reassure yourself by doing a compression check on your engine - or not

 

It's fine!
Just don't do it again dangit!!

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. Before I drained the oil at idle I took it down the road to recycle my old oil, so the engine got well lubed with Rotella T6 5w40 for about 20 mins before I drained it. Maybe I just gave it a good flush! 😂🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

 

It pumped the oil out of the lifters. Ounce refilled it had to re pressureize them.

Your good to go, run that thing like you hate it. Just make sure its got oil

 

Is your oil pressure roughly the same as it was before when at normal operating temperature?

 

Yes, roughly the same. At operating temp it’s dead on 40, if anything more stable, possibly due to the new sensor or fresh oil.

 

Yes, dead on 40. If anything, it seems more stable, maybe due to the new sensor or fresh oil. I ran a quick errand this morning and all seemed well, no weird idling issues or bucking in acceleration (that’s what worried me the most yesterday afternoon, but seems to have subsided). Maybe oil got on the O2 sensor and burned off?? I noticed oil spots on the distributor cap/wires, but I thought that was closed off well to moisture/etc. I'm due for new plugs/wires soon anyways. Not sure what caused the bucking, but I seem to be in the clear, thank goodness. --- sorry for the double reply! Internet issues...

 

Older style oxygen sensors did need to pull a slight amount of fresh air from the outer end. If it got soaked it could give bad data. I would wait for it to be cooled off and clean it on the outside only with carb cleaner if it is oil soaked. Let it dry completely before use. Thr running funny for a couple minutes after first start was probably the valves not openning all the way on the deflated lifters.

 

*update*

Took it out for a drive this afternoon and it is not running well at all. It’s bucking bad on acceleration, in all gears, even on the highway at 50mph. Also, the fuel economy is awful, I’ve gone through a quarter tank in a day just driving short trips around town.

Getting a little defeated at how bad it’s running now, considering how well it was running before. The ideas I have are to replace the plugs and wires,,, something I planned to do anyways and was just putting it off. The other idea I had was to maybe clean the upstream O2 sensor. It’s a brand new sensor, the Jeep was bucking before badly, but it stopped when I changed my O2 sensor.

Thabks Chaz for that suggestion, gives me a Lottie confidence in the O2 sensor idea.

If those two don’t work, I’m out of ideas, and I’ll throw in the white flag and take it to my mechanic.

 

Unplug the upstream O2 and take it for a drive. Does the hesitation and bucking go away?

Also, does it run fine at full throttle?

 

Is the check engine light on?