GooseJeep

Hey everyone, I'm looking at a 93 XJ with 140K, the engine bay valve cover is covered in sludge around and on top of it. Some on manifold too. Underneath the oil pan is covered, and tranny case pan is black with oil and dirt residue. Car starts OKAY, doesn't fire right up but starts after about a 3 second crank. Runs great, excellent pick up, changing gears fine. I'm just worried about the build up. Guy wants 1000 bucks. I have pictures of the sludge on my instagram : ironngoose

thatXJguy

Eh, nothing terrible. Just sounds like a valve cover gasket is due. Clean it up real good, spank a gasket on, and you're golden. The oil will run down to the pans and make a mess. Just clean those up to. Replace gaskets and filter adapter o rings as necessary.

studmuffin

Valve cover gasket is shot and it's leaking. Probably has a rear main seal leak if the oil pan is drenched in oil. Could have other leaks. All easy and cheap fixes if you like getting your hands dirty. Ask him how long he has been driving it like that because the jeep has lost alot of fluids and he's probably been driving it with low oil. I'd work the price down tho all those things point to poor maintanance.

93XJeeper

Sounds like you just described a clone of my Jeep. same year too.

cruiser54

Do this:




I'd be looking up ABOVE first, and VERIFYING the source of the oil leak YOURSELF.

Everybody, who doesn't own or have to pay for or perform your vehicle repairs, loves to poke their noggin UNDER the Jeep and come out bearing the false bad news that your RMS is leaking.

Many mechanics, friends, people on Jeep forums who can’t see your Jeep from where they’re at, and good old Uncle Bob seem to enjoy telling you it’s the rear main seal. Has a catastrophic ring to it, doesn’t it?

A simple leak at the back of the valve cover or other source could produce the same symptoms. You don’t need to be a mechanic to figure this out. If you have good eyesight and a dim flashlight, you’re good to go on your own. Don't jump on the RMS/oil pan gasket bandwagon right off the bat.

Almost any oil leak on your 4.0 is gonna drip from the RMS area for two simple reasons.

First off, the engine sits nose-up and any oil will run back to the RMS area. Secondly, the RMS area is also the lowest point on the engine. Simple physics and the old plumber's adage apply here. "$hit flows downhill".

Valve cover gasket, oil pressure sending unit, oil filter adapter seals and distributor gasket, in that order, have to be eliminated as possibilities first.

Revised 02-26-2013

madmanmarty

Good price.
Do what Cruiser states.