magslam

I did change my Cherokee Sport 1998 oil yesterday. I have changed my oil for years, using Valvoline High Mileage (133707 today) but yesterday I noticed that only about 5 quarters of oil came out. I always pour in 6 quarters.

Is my engine consuming oil? I think so. Is that bad? I don't know. I don't see smoking coming out of the tail pipe. Any comments, suggestions, advice, is welcome.

Thanks!!

Gee oh Dee

Hello and welcome to our forum! The intro section isn't really aimed at tech questions, so I moved your thread to OEM Tech where more folks would see and help!


Anyway, as for the oil missing, it could be leaking, it could be consuming. I wouldn't be overly concerned, tho. Check for leaks or signs of leaks around the valve cover and oil filter.

EZEARL

Only 5qts came out? Is that including the oil in the filter? If not you may only be using around 1/2qt between changes. Not bad.

Firestorm500

How long do you go between changes?

You should probably check your oil level about every other gas fillup. Just to get a baseline measurement on possible oil consumption.

133K on a 4.0? Your engine is still just a baby.

Everyone on this forum has their favorite oil, and they will defend their choice to the max.

I personally have never seen the need for "high mileage" oil. Good old 10W-30, either dino or synthetic, and a Wix, Napa Gold, or Mopar filter seem to do just fine in our Jeeps. NOT Fram.

magslam

Thank you. I did realize my question was misplaced in the intro forum afterwards. I appreciate you move it to the proper place.
I'll learn one way or the other!!!

Thank you again.

magslam

About 5 qts came out including the oil in the filter. I always pour in 6 qts. The valve cover is 2 years old and I do not see any leak there however, the two connectors on the top ( I can't remember the name of those two now), I can see a ring of oil seepage around them. Would about a quarter of oil go through those valves?

magslam

I usually change the oil 3000-3500. I will check as you suggest, between two fill ups now. I always get the Mopar filter from Walmart, and have been using Valvoline high mileage 10-40 for the last 5 to 8 years, since I get pass the 80K. Most of my driving is in city traffic, with occasional off road-ing basically dirt road trails.

I pretend to keep using this Cherokee engine at least to 225K, that's my goal.

EZEARL

"133K on a 4.0? Your engine is still just a baby."
Mines got 137k so it's a tottler now? LOL

The two plugs in top of the valve cover will have a film of oil around them but shouldn't be more. Wipe them off periodically,like when you check your oil,and keep an eye them. Have you looked on the motor underneath for oil? Especially on the bellhousing. Those valve cover gaskets are known to leak at the back and are hard to see. Maybe snug up but not over tighten the oil pan also. Could be the oil filter adapter to.
225k+ should be no problem at all with some TLC.

Gee oh Dee

Its a Jeep. If its not leaking its probably run out of fluid to leak...

(Joking)

94JeepCherokeeMan

Your engine will run best on synthetic. I ran 10W-30 religiously and changed it every 3,000-4,000 miles until I did some reading. Now I run full-synth 5W-20 and go 5,000 mile intervals with a good oil filter.

Visit bobistheoilguy.com and read "Motor Oil University" to learn everything you'll need to know about motor oils.

94JeepCherokeeMan

Dude, no kidding. Only freshly-sealed engines don't leak somewhere it seems!

Firestorm500

You're changing your oil too often. A waste of money, time, and resources.

You can now go 8-10K between changes.

DenaliRanger1

It's funny because it's true!

Gee oh Dee

I change mine every 3-4k.

I'm ok with it.

94JeepCherokeeMan

Some oils are okay to that interval. Some are not. The additives in many oils "wear out" by 5,000 miles. Amsoil, Royal Purple, and Mobil 1 can go 10k with a good filter. I change my oil when it gets dark from dirt, sludge, and carbon deposits that are still in my engine from years past when the Jeep wasn't taken care of before I owned it. This usually ends up being around the 5,000-7,000 mile mark.