So I have a 97, Sport, 4L, 4WD.

My oil pressure has always varied a little. It would drop when the car was at rest idling, and when I accelerated it would jump into that sweet spot mid gauge.

But for the past two weeks it sits down practically at 0 and my "Check Gauge" light comes on. However when I accelerate rapidly it jumps up back into that sweet spot, but if I accelerate moderately it remains down at the bottom. Anyone have any ideas? (I haven't check the oil level before posting this, but I just had an oil change about two months ago.

 

1. Check oil level.

2. If it's OK, plumb a mechanical gauge into the system and see what it's really doing.

3. If oil pressure is still too low (below 13 PSI minimum at hot idle), then you could have bearing or oil pump/screen problems.

4. Don't let someone try to talk you into putting thicker oil or oil additives into it to compensate.

5. I hope you are not running a FRAM filter.

 

A+++++

 

There was another post here a while back where someone with the same symptoms removed the oil pressure sender and cleaned out the oil passage that feeds it. Appeared to bring the readings back up. Partial clog maybe?

 

I replaced my sensor, it worked.

 

I agree with Firestorm. Low oil pressure must be verified and you can easily do so with a mechanical gauge, which can be rented from many parts stores.

You could truly have low oil pressure OR you could have an issue with either the oil pressure sending unit or the gauge.

Good data = good decisions. Test your way to a solution. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

As an addendum, I bought a '97 Silverado this past April. I had had it about 2 months when it did what his is doing. It set off a "check gauges" light too.

I was on a side slope and the oil had probably moved away from the sensor some. The truck was at idle.

I replaced the oil pressure sending unit and all is well. That doesn't mean that that is all that could be wrong with his Jeep, but it is a cheap start.