I am hoping nothing major is wrong but I fear this is bad. Since I had my Jeep, over 6 months, the oil pressure gauge has always fluctuated a bit. But as of lately it is getting really low, especially when idling. When on the highway it goes back up to around 40 though, but it won't ever go above that. I am in need of an oil change as it has been a while since that has been done. I checked the dipstick today and the whole thing is covered with really dark brown oil. AND there is black sludge covering a lot of the engine. The wierd thing is the car drives fine and just like the day I got it. I am doing an oil change with my dad tomorrow so hopefully that will help it. Should I also clean off all the sludge? I have a 2000 XJ Sport.

 

Are you referring to sludge on the outside of the engine??

 

clean off the "sludge" using simple green or oven cleaner so you can see where it's leaking from. Most common areas are the valve cover (very likely in your case by the description), oil filter adapter, and rear main seal. All of these just require new gaskets to be installed to fix.

As far as the dark brown oil, perfectly normal. Oil gets brown / black within a few days of being changed. Color is not an indication of wear/usefulness when it comes to engine oil.

 

Well change the oil for sure, if you clean off the oil sludge be prepared to replaces gaskets as the sludge is probably plugging the leaks from time to time, you really should tear into it one weekend and replace the gaskets though

 

Yea just when I open the hood and look I can see the black stuff on the engine (so yes the outside of the engine?), it kind of looks like a stain but once you touch it your finger turns black lol. And with the dipstick the thing is I can't tell what level of oil I have because the whole thing is covered.....is that something to worry about?

 

And I'm suppoed to drive about 2 hours away tomorrow for a little weekend trip.....crap.

 

um, you're always supposed to wipe the dipstick off before checking the level....

the oil "sludge" could just be from years of the valve cover leaking, or the PO being sloppy with his oil changes. Clean it off and keep an eye on if it reappears and where it is coming from.

 

Yea I know I just realized that haha, it's been a long day. I can't believe I have let it go this long without an oil change though, never again! Last change was at 136,000 Jeep is now at 145,000. S**T!.

 

1st thing you should have done when you brought it is change the oil, filter and plugs.
I didnt and when I finally got round to it the oil filter was so old it was cracked and leaking with all the paint pealed off and the oil was thick as anything. My fuel economy shot up just doing the oil change and hasnt caused a problem

 

A cracked oil filter? Was it the original from factory? Haha that's bad

 

Im pretty sure every wear item in it was still factory lol

 

Wow sounds like the person who had it before you really took care of it haha

 

Change your oil and filter, use 6 quarts of good name brand 10W30, (not a bargain brand). Change it again after 5000 miles. Check it in between and write down when you changed, when you added if required, any thing else you do. Keep a little notebook in your glove box as a maintenance record. Do that. Don't worry about the external oil on the engine ( for now). Check out differnet threads in the forum about doin various gasket and seals changes. At some point wash your engine and determine where you need to maintain. The external is makeup, the internal lube is where the heart of your Cherokee is. Tend to the heart.

 

So me and my dad did an oil change today. It fixed everything! The car feels like new it's insanely awesome. I can't believe how bad it was running before, I honestly think it would have been toast had we not changed it today. The gauge is back to normal too so I guess I don't have a faulty gauge.

 

Right on