Still building confidence to swap oil filter adaptor ring which is causing a mess In the meantime, while filter is off, I'd like to clean the poor starter (?). Can I shoot it with brake cleaner and wipe on it- looks like there are a couple electrical harnesses going on right there next to it. And should i pop on the old filter just to keep that covered while I clean? Sorry for uber basic question- haven't yet figured out what can be cleaned with what. Thanks! Here's my daily disgusting...

 

I might just wait until the O rings are dealt with, then remove the starter and take it apart to clean it.

IN any case be very careful with any can of anything around battery wiring. My dad had to do a report on a guy who touched a can on his positive post, he was burned pretty bad in the explosion.

 

Could indeed do with some cleaning.
What do you mean with putting the oil filter back on? The oil filter?
You can remove that and leave it, you will just loose the oil within the filter, if that's what you mean.

You can spray the connections, but if it was mine, I'd go and remove the starter for a thorough clean. Being drenched in oil like take, has a big chance the internals are contaminated as well. Not a big job, there is a write up available with good pics somewhere.

But, as long as that oil filter adaptor ring is leaking, you will be doing this again.
Why not go and tackle to cause first, then deal with the other damage later? As long as it starts, it can be done later...

 

Thanks. Flintstone, I'm actually absurdly afraid of the battery and had both terminals disconnected and put in cardboard sleeves Roler, I had the oil filter off and that's when I noticed how bad the starter was.
I intended to take it off to figure out how to clean it, but had a hard time finding the 2nd bolt and the connector wires with all the build-up. Anyway, did the best scraping/clean up I could while it was still attached and will simply bump that O ring up a couple notches on my to-do list so I can properly address all issues. It's my DD so I'm often confined to baby steps.

 

Curious...

Where is the oil filter adaptor leaking from, the parting surface between the adaptor and the block or between the adaptor devil bolt and the adaptor?

In my old butcher days I would clean that adaptor up real good and glob RTV around the leaking parting surface, let it dry, and apply another coat.

Today [my un-butcher days] I have a few bux, and time, to address these sort of things properly, but back then I just needed a vehicle to get me to work and had no money or time to dick with nicey nicey stuff.

 

Non-butchers don't have but one tube of silicone or RTV in their tool box. Butchers have every color on hand, but never seem to use the correct flavor for the job.

 

Here's a couple of links> OIL FILTER ADAPRER O RINGS http://www.myjeepxj.com/cherokee-rep...filter-adapter And a link with torx.. https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/oi...o-ring-127359/

Might be easy, might not. Use black rings, I've seen a few posts of guys needing to do it again after using colored, (Blue green?).

12 volt won't shock you. High amps though! If you short something like a wrench, a metal watch-band, a ring, or a metal can it will spark and get very hot right now! With just the negative terminal off, their is no chance for a circuit unless something touches the negative battery post. (of course with it not running).

IIRC the top bolt is sort of behind/hidden and comes from the front to the back. Just a long extension might be too short, and their may not be room for a long and a 3 inch. I might have used a long with a deep-well socket, might be 9/16---14mm. The lower I think comes from the rear toward the front into the starter, as I remember!

 

CCKen, I haven't figured out which surface is the problem with the adaptor. Part of that is the whole "how to clean without hurting things" issue. I've had the xj for about 3.5 mos now - there is some pretty thick oil/grime/etc in much of the bay. I have swapped the VC gasket and cleaned that area best I could. That little lip around the valve cover has stayed clean and I still see the blue gasket all the way around (and other things have stopped getting blowback since, although CCV now making a tiny, barely noticeable mess)
I have had the oil pressure sending unit out (for manual test), cleaned area up -again, non-aggressively b/c I do not know that type of cleaner can go on what parts and how. There has been no wetness/leakiness around that unit. Adaptor is totally gunked up (as was dist cap but changed that last week and it has stayed shockingly clean).
I KNOW oil pan gasket needs to be changed and have one on hand as well as several write ups but I also know I need to wait til I have help with that. Plus, I didn't want to skip a step in cruiser54's "chasing leaks" instructions and forget the adaptor. Haha.
But now that I've written it all out book-style, I wonder if there's a chance in Hades that the remaining horrible mess is caused by oil pan and not adaptor (hey look, Catch 22-I can maybe figure it out by cleaning, once I figure how to do that without hurting the xj haha)
And thanks again Flintstone, ALL battery assurances welcome! I have seen one of those write ups but have bookmarked the other one now as well
Oh, and think I found the backward bolt at the IIRC, thanks! Hadn't picked up from other threads that is was bckwrds. (Also found another bolt hole with no bolt. Haha.)

 

Here's what I have used in the past:

Zep Industrial Purple Cleaner & Degreaser, used full strength.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-1-gal...6128/100047759

Used in a small hand pump sprayer.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-32-oz...RO36/100007602

Adgitated with a parts cleaning brush (from auto parts stores), or cheap paint brush.

And rinsed off (gently) so as not to get it on electrical connectors using water in a garden sprayer. You can cover your starter with a plastic garbage bag if you like. Use mineral spirits and a brush to clean the starter, followed up with CRC electronic cleaner. Use the CRC electronic cleaner on the electrical connectors.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RL-Flo-Ma...401P/100188485

Repeat process until all gunk is removed.

Edit: Wear eye protection and rubber gloves.

 

There we have it! Thank you! I've read so many threads trying to find step-by-step (ie "dumbed down") instructions about cleaning, but never found what I was looking for in any detail (somewhat understandable seeing as "science" suggests that women sometime perform tasks slower by wasting time calculating risks haha).
I can definitely work with these instructions!!

 

I like Ken's approach, I do it differently though. A car-wash bay has the proper stuff to capture the oil and stuff. Dressed to get dirty, with glasses I'll spray the foaming engine degreaser on right there in the Mall Wart parking lot. Firewall, inner fenders, the "Netherlands" below. Not the left side, manifolds, or the distributor, just the grimy/greasy. The bottom of the hood if it's metal. Avoid electronics.

15 minutes later at the car wash, that high pressure wand can push crud and water IN places where you don't want it. I might have it pretty close for the side of the block or pan, but be way farther back to go over the firewall and fenders. Common sense rules. You might bean pretty solid on the field of the valve cover, but not around the fittings or where it mates to the head, back off for a gentile spray. The dizzy and the sensors on the manifolds (and the manifolds), should be avoided, the rest can take a rinse, (within reason). Avoid electronics.

Btw I was not sure I got you there...IIRC is, "If I Recall Correctly"

 

haha. Clumsy, fast typing gets me every time. Think I was looking at your response while typing, and lost my brain-finger connection with the IIRC reference Thanks for the car wash tips - I do like the idea of doing that over a proper drain.

 

If you do the car wash thing keep in mind that the water comes out of the hose unmetered. There have been many posts of peeps doing this then crying that the car won't start. They sprayed down the TPS and other sensors with high pressure water.

Be careful lass.

 

If you feel like tackling it, I would highly recommend removing the starter to open it up and get it refurbished a bit.

I had a crap ton of sand and mud in mine, and the contacts were all dull. I used emory cloth, lots of di-electric grease, and plenty of degreaser to get it all cleaned up and it probably saved me from having to buy a replacement or have this rebuilt professionally.

The outside of my housing is covered in rust though - I will probably end up buying another one down the road anyways though...