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Leaking oil

Old Mar 21, 2008 | 11:38 AM
  #1  
Jeepster120's Avatar
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From: Oceanside, CA
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Default Leaking oil

I am leaking a lot of oil. Don't know where from. It seems to be running down the bell housing and on from there. I took it to pep boys ( I know, bad idea) and they told me it was the rear main seal. I took it to another place and they told me the oil filter housing gasket(?). They replaced that and it is still leaking. I am losing about two quarts on a three hour drive, from Oceanside, CA to Yuma, AZ. Has anyone had this problem before? If so, please help.
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 11:42 AM
  #2  
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Classic rear main seal leak. Almost 100% sure, you could take a picture for more clarification but its a very common thing for the 4.0.
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 02:29 PM
  #3  
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From: Kalkaska, Michigan
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
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Rear main seal.. This reminds me I have to replace mine when good weather gets here..
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 04:02 PM
  #4  
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Year: 1990
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Is this hard to replace? Mine doesnt leak but being that it is a 90' i think its due!
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 05:16 PM
  #5  
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From: Kalkaska, Michigan
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Originally Posted by srt-iz
Is this hard to replace? Mine doesnt leak but being that it is a 90' i think its due!
If it don't leak don't touch it(your lucky). Only replace it if need be. I've known people to replace them and they start leaking 6 months later others get years.. You never can tell..
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 07:26 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by srt-iz
Is this hard to replace? Mine doesnt leak but being that it is a 90' i think its due!
Its a major PITA, dont do it unless you need to.
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 08:11 PM
  #7  
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From: W-PA
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
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Originally Posted by Kyle Deidrick
Its a major PITA, dont do it unless you need to.
A major MESSY PITA


mine's dripping too. It's either the rear main or the valve cover gasket. I know the gasket is leaking in the rear but it's hard to tell if it's that or the rear main. I waited till now cuz it's lifted with bigger tires so i can crawl under there with some room to work.

Last edited by muddeprived; Mar 21, 2008 at 08:13 PM.
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 09:02 PM
  #8  
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From: Elizabeth WV
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Yea if a 4.0 isn't leaking oil it's out. lol
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 10:36 PM
  #9  
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From: Fort Myers, FL
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L High Output OBDII
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I JUST had the same issue. It is a PITA. I was blowing almost 2/3 a quart in 8 miles to work. When I got to work I put it on a lift -

- My Rear main had completely given out

- Oil Filter Housing gasket was also shot

My shop didn't cover those types of repairs. Luckily my bosses' husband owns a 4x4 shop in Ft Myers, about 40 miles away.

She trailered my Jeep up to her husbands shop so he could do the work; hows this for getting an "In the biz" deal -

Replaced Rear Main
Replaced oil filter housing Gasket
Replaced oil Pan Gasket
New vent tubing on gas tank
Fixed tiny transmission leak at intercooler

I'm not gonna say exactly what it came out to - but less then $400.

I would have done the work myself, however its also my Daily driver, so without it and a full time job, I'm screwed. I needed it done asap.

Another reason I didn't do it was because on our porgram "Mitchel", it calls for the removal of the AW4 transmission. I've heard theres a bypass to get around this, but you gotta know what your doing & if you mess up the rear bearing cap = there goes the motor. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong there)

All said and done the truck runs strong and is the first Jeep out of 4 that has never leaked in a parking spot, kinda scarey!
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 10:50 PM
  #10  
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From: Oceanside, CA
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thanks for the help. This is gonna cost a bit. I did find a place that will do it for 350. I tok it to them before and they are the ones who said it was the oil filter housing, so maybe they will give me a deal. They did say it was fixed, so they kind of owe me for lying.
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 10:55 PM
  #11  
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From: Fort Myers, FL
Year: 1996
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Engine: 4.0L High Output OBDII
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In a shop; Price is ALWAYS negociable, esp. on the Seccond time.
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Old Mar 24, 2008 | 09:36 AM
  #12  
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I-6 282
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if its not leaking bad, i wouldnt touch it. i might even pay to have mine done thats how much i dont wanna do it.
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Old Mar 24, 2008 | 07:59 PM
  #13  
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From: raleigh, nc
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
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yea it sucks pretty bad. mine was done at like 80k, you have to like take off the whole bottom of the engine and everything, major pain.
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Old Mar 29, 2008 | 08:14 AM
  #14  
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From: Mentor, OH
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: IL6 4.0
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I had to replace the valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket and the rear main seal on my '94 to get it to stop leaking last summer. My '92 leaks like a seive so I will probably be addressing that when the weather breaks. It too looks like all three of the above.
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