95 I-4 with about 127000mi

The oil pressure gauge is reading VERY low. When freshly started it will move about 1/4 up the gauge, after a few minutes it slides down to right above 0. The fact that the gauge moves tells me it is working.

I bought this Jeep recently (for a very good price even if I have to rebuild the engine), the first oil change was interesting, the oil was thick like honey. It was admittedly cold outside, but the engine was warm, but as it drained it was very think and yellowish.

I thought perhaps puting regular 10w30 in might solve the problem, but it did not change a thing.

Two questions

(1) is it reasonable to expect the oil pump is on it's way out?

(2) if it is the oil pump is it worth trying to dig into and fix it now or just wait until it gives up altogether? The engine is relatively quiet, with just a small amount of ticking that sounds perhaps like a sticky lifter.

 

b4 condeming the pump hook up a manual oil gage maybe the sensors going out

 

Agreed. Good data = good decisions.

Confirm your actual oil pressure by getting a hold of a mechanical oil pressure gauge (can be rented from many parts stores) and temporarily installing it where the oil pressure sending unit resides.

Then you'll know for SURE.