I need help here, I have a 97 Cherokee sport, it has 300,000+ and I recently noticed my oil gauge dropping. It's usually at idle. It drops to about 10 and fluctuates up from there. While accelerating its steady climbing to about 47 and usually stays around 40 at steady rpms. Any ideas on what this issue is?

 

Low oil pressure is usually the result of worn out cam bearings.

connect a mechanical gauge to confirm the pressure indicated at your gauge cluster.

 

Oil pressure sending unit is bad, $44.99 at local auto parts store

 

The sending unit you get from the stealership is only a few bucks more and is a genuine Mopar part.

 

Could easily be worn bearings with a 300k motor.

It certainly is not impossible that the sending unit is a little off as well. Could verify with a mechanical oil pressure gauge or just install a new sending unit.

If you find out you have 10 psi at idle, I wouldn't be overly concerned.....I've seen 4.0 engines go a long while with that kind of pressure.

 

What brand of oil filter are you using currently?

 

Currently using a firestone filter but that was just put on, before that it was a purolater

 

Was pressure low before the firestone filter was put on?

 

Yes

 

Well, then check it with a mechanical gauge and you'll know if it's the sender or actually low pressure.

 

Does your jeep leak oil?

 

The only reason I ask is because mine does the same thing. I have 389,XXX miles on my 1990 and it leaks from the rear main. When mine starts to flux, it just means I need to add more oil. Just a thought before you go and spend time and money on a new sending unit.

 

I've added oil before but it doesn't leak.

 

See Post #10 and put your suspicions to rest. Everything else is pure speculation and guessing.