Oil Pressure Problem NEED HELP

[adpeacock]

Hey everyone,
Last night I changed my oil, my 2000 XJ usually takes 10W30 but since I am located in colder climate I put 5W30 in and when I was finished changing the oil I started it up. The oil pressure guage never moved. I looked in the Haynes Manual but I was unable to find instructions to change the oil pressure sensor. I am not sure if I should just put 10W30 back into it or if it is possibly the sensor. I AM DESPERATE. THANK YOU.

Adam
Anchorage, AK

[TerryMason]

Did the oil light come on in the dash? What weight oil does the haynes manual call for?

I'd start by checking the obvious - remembered the drain plug, replaced the oil cap in the engine.

[mud4feet]

Was your gauge working OK before the oil change?? Those pressure sensors will usually start doing some whacky stuff before they go. They're very simple to change out (I did it, so it can't be too difficult! ). As long as you're sure that it's filled (duh!! you just changed it!!!!), I would suspect the sending unit or something else electrical.................not a "0" oil pressure situation (which would become evident very quickly.....some real nasty sounds). The oil change shouldn't have affected your gauge/sending unit per se.............that's why I asked if it worked OK before - or were there some strange readings occuring? Trust me, when that sending unit goes, you'll know it!!! Carry spare oil and lots of rags.

[adpeacock]

Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate it. The "check guage" light lit up once I started the vehicle. I drove it this morning, and it did not sound like it was running shakey at all. The Haynes Manual stated I could use 5W30 for all temp. conditions, and 10W30 above 0. I know when I was in Iraq my wife had the oil changed at a Jiffy Lube and the same problem happened and it ended up being a sensor. So today I am going to take a look at it and see if thats the problem. Thanks again for the help.

[amuddyzj]

Yea I had a similar problem with my zj and the sensor was bad. Works fine now!!

[Saurian]

The sensor is mounted directly above the oil filter; if you're looking at it from the passenger side (pretend you have x-ray vision), the filter is pointing at 9:00, the sensor is pointing at 12:00... It is quite possible it may have become unplugged/a wire could have come loose...

Just a thought... It's a bad place for the thing, I've wiped out a couple with the wrench getting the oil filter out...

[jay79cj7]

You might have disconnected the sensor or damaged it when changing the oil filter. Its right next to the filter. Check the wiring, then change out the sensor. When my 00 XJ started showing 0 psi a few months ago it was a bad sensor. It would just drop to 0 out of nowhere and come back to life randomly. They only cost 15 or 20 bucks. If it doesn't fix the problem, return it.

[B192734]

I had mine go out in my '00 XJ as well. I found that the hardest part to changing it out, was finding one to start with, and then realizing that when I was in process, I didn't have a big enough wrench. That was frustrating. It's a little harder to work it with a pair of vice grips...Otherwise, it was a pretty easy fix.

[Nucks]

these oil leaks are a pain but easily fixed. Change pressure sending sensor, 0-ring in the oil filter adapter, oil pan gasket (make sure oil pan bolts are tight and not the cause of leaks.). Have heard that the dipstick can leak at the block as well. If you're having problems getting the torques bolt out of the adapter you need a t-60 torques socket, drive the bit out, then use a wrench on the sucker. These bolts are factory tightened around 50ft pounds. should not be to much trouble, but watch the knuckles never the less. I also have had to change main output seal in the past as well. Worth a look.