Am I missing a bolt? I JUST noticed this morning quite a bit of oil leaking, and some smoke coming out of my engine. I looked under and it looks like oil is dripping onto my exhaust and then burning and that's what the smoke is.... Is this the real main seal? I'm soo mad. 3 people were supposed to look at my Jeep this weekend.

 

I don't believe you are missing a bolt, my 89 looks the same. And yeah, it could be the rear main seal going. I need a new one in mine so it leaks pretty good.

 

So yours looks bent just like that and mine IS missing a bolt... or at least there is a hole for one. It makes me think that someone tampered with it last night because it DID NOT do this last night and I showed someone it who was interested in buying it..

 

What should I do?!

 

Yes, mine is bent a little and I have a hole that looks like a bolt should be through it. My dad assured me there there was never a bolt there since we owned it (second owner since 92). If the leak is bad, replace the seal. Mine isn't too bad yet so I'm not too worried. I just keep a check on my oil. When you sell it, just let them know and be honest. If they know cherokees, they shouldn't have a problem with it. But if you do diagnose the leak as the rear main seal, it's quite the expensive fix.

 

Okay so upon closer inspection. I overreacted because of the smoke. Found a leak in a tranny fluid line that was squirting a mist onto the exhaust which was the smoke and the rear main didn't decide to nuke itself. I'm glad to call myself an idiot today. THANK GOD.

 

Haha, glad to hear that. My rear main isn't too bad yet, but I have to keep an eye on my oil level.