I have an oil leak. I'm pretty sure the oil filter adapter is leaking, but I'm not totally sure if that's the only leak. How can i tell if I have a leak from the rear main seal? and are there more places that could be the source? I've already replaced the valve cover gasket. The oil seams to be dripping from the motor somewhere to the front of the oil pan, then onto the ground. This is on a 2000 XJ. thanks.

 

There can be many places where it could be leaking from. Is there a substantial amount of oil your losing? Most Cherokees leak some oil. Mine leaks oil but it doesn't bother me. If it starts to get bad then ill replace seals but until then I'm not too worried.

 

It's coming from the front of the engine? I'd look at the seal that is behind the harmonic balancer, the timing cover seal and the distributor gasket. Also make sure you torqued the valve cover right and it's not dripping down from up there. Your best bet is to degrease the engine, take it for a short drive and then get down there an look real closely at every inch of the engine

 

spray the engine down real good, then run it and look to see where the oil is actually coming from.

 

　

I'd be looking up ABOVE first, and VERIFYING the source of the oil leak YOURSELF.

Everybody, who doesn't own or have to pay for or perform your vehicle repairs, loves to poke their noggin UNDER the Jeep and come out bearing the false bad news that your RMS is leaking.

Many mechanics, friends, people on Jeep forums who can’t see your Jeep from where they’re at, and good old Uncle Bob seem to enjoy telling you it’s the rear main seal. Has a catastrophic ring to it, doesn’t it?

A simple leak at the back of the valve cover or other source could produce the same symptoms. You don’t need to be a mechanic to figure this out. If you have good eyesight and a dim flashlight, you’re good to go on your own. Don't jump on the RMS/oil pan gasket bandwagon right off the bat.

Almost any oil leak on your 4.0 is gonna drip from the RMS area for two simple reasons.

First off, the engine sits nose-up and any oil will run back to the RMS area. Secondly, the RMS area is also the lowest point on the engine. Simple physics and the old plumber's adage apply here. "$hit flows downhill".

Valve cover gasket, oil pressure sending unit, oil filter adapter seals and distributor gasket, in that order, have to be eliminated as possibilities first.

Revised 02-26-2013

 

thanks for all the replies . I'll have some time tomorrow to take a look. It makes sense that it looks like the rms because that's where the oil is going to wind up.

 

YOU can diagnose this yourself just fine. We have confidence in you.

 

The weather finally cleared up so I finally got around to looking at the leak. It looks like the oil filter adapter is leaking. I went to the auto parts store and they have the o ring, and they said it is just one o ring in the 2000. I cannot find how to remove the adapter for a 2000 XJ. is it the same as the other years? I've read you need a #60 torx socket. I even looked at Alldatadiy and they just have the hours for the job listed with nothing else. Usually they will give you a diagram and the tools needed.

 

Take a pick of the bolt head with your phone. Thats what I did mine was a 14mm allen head

 

I'm sitting here laughing--I was thinking take a picture? I can't even see it, then I realized the phone is slimmer than my head and it can fit in there to get a picture. Thanks.

 

It's a T-60 torx, and it's a real tight fit. I'm going to try to get it tomorrow morning when the jeep is cold.

 

Should be 3 o-rings, sold in a set by the dealer.

 

I thought it was a 3 ring set also. The guy looked it up at the parts store and said it was showing just the one. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

 

Don't get it all apart and only have one o-ring in hand. I'll guarantee it's 3.

From CF's technical write-up section:

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/oi...o-ring-127359/

 

The link shows only 1 large O-ring. Where do the other two go?