Leaks! leaks! help!?
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Haddonfield NJ
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I did a oil change a few days ago wiped the engine down a little and noticed a fairly large ammount of oil to be coming out the back of the engine *dripping off bottom of oil pan* its also on the bell housing too. could this be a rear main seal? i thought it was just the oil plug gasket but its also further up the back side of the pan. Any one have pictues of a leaking rear main?
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Fauquier County, Virginia
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I-6 4.0 HO
If it is on the top of the bellhousing as well as dripping down all over, it is more like your valve cover gasket, yet another notorious 4.0 oil leak. MUCH easier to fix than a rear main. Get a couple pics and I can further more tell if its Rear Main or VC.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 161
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From: Haddonfield NJ
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
pics will be up soon i have to go to my bank for a few to close my acct. But anyways. I can deff tell my valve cover is leaking, and also the cap on top of it to fill my oil too. *guess the seal went bad* ill take pics and post tonight. Btw i cant tell how bad its leaking, the valve cover that is*
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Haddonfield NJ
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
the oil pressure sending unit broke off i know they start to leak so im replacing the unit friday. I can see some oil on the back of the motor/bellhousing and a good bit dripping off of oil filter so im going to start by replacing the sending unit then filter if it dosnt stop. The drain plug is tight
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,867
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From: Fauquier County, Virginia
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I-6 4.0 HO
First off, your engine bay is incredibly clean. I wish my intake manifold was as clean as yours.
Second, do your Jeep a WELL WORTH WHILE favor and never use Fram again. Use Puralator, or Mobile 1, Mopar, etc.
Third, from what I am seeing with oil being at the top and sides of the bellhousing, my money is on a Valve Cover leak; especially if you have never changed the VC gasket since you owned your XJ. Real simply fix, and a great time to clean your CCV orifaces and such as well. Go to the how-to section, and look for a guy named Defiance. He has an awesome write-up on valve cover gasket changing. Replace your VC gasket, and see if the leak doesn't stop (give it 1 or 2 days because leakin oil from a VC can collect in the bottom of the bellhousing and drip for a little even if the leak is fixed). Keep us posted, and good luck.
Second, do your Jeep a WELL WORTH WHILE favor and never use Fram again. Use Puralator, or Mobile 1, Mopar, etc.
Third, from what I am seeing with oil being at the top and sides of the bellhousing, my money is on a Valve Cover leak; especially if you have never changed the VC gasket since you owned your XJ. Real simply fix, and a great time to clean your CCV orifaces and such as well. Go to the how-to section, and look for a guy named Defiance. He has an awesome write-up on valve cover gasket changing. Replace your VC gasket, and see if the leak doesn't stop (give it 1 or 2 days because leakin oil from a VC can collect in the bottom of the bellhousing and drip for a little even if the leak is fixed). Keep us posted, and good luck.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Haddonfield NJ
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
First off... i used a carwash engine bay cleaner its a green fine mist and it works wonders on the suspension as well.
second what is wrong with fram? *not arguing just wondering*
Third. Will give that a go. and this may be a stupid question but is having a leaking rear main bad? can it cause more issues than oil leaking?
second what is wrong with fram? *not arguing just wondering*
Third. Will give that a go. and this may be a stupid question but is having a leaking rear main bad? can it cause more issues than oil leaking?
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,867
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From: Fauquier County, Virginia
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I-6 4.0 HO
Im gonna have to grab some of that cleaner. When you cleaned your engine, did you have to cover up the distributor and all of that? As for Fram, I have seen a sliced Fram Filter after only 2000k miles; the inside (cheap paper) element was COMPLETELY dissolved and barely holding together. Plus, they are weak as can be. And as for the rear main, sadly enough it will probably decide to go out one day too. They're cheap ($15 I think), but the job itself is VERY oily. Not really difficult, just dirty and time consuming. They dont really cause much more issue, but if they REALLY go, youre talking serious oil leakage.
http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...nt_O-Rings.htm
This is a great article on the oil filter mount leak and how to repair. I throw this out just in case. Mine made a big mess for awhile when it went out.
This is a great article on the oil filter mount leak and how to repair. I throw this out just in case. Mine made a big mess for awhile when it went out.


