Should I risk it?

[JimmyBaggs]

I'm looking at buying an '02 Sahara with 127,000 miles.

It runs great but the oil pressure zeroes out at idle when it's hot. It still idles well and doesn't sound bad. So many threads say it's the sending unit and an easy fix.

A mechanic told him it's the front or rear main seals, but there are no leaks under it at all.

I'm tempted to roll the dice and hope it's the sender.

But what's the worst-case scenario? How expensive a problem could I get myself into?

 

[Chris]

Is that with the oil gauge on the dash or an external oil gauge? The former is incredibly inaccurate from the factory.

 

[JimmyBaggs]

Is that with the oil gauge on the dash or an external oil gauge? The former is incredibly inaccurate from the factory.

It's the factory gauge.

 

[cpwolf]

Yes, always.

Wait, I’ll read the list, sorry natural reaction.

Kidding, just based on your post, worst case is RMS replacment , if you do yourself just work

 

[Chris]

It's the factory gauge.

That gauge is completely unreliable. You need to hook up an external gauge and test oil pressure to get to the bottom of this.

More than likely it’s the sending unit.

 

[JimmyBaggs]

Yes, always.

Wait, I’ll read the list, sorry natural reaction.

Kidding, just based on your post, worst case is RMS replacment , if you do yourself just work

His mechanic mentioned the rest main seal as a culprit, but u thought that would be evidenced by a leak.

 

[tr21triton]

if there's oil in it and the rear main isn't leaking, thats not the problem. the problem is the most likely the oil sending unit as Chris has said. I had a 97 that when i would stop it would set off the check gauges alarm because the oil pressure dropped to 0, changing the sending unit fixed it.

 

[cpwolf]

His mechanic mentioned the rest main seal as a culprit, but u thought that would be evidenced by a leak.

I would think so, when an RMS fails, there is usually a good amount of oil, if the engine has oil in it.

I agree with Chris, with no leaks seems like would be something else.