Earlier today I decided to get a quart of oil for my XJ because it leaks a little and burns a little. I will give you a quick rundown...

1. The valve cover is leaking oil around the entire valve cover... I need a new gasket. This leaks onto the exhaust.

2. The exhaust has a blue tint and smells of burning oil... sometimes barely and sometimes plumes of smoke. I figure "valve guides"?

3. There is a tube that runs from the valve cover to the air filter box.

When I bought the Jeep... A 1993 XJ Country 4x4 auto, I changed the cap, rotor button, all six spark plugs and the air filter. The air filter was covered in oil and all of the plugs were toast and the #5 plug was fouled as the gap was closed due to carbon deposits. After changing all of this, the Jeep runs alot better. I have not changed the O2 as of yet due to the burning of oil... I want to fix this first so I am not wasting my time clogging or fouling a new O2 sensor.

Ok, questions...

1. The valve cover gasket... Should I buy cheap "cork" expensive "rubber" or use Permatex?

2. Why is there or rather was there oil on my air filter? Do I need this tube running from the valve cover to my air box? Is it just primitive EGR? Can I just cap it with a breather at the valve cover?

3. This is the one that worries me... I have a very small amount of a cream colored goo at the very tip of my oil dip stick... I am thinking coolant in my oil. However, the engine does NOT over heat, at 212 or so degrees I am guessing, the T-stat opens and the engine stays at just past the first "quarter" mark on the gauge. High 100's I am guessing. Looks very normal. I do not see coolant leaking around the head, on the ground or anywhere else. My coolant level does not change.

I don't know the history of this Jeeps off-road adventures, but could it be possible that the water got in the engine via that tube on the airbox that goes to the valve cover? Or should I be thinking head gasket time? Or worse?

One last thing... I decided to use 10w-40 instead of 10w-30 oil and the pressure is much more stable and higher, about 1:00 on the gauge when on the throttle and straight up at noon at idle.

249,xxx miles.

Thanks in advance everyone.

Mike

 

1: cork works fine
2: clean the ccv hoses, orifices. Look at my valvecover writeup to see what I mean
3: sounds like your motor is just getting a little tired. Keep and eye on stuff.

 

Can you post a quick link to that thread?

As for tired, maybe, but it "feels" very strong. When I get on it and it kicks down a gear or two, it really moves and moves quick. No bogging or complaining.

 

Is it cold in your area/do you do short trips? It might just be built up condensation.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/va...writeup-46054/

 

Very cold right now, 18-35*f in Concord, NC.

Mostly short trips but it did make a trip on Dec 22nd - 29th to Florida and back. No engine issues. Thanks for the link.

 

Id say condensation most likely...

 

I hope so...

I will be keeping an eye on things for sure. As for the oil in the exhaust... are valve guides an issue on these L6's or might it be something else? Possibly that crank case vent blowing into the intake... after all, there was oil ALL over the other air filter.

Sorry if I seem a little un-educated... my last L6's were 2.8L and stuffed into a 1979 280zx, 1982 280zx, and a 1982 Turbo... you guessed it, 280zx

I like inline 6's.

 

The oil in your air filter box can be a clogged CCV system, a bit of true engine blowby, or a combination of both.

It can often be cured or at least "managed" by cleaning the CCV system and that is the absolute first place to start. You are replacing the valve cover gasket, so I would really recommend you replace ALL of the CCV tubing. It isn't that expensive. Try TEAM CHEROKEE or the dealer for these parts. This is the time to do this as these parts get clogged and they get brittle with age/miles.

Here is a link to another thread that delves into this.

http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums...d.php?t=435343

 

never use cork gaskets use the silicone gaskets they never leak

 

Thanks guys, I will be working on this CCV/Valve cover issue asap.

 

I just called a local Jeep Dealer and ALL of the parts for the CCV/PCV system will have to be ordered but they would have them the next day and the cost is $32 in advance. Not bad in my opinion being dealer prices.

 

Prices:

CCV/PCV "kit" - $32
VCG Felpro "Cork/Rubber" - $5.99
Valvoline Carb and Throttle Body Cleaner HD - $3.59 x 2
Air Filter - $19.99
Various other supplies - $10-$15

The Valvoline HD C&TB cleaner... guys and gals, I have used this on the carbs of my 1982 Kawasaki 440 motorcycle and when I say that varnish and sludge MELT away I mean it melts like butter in a hot pan. Brake parts cleaner works fine but if you want EVERYTHING gone from your parts, this is the stuff to get. I only recommend the things I have personally used with success and this stuff I was and am 100% happy with.

 

Good project.

Good luck and be sure to update us on how this affects or if it completely fixes the oil migrating into your air filter.............

 

Will do. I will be taking pics when I begin for a good before and after effect as well.

 

this issue is possible to be rings, I recently did rings on my neighbors i6. He was due for some serious work 289k miles...