Oil pressure indication fluctuation

[Kuato]

In our Wrangler, we have in the last two weeks been getting an intermittent low oil pressure indication, with wide fluctuations. This usually happens at idle. It will fluctuate from normal down almost to the minimum the check gauges light will come on and then will go back up and go back and forth between normal and low.

With 173k on the clock, and a steady diet of Amsoil for thise miles, IMHO it is the sending unit. But I wanted to check with better minds than mine to see what other opinions there were....thanks in advance

Apologies for misspellings or punctuation; sent from phone.

 

[Dakota1820]

probably is the sending unit

 

[JimPghPA]

Please tell me that you did check to see that it was not low on oil.

 

[JimPghPA]

It could be:

1) bad sending unit.
2) low on oil. If so, why? Oil leak, Oil burning off in cylinders due to bad valve seals.
3) bad oil pump.
4) clogged oil return path causing too much oil to remain in upper part of motor, therefore causing a lack of oil for the oil pick-up, causing the oil pump to suck air.
5) clogged pick up screen for the pick up for the the oil pump.
6) pick up for the oil pump crammed up against oil pan due to hitting the oil pan on something causing a dent that causes inside of the oil pan to be too close to the oil pick up.
7) worn passageways allowing oil to flow too freely, therefore there is not enough restriction in oil flow passage ways to allow oil pressure to build. (Try a thicker oil)

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
Please tell me that you did check to see that it was not low on oil.


Wouldn't the oil light stay on constant if he rev'd it then? If it barely had enough oil at idle then I'd think it'd have not nearly enough at any other speed.

Used to be when the clearances got extra big oil pressure at idle would be low. Oil pump didn't flow enough at idle.

 

[Kuato]

Yes, the oil level was checked; normal. Engine had a new head gasket 8k ago, mechanic said internals were spotless

 

[KeithG]

Double check the oil filter installation before moving on to other things. Perhaps there's a combination of issues, and if the oil filters loose, you'll be glad to know about it now.

 

[Kuato]

Thanks everyone. New sending unit has been ordered.