mduda005

SO i just bought my first jeep the other day for $1,000 dollars ( had to work the crap outta the guy ha) any ways its a 1996 Jeep Cherokee 4.0.. SO i have a few questions i hope can be answered, #1 a few of my gauges seem to go up and down, i think its my Oil Pressure guage one of them?? that one goes up and down allot, is this normal????. Also it make a kinda rattling noise under neath of the jeep, one of my buddies said it might be the cat converter?? if so how bad is this?? and last for some reason when i first start the jeep and put it in gear it seems to sputter a few feet and then stop, also i think it might be burning alittle bit of oil, if any one can help me out with this it would be great. thanks

mikdre

Well the oil pressure gauge is normal as pressure varies at different engine speeds. A cat job at any midas for prolly $300 ish.

mduda005

what im wondering about the cat is, how will it effect my jeep??? will it kill it or what haha... and the oil this is normal? so i assuming this happens with other people's jeeps?? now what about the sputtering, when it first starts?

XJ?2010

The Cat wont ruin your jeep it is just there to refine the exhaust gases and restrict airflow so a lot of people take them out and run without them but it IS illigeal and you will get a fine if you are caught but if yours just bad on the inside i think you will be okay

BlueXJ

It is hard to tell from your description about the sputtering. Could be fuel pressure or could be ignition. Check the fuel pressue first then if that is good then you need to check the filter to see if you are getting microscopic pieces of trash and dirt going through the injectors. Replace the cat if it rattles because it is no longer working to "refine the exhaust" as XJ?2010 suggests.
Oil pressure should vary as the engine speed varies but it should still be around 20# at hot idle. I think the specs call for 16-18# at hot idle. It may go as high as 60-80# when cold and reved up. HTH

mduda005

the oil gauge usally goes up to right below 80# ( which is not the highest) when im going faster and when slowing it drops down... its usally in between half and 80... it dosent run ruff or anything, i just hope it last, it has 154k on it, if i can get another thousand ill be happy

BlueXJ

Oil gauge sounds like it is within the normal range to me. Just as long as it doesn't drop below 16-18 lbs at hot idle then you are good to go. Many well maintained XJ 4.0L will get 250,000 miles easily. Some have been known to go to 500,000 miles before needing to be rebuilt or replaced.

Disclaimer: Your results may vary depending upon oil changes and care while driving your Jeep. Use of Fram filters will void this claim immediately.