Note from DJ
OK you have a 2000 with the 4.0 that means you have a stamped metal valve cover that helps, the early Jeeps had a heavy Aluminum valve cover.

Did you use a cheaper cork gasket [some of the cork gaskets have a little bit too small] or the more expensive Fel Pro valve cover gasket; if used the Fel Pro it can be reused?

Did you clean both the head and the valve cover really good?

Did you check the valve cover with a straight edge to make sure it was bent where the bolts go through?

Did you make sure that no debris fell into the holes that the hold down bolts go into; some are not open on the bottom so that the any debris can be pushed out the bottom?

There may have been metal sleeves in the bolt holes in your old gasket they are called Sleeve Torque Limiter; there are 15 of them per engine. If they were in your old gasket you should have reused them.

You can try to tighten the bolts in that corner. I use a 1/4in. drive deep well socket on my 88’s.

Cruiser54 link covers most of the other possible leaks, but you indicate that you believe yours is leaking at the back of the valve cover because when you wipe it off oil keeps reappearing and you have replaced the valve cover gasket a couple months ago.

It is very frustrating when something goes wrong, but we learn from mistakes.

Please keep us posed for more ideas or your progress.

 

Well when I replaced the gasket, I installed it onto a brand new cylinder head... So it was clean as could be... As for the torque limiters I did not notice them in the old head nor did I install any in the new head... Would this be a problem??? It's not leaking anywhere else but that back... And tigten the bolt already and can't be tighten anymore.....

 

Note from DJ
OK which gasket did you use?

 

Blue felpro gasket and I have the torque limiters also.... I think I over tighten the gasket.....

 

Note from DJ
Regarding Torque limiter sleeve for 4.0 engine
Have a look at this posting from 2013 nobody could find them except at the Junk Yarns probably on any model Jeep [Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler etc. ; As long as they have a 4.0 Engine] from 94 up.
See post #20 by salad for photo of what they look like.
Please keep us posted as to how your progressing so that the next person with this problem can benefit from the information.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/tor...engine-185653/

 

Are you sure sure sure sure sure sure when you put Valve Cover there wasn't a cable or even a ground wire etc that may have gotten in the way before you tightened down? The reason I say is because using the blue FEL PRO gasket and clean cylinder head and clean valve cover, its kinda hard to not have a good seal. The Gasket is reusable, just remove valve cover and recheck and clean everything.

 

I looked, although not too hard, for the valve cover torque and also the oil pan. Didn't find either in my crappy service manual. Is there a torque - i'm sure there is- and what is it?
Sorry not trying to hijack- seems on topic.......

 

According to my manual its 133 in. lbs

 

got it- I think that's just over 11 ft #

 

ok guys so i think i found the problem.... One the bolts were tighten down way to tight, and two..... i didn't install new runner grommets.... lesson learned... so far i have no a single bit of oil leaking from the rear valve cover gasket... I've cleaned the bottom of the engine and oil has pretty much stopped dripping down... i have little residual oil left but thats it......

 

Note from DJ
Thanks for the conclusion.
I hope that you didn’t replace your rear main seal because of this leak.
Happy Jeeping

 

Woohoo, and welcome to the best Cherokee forum there is!!!

Great job of sticking with it.

 

i did replace the rms because i didn't think i 2 month old gasket would leak.... but lesson learned... and the funny thing now is.... the o ring on the adapter is leaking also

 

That's a bummer.....

 

Well at least after I replace the o ring she will finally be leak free