It an oil leak in 98 xj4x4 my buddy says it's valve cover gasket? Any obvious or typical signs of this causing a leak I could look for?

 

Clean up all the grime around the valve cover (when cold). Then drive it around like usual and inspect after for leaks

 

see if your vc bolts are loose sometimes they loosen up... and x2 on cleaning the motor... what side of the motor does it appear the oil leak is on??

 

Middle

 

right under the oil pan is... the front or the back of the motor... if it is the back it is most likely your vc gasket...

 

[QUOTE="The Rooster"]right under the oil pan is... the front or the back of the motor... if it is the back it is most likely your vc gasket...[/QUOTE

Thanks a ton, I'm new to the hobby. Just bought a jeep a few days ago and I'm tryin to get it as close to perfect as possible before I start actually doing anything to it. Thanks again this might be the coolest app. Ever created.

 

Common leaks are valve cover, oil filter adaptor, oil sending unit, oil pan and less often rear main oil seal.

 

I replaced my vc gasket, changed my oil and now I'm noticing clean oil leak on bottom of oil pan right around drain plug or on top. Any ideas????

 

Check your oil pressure sensor. They leak internally and will pour out of the plug. It will drip onto the oil filter and eventually down to the oil pan and drip there as well.

 

Couple of thoughts:
A valve cover can leak just about anywhere aroung the whole cover, best to clean the engine to find the possible leaking point. Since you changed the valve cover gasket, lets rule out that as the leaking point now.
Clean oil on the pan now, 2 things I can think about may cause this:
Did you make sure there is not a double gasket under the oil filter. XJ's have a tendency to have the old gasket stick to the mounting surface (especially Fram filters). You dont notice it there and place the new filter over the old gasket. This will cause a leak of new oil.
Second, does you year oil plug have a plastic gasket between the plug and oil pan? The gasket may be cracked and needs replaced.
Otherwise I would recheck the bolts holding the new valve cover gasket.