I attempted the miserable rear main seal change yesterday and finished today. Long story short is after finishing, drove it down the street and back, probably a tenth of a mile. Parked it to check and probably have 4 ounces out of the rear main seal. I heard they have to swell some, but before I end up taking it somewhere, just want d to make sure this wasn't normal for the first day/ week. Really don't want to pay $400 if I don't have to.

Thanks

2000 stock 4wd

 

Ehhh shouldn't leak at all after replacement. Mine didn't on my jeep and the few other vehicles I've done it to. Sure you got the top seal all the way in?

Edit: are you also sure it's coming from the rear main. Your engine is tilted back so if you follow a plumbers advice, crap flows downhill, any oil that leaks will run to the back of the motor and look as if the rear main is leaking. I'd check your valve cover gasket and oil filter adapter for leaks.

 

Shouldnt leak at all as far as I know.

 

Sure that's where the leak is from and not from the oil filter adapter or valve cover?

 

Thanks guys. Confirmed what I expected. I took it on in while we have an extra vehicle at the house. Definitely from that or the pan gasket. Leaking by far worse than two days ago. Changed other gaskets last year with noticeable improvement. This one, I was just in over my head. I'll still do oil changes, brakes, and the top of the hood.

 

did you do dish soap on the top portion of the seal and rtv at the sides and bottom?

 

I have never heard of that. Of course I didn't read up on doing it. My pan was leaking at the front so while I had it off to replace the gasket I went ahead and did the rear main. I see how it'd make it easier for spinning the top seal in.

 

I've done it to a 91 xj and an 06 tj and never leaks afterwards.

 

Agreed, it shouldn't be leaking at all. Here is a legendary epic on my experience replacing the RMS. The issue was finally resolved around post #67. If you've got some time, there's valuable information in there and some of it might be relevant to the issues you're having.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/rms...te-you-191571/

 

It's at the local mechanic now. Was thinking about it in bed the other night. I'm wondering truly if it is the back of the pan gasket being out of place instead of the RMS. It was a ton of oil. I'm M not definite it stayed in place when I was bolting everything back on. The little U lip doesn't have anything to specifically hold it on and the bellboy sing plate has these flanges that stick out. What a nightmare

 

That U should seat in the channel on the rear bearing cap. If it doesn't, it's possible you did the same thing I did which is to unknowingly leave the old (two-piece) gasket in that channel, giving the new one no place to seat. I probably should have taken mine to a mechanic, too, but I'm stubborn and OCD, lol.