seed

i'm getting some oil drips on my driveway,looks like it's coming off the bottom of the bellhousing doesn't really bother me that it leaks just that it's getting on my driveway! is there any quick fixes? maybe some stop leak? it's probably my rear main right? on a 79 bronco i had once i just dabbed some silicone around there and it stopped....any ideas?

BlueXJ

Put down some cardboard to catch the drips.

seed

yea,thats what i'm currently doing and parking it in the grass, it's just a little inconvienent

CodeXJ

Mine was doing the same. Is it a reddish fluid or a brown fluid? Reddish would be tranny, I'm not sure what color t-case fluid is (purple?)

On my Jeep the oil was leaking out of the back of the valve cover gasket, running down the back of the block, over the bell housing, and dripping to the ground. Popping off the cover and replacing the gasket seems to have solved the issue. Total cost: $40 and a few hours of work. Just make sure you get the mating surfaces nice and clean, I used WD40 and a wire brush.

BlueXJ

If it is engine oil the three main areas are valvecover as mentioned by CodeXJ and oil filter housing has O rings which get old and compressed and require changing and the messiest job is the rear main seal. All three drip off of the bottom of the bellhousing. So a good cleaning will help to pinpoint the source of the drips.
You seemed more concerned with spotting your driveway than the Jeep thus the cardboard comment. We will help you with any of the causes of the dripping but you must first find which of the things listed are the cause.

seed

short term i was just worried about the driveway,but either way i don't want it dripping... at a quick glance the front of the trans and back of the pan are wet and dripping a little,it does have newer valve cover gasket,the oil filter is messy but don't think it's leaking..i'll have to take a closer look when i have the time..i wish there were more time in the day,you know what i mean,thats why i was wondering if that stop leak stuff for oil leaks was worth buying,cause thats the quickest route for now..oh and it is oil

CodeXJ

I would never use oil stop leak in my engine, I'd be worried it might plug up one of the many small oil passages in the engine.

Check the valve cover bolt at the back drivers-side of the cover. It's next to impossible to see, but this is where mine was leaking. All my valve cover bolts were basically finger tight, I've got them torqued to 15ft/lbs with the new gasket. Probably a little tight, but it's not leaking.

seed

ok,well i'm pretty positive it's rear main,this upsets me i just don't have the time to fix it myself right now...how much does it cost to have a shop do it? it's getting worse especially right when i shut it off it drips about a half dollar size spot then slows down to just a couple more drips.

okcjeeper

Shop will cost you around $500 or more...I'd just deal with it till you have time...Parts are oil pan gasket and seal probably $40 tops in parts if you get the high end one piece gasket..And a few hours..but if you do it whether yourself or a shop have the oil pump and pickup tube replaced at the same time.

jamaicanmecrazy

Hence why I use brake fluid to swell old gaskets and seals.

BlueXJ

Does brake fluid mix with oil??? Never tried that combination.

seed

whoa!! yea i can't shell out 500 bills for it..it's gonna have to leak for a while...unless somebody wants to drive to pa and make a couple extra bucks!!

seed

however i did top it off today(oil) and i just checked the level and it's just a smidge over,will this make it leak more than normal?

BlueXJ

No it won't.
Where in Pa are you? You may be able to talk some Pa members into helping you. Muddeprived is from Pa and we have others. Post up in the section for your wheeling area and someone may be close enough to come assist you.

jamaicanmecrazy

Yup!
Brake fluid is highly refined alcohol and in the crank case and tranny it causes old gaskets and seals to swell.
I usually start with 1/2 a small bottle and if still leaks a few days later I dump the rest. If it still leaks then it's labor time.

Youngsters, we have to teach them all the old tricks.

1qt diesel and 1qt keroscene in the crankcase idling 1/2 hour and drain will melt sludge also. you can drive it if you don't go over 45 and don't rev it up too much.