oil guage dipping to 0 intermittantly on 87 J20-Help

[ctjeepman]

I noticed that theoil pressure sensor? is leaking oil out of it? What should I replace?

[Lindel]

The oil pressure sensor! If it's leaking, it's bad. BTW, on any FSJ that's 86 and later, the gauges are strictly for entertainment, not information. The oil pressure gauge in particular.

It's mainly due to the style of senders and gauges that AMC decided to use after the 86 redesign of the dash.

[talntar]

the 85 gauges arent any better.the ones on mine were all rebuilt 6 months before i got it[have rec.]and since the amp has went and the oil.still need to put in temp to be sure on that

[bvibert]

Just take out the sender and put a mechanical gauge in. Much better than the stock electric one and you can get em pretty cheap too.

[Careful34]

The oil pressure on my 89 drops to zero in gear at idle. I install a mech gauge in paralle to the stock one two be sure it wasn't a gauge problem. It wasn't. :( It acts like the pump is losing prime. If I put it in nuteral it's fine. I replaced the gears and that helped a bit. Thicker oil does too. I checked the pick up tube while I had the oil pan off a while ago and it seemed tight. I'm hoping I don't need the whole new timing chain cover thing.

[bvibert]

Sounds like either your oil pump is out of spec, or more likely your bearings have excessive clearance. How many miles on the motor? Might be time for a rebuild

[CaliGWagon]

My guage (in my 79) goes to 0 from about 40 while on the highway at 3k RPM> I was freaked, so I installed a mechanical guage and guess what??? I have 15-25PSI at idle warm and 60PSI at speed and it never really dips. Factory senders and guages are just crap.

[waggin'ear]

anyone have a part number on a mechanical gauge? for a 360

[CaliGWagon]

You just need something aftermarket. Most parts places will have Equus brand if you want inexpensive, then there is AutoGuage and then AutoMeter, VDO, etc.

[winchboy]

It's NOW that I read about the oil gauge!!!Two week-ends ago, I drove my new 77 Cherokee from the old owners house 200 miles from my place and 30 miles down the road the oil pressure gauge dropped to zero...I just paid good money for it, and the pressure drops? But since I'm used to old jeeps(cj5)I just kept driving. 140 miles down the road, I hit a bump and the gauge came back! No problem...

Ben

[talntar]

Originally posted by waggin'ear:
anyone have a part number on a mechanical gauge? for a 360any after arket will should com with all you need to hook it up.but i would spend the couple buks and get copper lin,and not use plastic that comes with the gauge