I just bought this 99 XJ a few days ago and will begin building it. This is my second XJ and is not a DD. As she sits in the garage waiting for me to get parts and start work I noticed a small oil drip on the garage floor... Take a look at this pic. You are looking at the oil pan on the right. The front of the jeep is toward the right. The bell housing appears to have a gap or hole of some sort. That little back dot is oil about to drip.

I will be taking her to the shop this week to get a good inspection but wanted to see if you guys had any ideas.

See the gap just above the oil drop? Is that bad?

The jeep itself (paint, interior) looks like it came off of the showroom and no rust anywhere to be found...

Thanks for looking.

 

Looks like the rear main seal is leaking. That is assuming you have confirmed it isn't coming from higher up and leaking down.

 

I will check out the oil filter adapter and the head to make sure. thank you

 

Looks like the bottom edge of the inspection cover (if that's what you are talking about). None are a perfect fit.

 

I think all the inspection plates have those gaps near the bottom, since there are holes and openings on the face of it and the top iirc. if water can get in, it needs to get back out.

 

Mine 99 had oil at the same spot. I thought rear main seal but did the valve cover gasket and oil filter adapter and it solved the problem. It's been completely dry ever since.

 

i second that one

 

Ahh. Thanks for the info on that.

 

Besides checking that adapter..that front tube in the valve cover needs to be free to vent in the air cleaner. Crankcase pressure from blow-by can definitely make it ****.