96 Jeep Cherokee
173,000 miles

Yesterday I installed a new water pump and after thinking I had finally fixed all of the problems that were causing the engine to overheat I noticed smoke coming from the car when I was driving. I pulled over and figured out there was a fluid running down on something below the engine and producing smoke. I don't think its coolant because the smell is different. The smoke looks white. The oil pressure gauge reads low and stays well below halfway when I am driving it. The engine stays at the normal halfway temperature or a little below and fluctuates between those two points. Also my oil pressure sensor seems to correlate with acceleration. Any ideas would be great.

 

maybe a bad power steering hose? IIRC, that would make white smoke.

a pic would be good.

 

Turned the car on this morning and noticed a leak coming out of the part circled in red in the picture attached. I park my jeep in the driveway which happens to be on a hill and noticed the underside of the car looks like fluid had been making its way down towards the back. I'm not an experienced mechanic but have changed out water pump, starter and a few other things by just reading and this part looks like something I could get to fairly easily. Also the leak is pretty constant a couple of drips every 10 seconds or so. Thanks for all the help I appreciate it.

 

I think that's the oil pressure sending unit.

 

It is.

 

Could that be the main cause of the problem? What would be the process for the replacing oil pressure sending unit I can't seem to find it in my service manual. Is it a relatively easy fix? Or could there be a bigger problem?

 

It's simple unplug the wire find a deep socket that fits take it out then put the new one in mine ran about thirty bucks

 

Just picked up the oil pressure sending unit. Any recommendations for installing this? Is there a suggestion for how tightly I should screw it on etc. I understand it's basic, but it doesn't cover it at all in the manual I have so I was double checking.

 

As I recall, you don't tighten these down like a bolt. Search the archives - I think you use, carefully, a bit of teflon tape and tighten it snug...but not TIGHT. I'm thinking maybe 10 pounds of torque tops.