Oil Pressure too high ??

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James - 21 Nov 2007 22:49 GMT

This is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, V-8, 150,000 miles.

Up until this week, the oil pressure would go up to about 50 lbs when cold,
then would settle down to around 40 lbs, and about 35 lbs at idle.

All of a sudden, the oil pressure gauge shows 70 lbs of pressure at full
speed, and down to about 50 lbs at idle. But at driving speeds, it stays
up at 70 lbs, even after it is warm.

Thus, I have an increase of 20-30 lbs of overall oil pressure.

I have checked my oil level, and it is normal.

What caused this? Is it bad to have too high oil pressure? Can the
sending unit be bad ? I had thought not, as these readings are stable, and
not erratic.

Any ideas or advice ? (don't laugh.... I guess the advice will be to be
glad to have good oil pressure on an engine with 150k miles... ha ha)

Thanks !!

James

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DougW - 22 Nov 2007 00:16 GMT

> This is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, V-8, 150,000 miles.
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> sending unit be bad ? I had thought not, as these readings are
> stable, and not erratic.

Bad sending unit.

If it was just pegged at 70 I'd say the wire to the sensor was loose,
but creeping high pressure is a sign of a sender going bad.

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John - 22 Nov 2007 00:20 GMT

My first thought would be a bad sending unit or a bad gauge. I installed a
mech gauge on my Jeep (that's another story) so I know the pressure reading
is accurate. High oil pressure is not generally a concern, but if this is a
new develoment, there may be a problem with the pressure relief valve. Also,
if you recently switched to a higher-viscosity oil this will also show
higher readings. I'm not sure that you have a problem. That's my $.02

John

> This is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, V-8, 150,000 miles.
>
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> James

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James - 30 Nov 2007 05:35 GMT

As most of you advised, it was the oil pressure sending unit that was
defective. With the installation of a new one, the oil pressure readings
are in the normal range for this car/ 40/60 lbs from idle to full speed.

thanks for the help !!

James

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DougW - 30 Nov 2007 18:52 GMT

> As most of you advised, it was the oil pressure sending unit that was
> defective. With the installation of a new one, the oil pressure
> readings are in the normal range for this car/ 40/60 lbs from idle
> to full speed.
>
> thanks for the help !!

Glad to know that was the problem.

Seems in about 99% of the cases (the other
1% being where the engine goes paff) it's
the pressure sender.

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DougW

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