Replacing the gasket and rear main seal on 2000 Grand Cherokee 4.0 L with 158K miles on it. Oil leak evident at both the front and rear of pan so I am assuming the gasket and seal to be the likeliest culprits. From everything I have researched on this job, it is time consuming, awkward and dirty, if not particularly difficult. I was going to replace the oil pump and pickup tube while I have the pan off, the previous owner gave me a list of repairs the oil pump is the original as far as I know. 2 questions. Should I just replace the gasket and seal and leave well enough alone (oil pressure is good) or is replacing the pump and tube the better option while the pan is off? If replacement is recommended, what is the best priming procedure for this vehicle? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

If you want my opinion, as long as you have decent oil pressure, like 40 psi at idle hot, leave well enough alone. My 2000 4.0 has 220K miles on it and still holds 40 at idle and 55 on cold startup.

 

i agree with dave. no need to mess with something that works, and there is a potential of creating a bigger problem if you do change it out.

 

Thanks for the advice, will leave it for now. Anyone looking for an oil pump and pickup tube? Furthering the discussion, can the oil pan be dropped in this model without disassembling some steering linkages and/or part of the exhaust. I see videos detailing this procedure mostly with the front axle taken off. I am assuming clearance can be achieved by getting the thing as high as safely possible (am using jackstands) and letting suspension hang/sag as low as possible. Any other potential pitfalls I should try to avoid? Love the site, and the help.

 

What they said. I have had only 1 oil pump fail in all the vehicles I have ever owned. That was in a 52 Chevy PU. It was a gear driven type pump, (I have no clue how others work) and one gear split on its axel and the oil just spun it.

 

I have a 6 inch lift and pulling the pan out was a little tight for me. But i had it on stands so if you let your axle drop it might work, but i cant say for certain.

 

Jacked this thing up and its not the pan leak I thought but the lower seals of the pitman arm. Rear main seal does have a small leak but the power steering is leaking badly and reservoir was down 3/4. May get to both but this is now the priority. Fluid was also in the channel by the steering gear adjustment nut, I'm guessing this mean the upper seal is shot as well.