XJPhoenix
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Guelph, Ontario, Canada
My engine is either cleaned out, or on it's way out.
It's a 1994 Cherokee XJ, with the 4.0 H.O. I-6, automatic with command trac. I've owned it for a little over eight months now, and before I bought it the Jeep sat in a field for six months. The Jeep has 194 thousand miles on it, or 310 thousand kilometres, and runs quite well. Unlike most other 4 litres I've known, the Jeep has never knocked, leaked, or had any trouble starting.
Since I bought it and put it on the road, I've changed the oil twice; the first time I ran it for 3200 kms then flushed it with a little tranny fluid, and changed it. The filter I used was a K&N filter, and the oil was Valvoline Max Life. Over the 3200 kms, the Jeep only used about half a litre of oil. Just before I changed the oil, my oil pressure had begun to drop slowly. It dropped 5-10 psi across the board, but never below 15-18 psi at hot idle. When I changed the oil and filter, I noticed that the filter was unusually heavy. I replaced the oil with Valvoline Max Life Synthetic, and a Wix brand filter.
Last Sunday, (500 miles/800 kms after the last oil change) I came back from a mid-length jaunt at highway speeds and, in preparation for a much longer journey, checked the oil/other engine fluids. I found there was some sort of sludge on the tip of the dipstick, and noticed that she was making the typical diesel-ish clatter of what most assume is a typical 4.0 Jeep engine. Of course when I saw the sludge, I thought my head gasket had sprung a leak; so I checked the oil fill cap and found not a trace of the usual mayonnaise/milkshake most of us dread to find. My coolant was low, but nicely green with no trace of oil. Still freaking out, I rode along with a friend instead of risking my engine for the trip.
I have since topped up the coolant, and driven the Jeep around town a few times. The clatter hasn't gotten worse, the sludge has diminished slightly, and the coolant is still clear. There's no mayo/shake anywhere you'd expect to find it and to top it all off, my oil pressure has never been better! When under load, the engine purrs along without any trouble. It doesn't overheat, and has plenty of power. (The trips I took were unavoidable; going to the store to get new oil/filter, and taking care of obligations.)
I changed the oil and filter today, and the old oil looked pretty clean. (A dark gold/reddish colour, no foam/sludge.) I replaced it with standard Max Life, and another Wix brand filter. Yes I also added some Lucas oil conditioner, which many folks on-line hate, but all the mechanics I talk to like to run in their engines.
My question, after my long and sordid tale, is this; Do these signs (new clatter and sludge on tip of dipstick) point to impending doom a la popped head gasket? Or do any of you think I might have cleared out some old sludge/crap/whatever, and now the Jeep is running like a 4.0 should run? I'm seriously strapped for cash, (on a fixed income) and the thought of having to drop a new/used engine in is terrifying to me. I'm keeping a close eye on it, hoping that the fresh oil and filter will make everything all better...
What do you folks think? Has this happened to any of you?
It's a 1994 Cherokee XJ, with the 4.0 H.O. I-6, automatic with command trac. I've owned it for a little over eight months now, and before I bought it the Jeep sat in a field for six months. The Jeep has 194 thousand miles on it, or 310 thousand kilometres, and runs quite well. Unlike most other 4 litres I've known, the Jeep has never knocked, leaked, or had any trouble starting.
Since I bought it and put it on the road, I've changed the oil twice; the first time I ran it for 3200 kms then flushed it with a little tranny fluid, and changed it. The filter I used was a K&N filter, and the oil was Valvoline Max Life. Over the 3200 kms, the Jeep only used about half a litre of oil. Just before I changed the oil, my oil pressure had begun to drop slowly. It dropped 5-10 psi across the board, but never below 15-18 psi at hot idle. When I changed the oil and filter, I noticed that the filter was unusually heavy. I replaced the oil with Valvoline Max Life Synthetic, and a Wix brand filter.
Last Sunday, (500 miles/800 kms after the last oil change) I came back from a mid-length jaunt at highway speeds and, in preparation for a much longer journey, checked the oil/other engine fluids. I found there was some sort of sludge on the tip of the dipstick, and noticed that she was making the typical diesel-ish clatter of what most assume is a typical 4.0 Jeep engine. Of course when I saw the sludge, I thought my head gasket had sprung a leak; so I checked the oil fill cap and found not a trace of the usual mayonnaise/milkshake most of us dread to find. My coolant was low, but nicely green with no trace of oil. Still freaking out, I rode along with a friend instead of risking my engine for the trip.
I have since topped up the coolant, and driven the Jeep around town a few times. The clatter hasn't gotten worse, the sludge has diminished slightly, and the coolant is still clear. There's no mayo/shake anywhere you'd expect to find it and to top it all off, my oil pressure has never been better! When under load, the engine purrs along without any trouble. It doesn't overheat, and has plenty of power. (The trips I took were unavoidable; going to the store to get new oil/filter, and taking care of obligations.)
I changed the oil and filter today, and the old oil looked pretty clean. (A dark gold/reddish colour, no foam/sludge.) I replaced it with standard Max Life, and another Wix brand filter. Yes I also added some Lucas oil conditioner, which many folks on-line hate, but all the mechanics I talk to like to run in their engines.
My question, after my long and sordid tale, is this; Do these signs (new clatter and sludge on tip of dipstick) point to impending doom a la popped head gasket? Or do any of you think I might have cleared out some old sludge/crap/whatever, and now the Jeep is running like a 4.0 should run? I'm seriously strapped for cash, (on a fixed income) and the thought of having to drop a new/used engine in is terrifying to me. I'm keeping a close eye on it, hoping that the fresh oil and filter will make everything all better...
What do you folks think? Has this happened to any of you?