Oil pressure randomly dropping

[owentcumming]

Hey everyone! sorry this has probably been discussed on another form but i havent been able to find one.

ive got a 2004 sport with the 4.0 and since the day i bought it almost 2 years ago the oil pressure gauge will randomly drop.

it only happens after longer or harder drives, 30+ minutes. when i stop at a light the gauge will drop and the check gauges light and alarm will go off. the part that has me lost is that it will either bounce back up a bit then down while still idling, or it will go back up to full pressure when i give it a small rev or start driving again.

ive seen similar things on the forms related to the opda. im not sure if the opda got replaced during the original recall or not, the jeep was a rental car in hawaii for the first while of its life, so think its pretty safe to say it wasnt replaced.

has anyone had this problem or any ideas what could cause this?

 

[macleanflood]

Get a mechanical gauge hooked up and see what it says. 1/8" fitting above the oil filter. Unscrew the sensor and tape it up somewhere you can see it while driving around.

You can get one on Amazon or rent one from an auto parts store.

Odds are you need a replacement oil pressure sensor. But...

Standard Motor Products makes a decent one.

-Mac

 

[Feralkid]

It's probably the sensor that Mac mentioned is bad. The sensor has a diaphragm that probably has a hole in it. You should see a small amount of oil leaking from the sensor if the diaphragm is in fact ruptured. Replacing the sensor is a relatively straight forward job. I believe all it requires is a special oil pressure sensor socket.

https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-13250-Pressure-Switch-Socket/dp/B0002SR2RY/?tag=wranglerorg-20

And the sensor:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049EEX4W?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[tr21triton]

It's probably the sensor that Mac mentioned is bad. The sensor has a diaphragm that probably has a hole in it. You should see a small amount of oil leaking from the sensor if the diaphragm is in fact ruptured. Replacing the sensor is a relatively straight forward job. I believe all it requires is a special oil pressure sensor socket.

https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-13250-Pressure-Switch-Socket/dp/B0002SR2RY/?tag=wranglerorg-20

And the sensor:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049EEX4W?tag=wranglerorg-20

just had to re replace mine and no special socket is needed just a 1 1/16 wrench.

 

[macleanflood]

just had to re replace mine and no special socket is needed just a 1 1/16 wrench.

And patience for the 1/4 turn at a time removal. Especially with 97 AC.

-Mac

 

[hear]

The special socket isn’t required but it sure made the job easier on both my 97’s.

I should add that I had the same problem. On one 97 replacing the sender solved it 100%. On the other, I ended up needing to replace the oil pump too. Hence the need to put a mechanical gauge on it before you throw money at it.