Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

Oil Change Nightmare

Old 01-24-2013, 02:33 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
THare22's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 6cyl
Default Oil Change Nightmare

Ok so I'm pretty sure I know what happened here and need to know how I should go about this now. I tried to change the oil today and after about 5 minutes of turning the bolt that it was not coming out. I'm assuming its spinning free, not leaking either. Do I need to replace the pan? What to do?
Old 01-24-2013, 02:37 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
jake92's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 797
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Default

The head as probably broken off the bolt. The least you'll need to do is drop the oil pan. It can be possible to turn the bolt from inside the pan with pliers once you have dropped the pan. If successful, tap and die and use a larger drain plug. If not, buying a new pan is worst case scenario.
Old 01-24-2013, 02:38 PM
  #3  
CF Veteran
 
xj_maniac_newb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Summerville, Ga
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5 4 cyl.
Default

Sounds like its stripped out. Pretty common thing to happen if they're overtightened too much. More than likely your options are gonna be to get a new oil pan or take the one you have off and have the hole tapped for a larger bolt.
Old 01-24-2013, 02:41 PM
  #4  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
THare22's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 6cyl
Default

How easy would it be to drop a new pan in. Probably from a junkyard. I'm fairly mechanically inclined.
Old 01-24-2013, 02:44 PM
  #5  
CF Veteran
 
xj_maniac_newb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Summerville, Ga
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5 4 cyl.
Default

It's easy as unbolting and putting another in its place. Just get a new oilpan gasket. Felpro preferrably.
Old 01-24-2013, 02:44 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
jake92's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 797
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Default

Fairly simple, the process since it has oil is going to be quite messy. Drop it just like you would with a transmission pan. Loosen the rear bolts more than the front and have a drain pan sitting underneath. Once the oil has drained, remove all bolts and drop pan. Clean the gasket mating surface and install new gasket and oil pan.
Old 01-24-2013, 03:05 PM
  #7  
CF Veteran
 
Firestorm500's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
Default

Get a manual drain pump for changing the oil in engines through the dipstick tube.

Warm the engine just a bit, then pump the oil out into a drain pan. Make sure the tube hits the bottom of the oil pan.

Change the filter & refill.

You're Golden.
Old 01-24-2013, 03:22 PM
  #8  
Junior Member
 
sbs10v8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

If your getting a new pan just drill a hole in the old one to drain the oil out
Old 01-24-2013, 03:25 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
jake92's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 797
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Default

Originally Posted by sbs10v8
If your getting a new pan just drill a hole in the old one to drain the oil out
The cheapest oil pan I've seen is $60, it might be the best to at least see if the old pan can be salvaged.
Old 01-24-2013, 03:30 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
diskman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes on 9 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Default

Vice grips the head and pull as you turn. Maybe it will start turning out. Once out, goto the parts store and get an oversized plug. They are self tapping and will make new threads.

Try that before messing with oil pans. You will need a new pan gasket set and mess with that whole chestnut. Keep at the old plug and get a new replacement one. Any good parts store will know what you are talking about if you bring the old one in.

Or, you can go fancy and get the one that has a seperate core. You horse the whole adapter in the stripped hole but the CENTER of it is another 3/8 plug. I used that on my Yamaha bike last summer.
Old 01-24-2013, 05:04 PM
  #11  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
THare22's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 6cyl
Default

I like the vice grips and self tapping plug.


Ill let you know how it goes
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Calikingcrawler
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
8
09-07-2021 07:14 AM
MidwestNick
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
10
02-28-2016 02:05 AM
Tcq192
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
7
10-23-2015 09:25 AM
Soilman
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
0
09-06-2015 07:51 AM
Pez
Modified XJ Cherokee Tech
3
09-02-2015 11:29 PM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Oil Change Nightmare



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:09 PM.