88 renix help
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Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Well I guess it could be possible that the valve cover could be leaking from the left side of the engine in the middle somewhere hiding under my wiring harness. Maybe sneaking down onto the bottom of the intake manifold past the heat shield... I did use one of those god forsaken cork gaskets last time I did the valve cover... That won't be a big deal as I will be using a blue felpro gasket after I mod my valve cover
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Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Justin, TEXAS
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
alright got the felpro gasket ordered. It will be on by tomorrow afternoon.
I had a thought today...
My intake was sucking in a ton of oil through it but the front breather was dry.
After I pulled the rear breather off the intake manifold and oil stopped coming out of it, oil started coming out of the front breather.
My front breather has not been connected to the air cleaner box because I made my own with a paint can and a cone filter and was too lazy to connect the front breather.
My thought is that because the front breather was not getting suction through the air cleaner but the rear was getting lots from the intake manifold and that is why its sucking in the oil..
Here's a pic to explain
I had a thought today...
My intake was sucking in a ton of oil through it but the front breather was dry.
After I pulled the rear breather off the intake manifold and oil stopped coming out of it, oil started coming out of the front breather.
My front breather has not been connected to the air cleaner box because I made my own with a paint can and a cone filter and was too lazy to connect the front breather.
My thought is that because the front breather was not getting suction through the air cleaner but the rear was getting lots from the intake manifold and that is why its sucking in the oil..
Here's a pic to explain
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,489
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From: Nor-Cal Coast
Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
Pardon me but it IS over 100 posts.....your front vent doesn't have one of those aftermarket filters, and IS free to vent to the air-box? That would then make pressure that would try to blow oil out anywhere it could. Like the ccv.... (or rear main, front seal, dist....)
It might not "suck" allot from the front, but should at least be free to vent.
Last edited by DFlintstone; Oct 28, 2013 at 01:03 AM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,489
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From: Nor-Cal Coast
Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
I wouldn't rush the manifold job. You will get into allot there. Check your left motor mount, clean things up. Take a good look at the wiring and vacuum lines. Spray the exhaust (and all) bolts ASAP with PB blaster. Hit the header flange bolts. One broken bolt can really ruin your day.
Are you sure all that is necessary? Is it really leaking?
"My front breather has not been connected to the air cleaner box because I made my own with a paint can " Was it left free or did you cap that off? Truth matters here!
Are you sure all that is necessary? Is it really leaking?
"My front breather has not been connected to the air cleaner box because I made my own with a paint can " Was it left free or did you cap that off? Truth matters here!
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Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
All that CCV stuff needs to be functional. You can't leave pieces out of that puzzle and expect good results. It doesn' hurt anything. It needs to be intact.
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Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Justin, TEXAS
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Nothing was capped at all. The rear was attatched to the intake manifold and the front was just dangling in my engine bay. But how about the people that put small cone filters on their front breathers? Why wouldn't they get tons of oil in their intake manifold too? And my valve cover gasket probably isn't leaking but I need to replace it anyway when I do my valve cover mod today
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From: Justin, TEXAS
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Maybe it came out the front because I put the rear ccv in a bottle ( a week ago because I thought it would catch oil) (which it didn't so I assume its not blow by and my compression was good in the farther cylinders).and air couldnt escape because it was too air tight?
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,489
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From: Nor-Cal Coast
Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
Whoops! Sorry of me. I crossed my wires and went to the manifold gasket. Anyway, exactly, I'm suspicious people have suspected their rear main seal when it was actually one of those after-market filters plugged up inside. That front tube is 1/2 inch for a reason. When you are gassen it on a hill, there might be significant blow-by. It needs a way to get out! Does it idle smooth? If you have oil in the intake with both lines off the valve cover, either it's the valve cover, or you have serious engine problems. Brake fluid?
Last edited by DFlintstone; Oct 29, 2013 at 12:21 AM.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Justin, TEXAS
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Whoops! Sorry of me. I crossed my wires and went to the manifold gasket. Anyway, exactly, I'm suspicious people have suspected their rear main seal when it was actually one of those after-market filters plugged up inside. That front tube is 1/2 inch for a reason. When you are gassen it on a hill, there might be significant blow-by. It needs a way to get out!Does it idle smooth?
Too busy today to get the valve cover off and modded. I'll do it tomorrow afternoon.
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From: Justin, TEXAS
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
but my brake are all sorts of messed up. i have to put the pedal to the floor to stop it and when i do i hear air coming out of what i assume is my brake booster
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,489
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From: Nor-Cal Coast
Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
MMMM, you get what I'm getting at? If there is "fluid" in the manifold with both lines off the VC, what is left? Fluid getting past the brake booster might be a thought. I suppose you could pull that big line to your intake manifold from the booster and see if it's wet inside.....
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Justin, TEXAS
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
MMMM, you get what I'm getting at? If there is "fluid" in the manifold with both lines off the VC, what is left? Fluid getting past the brake booster might be a thought. I suppose you could pull that big line to your intake manifold from the booster and see if it's wet inside.....
and why would oil even get sucked into the manifold?(maybe had something to do with the front breather not connected to air cleaner?) (or the valve cover mod needs to be done?)
we will find out tomorrow when the valve cover gets modded and everything get put in the right place. (after i clean the oil out of the lines of course)


