Once again hello jaguar forum members! I only had my 94 VDP for couple months so i am still getting to know this car so sorry if this is a lame question. But about a month ago i got my oil and oil filter changed and the people at the lube i went to were great, he showed me the dipstick before and after the oil change (plus i saw them putting the oil in the car) However, after the oil change the oil gauge (on the dashboard) was still reading 4 quarts. So i checked the dipstick and the oil was up to the "M". Does anybody know how i get the oil gauge to read the new amount of oil added? Off topic but i added new photos of the jag to the photo album today. Cheers!

 

It is crazy where a car a car that was manufactured in 1994 had an oil level indicator and today’s vehicles are just bringing it back. And we think of how novel the idea is today. Makes you wonder! As for fixing your problem I am not qualified to help but wish I could.

 

O well, thanks anyways

 

@Mike, unless I am mistaken, you seem to be a little confused as to what you are seeing. (happens to me all the time).

On these later XJ40's the oil gauge on the dashboard is pretty much just for show.

It works in a similar way to an oil pressure light, so that when you have the car running, providing that you have some oil pressure the gauge will read in the middle.

ie points to 4, it never moves (well unless you suddenly have zero pressure).

It don't think that it shows your oil level at engine start, like some of the old Renaults did for example because it will always stay at the same reading.

4bar pressure, not 4 quarts present.

Rely on checking your dipstick yourself (much safer).

 

Mine is just close to 4 and it drops to just above 1 when idling and I verify I have neither leaks nor less oil than it requires .

 

The cars came with an oil pressure gauge but the sender is NLA so you have to get the kit that turns the gauge into a pressure indicator (zero or mid gauge = no-pressure or pressure)

If your original sender is working, then you can see the pressure fluctuate, but if the update kit is installed, then you will see zero or mid-gauge only.

bob gauff

 

It is an oil pressure gauge, not oil level. These used to read in psi (pounds per square inch). If it is in single figures this must be Bar, which is atmospheres, so multiply figure by 14.7 to get psi.

 

Well that clears up my dilemma. Thank you Fraser.

 

Indeed, thank you everyone! I thought that the gauge measured the amount of oil, not the pressure. The gauge reads a little above the 4 (in the middle) Thanks again fellow jaguar forum members!

 

So the pressure in psi is 4 x 14.7 = 58.8 (or just under 60 psi) which seems about right for me for the cruising pressure. Pressure at idle is usually a lot less, but rarely does any damage, as the engine is unstressed.

 

But on the earlier ones (90) it looks like this while delivering pressure.

 

An oil pressure sender which displays the oil pressure in the engine on the gauge thus fluctuates with engine speed was fitted to all XJ40s and early X300s.

Unfortunately, it is very unreliable, frequently reporting low oil pressure problems when real oil pressure problems are almost unheard of in the very robust AJ6 engine.

This led to a lot of disgruntled owners and warranty claims. Jaguar's solution was to offer a simple pressure switch as a replacement which would register at the mid point on the dial provided there was some oil pressure. Jaguar now no longer offer the original pressure sender, only the pressure switch.