Non mechanical girl with a mechanical question here..
Seasoned Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 473
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
i am a 92 owner. when i bought my heep the valve cover was extremely lose. i torqued it down and now the leak is gone. rear mains dont go that often
Seasoned Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 473
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, B.C.
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L 190 hp I6
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, B.C.
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L 190 hp I6
No, it's this
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/dispatch/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/dispatch/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/dispatch/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/dispatch/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/dispatch/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-4.png[/IMG]
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/dispatch/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/dispatch/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/dispatch/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/dispatch/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/dispatch/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-4.png[/IMG]
☠ CF Sheriff ☠
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,197
Likes: 18
From: Aberdeen, MD
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO I-6, 703 Injectors, Brown Dog Super Engine Mounts
that's not a wagoneer...there were no wagoneers made in 1992
confused...
confused...
Last edited by dukie564; Jan 6, 2011 at 12:37 PM.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
This guy is on the right track. You definitely want to pinpoint the location the leak is originating from before tearing things apart (especially the rear main, which done incorrectly will make things worse).
My advice is to to to the car wash, and spray the underside of the engine and oil pan down REALLY well to get all the oil/grease/dirt off (a cleaner called "simple green" works wonders here). Drive it around the block a few times (low speed not highway) to dry it off and to get the oil flowing. Hopefully at this point you'll be able to see exactly where the oil is coming from.
By far the most common area for a oil leak on our vehicles is the oil filter adapter (where the filter screws in). There are 3 o-rings that are known to leak when they deteriorate, and the leak flows to the back of the oil pan under higher speed, making it look like the oil comes from the rear of the engine. It's a pretty cheap and simple fix to replace these. It's also common for the oil pressure sending unit (located on top of the filter adapter with the wires plugged into it) to leak when the sending unit goes bad. That's another option.
My advice is to to to the car wash, and spray the underside of the engine and oil pan down REALLY well to get all the oil/grease/dirt off (a cleaner called "simple green" works wonders here). Drive it around the block a few times (low speed not highway) to dry it off and to get the oil flowing. Hopefully at this point you'll be able to see exactly where the oil is coming from.
By far the most common area for a oil leak on our vehicles is the oil filter adapter (where the filter screws in). There are 3 o-rings that are known to leak when they deteriorate, and the leak flows to the back of the oil pan under higher speed, making it look like the oil comes from the rear of the engine. It's a pretty cheap and simple fix to replace these. It's also common for the oil pressure sending unit (located on top of the filter adapter with the wires plugged into it) to leak when the sending unit goes bad. That's another option.
☠ CF Sheriff ☠
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,197
Likes: 18
From: Aberdeen, MD
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO I-6, 703 Injectors, Brown Dog Super Engine Mounts
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 35
Likes: 2
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Hi Rustie, how are you set for possible helpers among friends and family?
We can do pretty darn good giving advice on this site, lots of experience here. Anything any Cherokee has ever put an owner through, well, you can probably find it on a thread search here.
My general bit of advice is to first make sure of the source of the leak - then gather the necessary tools and help to get it fixed.
After reading through the 4 pages, it's pretty obvious you have an oil leak and not a trans fluid leak. (Please bear with me; I've been up for 36 hours straight and am kind of loopy right now.)
Some basic troubleshooting is in order. You seem to be happy to learn.
Try running your hand around the back side of the head, just below the valve cover. Is there (reasonably) fresh oil? If so, the valve cover gasket is history.
Is there any oil on the back of the engine that might have leaked from a place ABOVE the level of the crankshaft and its rear seal?
BTW, I'm a newbie to Jeeps myself. As a side note, you can bring up any codes that are stored in your computer by turning the ignition key "On-Off-On-Off-On" and watching the flashes of your Check Engine Light.
Give it a try, (your '92 will output 2 digit codes) these Jeeps are fun to poke around in!
Dan_in_WA
We can do pretty darn good giving advice on this site, lots of experience here. Anything any Cherokee has ever put an owner through, well, you can probably find it on a thread search here.
My general bit of advice is to first make sure of the source of the leak - then gather the necessary tools and help to get it fixed.
After reading through the 4 pages, it's pretty obvious you have an oil leak and not a trans fluid leak. (Please bear with me; I've been up for 36 hours straight and am kind of loopy right now.)
Some basic troubleshooting is in order. You seem to be happy to learn.
Try running your hand around the back side of the head, just below the valve cover. Is there (reasonably) fresh oil? If so, the valve cover gasket is history.
Is there any oil on the back of the engine that might have leaked from a place ABOVE the level of the crankshaft and its rear seal?
BTW, I'm a newbie to Jeeps myself. As a side note, you can bring up any codes that are stored in your computer by turning the ignition key "On-Off-On-Off-On" and watching the flashes of your Check Engine Light.
Give it a try, (your '92 will output 2 digit codes) these Jeeps are fun to poke around in!
Dan_in_WA
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, B.C.
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L 190 hp I6
I can't reach the back of the engine, lol, I'm only 5'2" 
I have literally no friends here that are able to help, as the town I'm currently in is a busy oil town, and no one has time for anything but work.
I know there's fresh oil on TOP of my engine, or so it looks, nearly every time I pop my hood to top her off. I should take pictures....
Yeah, I think I'll take some pictures and see if that helps. ....would that help?
The mechanic who changed my heater blower motor agrees that it's the rear main, so should I believe him? He told me it's better off to keep topping her off, he wasn't trying to sell a big fix to me. So, why would he give me false information?
I have literally no friends here that are able to help, as the town I'm currently in is a busy oil town, and no one has time for anything but work.
I know there's fresh oil on TOP of my engine, or so it looks, nearly every time I pop my hood to top her off. I should take pictures....
Yeah, I think I'll take some pictures and see if that helps. ....would that help?
The mechanic who changed my heater blower motor agrees that it's the rear main, so should I believe him? He told me it's better off to keep topping her off, he wasn't trying to sell a big fix to me. So, why would he give me false information?
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, B.C.
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L 190 hp I6
When you say to turn the ignition key, do you mean just until the power comes through? Or turn her right over?
God I feel so silly for some of the questions I'm asking. BUT, in my defense, I'd rather look silly now, and hopefully save my Rustie AND somewhere down the road, be able to answer someone else's silly questions
God I feel so silly for some of the questions I'm asking. BUT, in my defense, I'd rather look silly now, and hopefully save my Rustie AND somewhere down the road, be able to answer someone else's silly questions
☠ CF Sheriff ☠
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,197
Likes: 18
From: Aberdeen, MD
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO I-6, 703 Injectors, Brown Dog Super Engine Mounts
it is a common place and usually the first place mechanics default to for an oil leak without further investigation.
In order to tell definitively the engine needs to be cleaned really well to find fresh oil. Pictures will help for sure, but won't do much good unless the engine is clean.
In order to tell definitively the engine needs to be cleaned really well to find fresh oil. Pictures will help for sure, but won't do much good unless the engine is clean.