Well the valve cover is dry, just changed that seal about 600 miles ago, and the oil filter adapter is dry, just changed that as well. I still have oil on the bell houseing but odly enough I am not seeing very much loss in oil when I check it. Question is for those of you who have done it did you have to remove the starter? The few write ups I find say yes and no. I have a 2 inch lift and it looks like I have enough room to pull the pan but I will try to get some floor jacks to lift the body off the axle more. Any tips and ideas would be helpfull. I am planning this next weekend.

 

GL yo!

Just did mine not long ago.
Since you have a 2001 XJ, the rear main seal would probably be different from most of the write-up's seal (without the wings). I got mine from the stealership which needed up cheaper than the local auto shop.


I'm a TOTAL NEWBIE and i followed the FSM religiously and so far no leak .

 

Thanks Botakbeng, what was the hardest part about getting the pan out. It doesnt clear the Axle or what? I have read a number of post on this and most say it was difficult to remove the pan. Honestly this has been the one reason why I have avoided doing this job.

 

I have to do mine also.
the one for 00-01 is the seal with no wings?
Did you have any problems putting the oil pan gasket back on?

 

No worries.
I have no problem removing the pan (have a 4.5" lift tho).

Here are some of the things i should have done to save me a lot of time....
1)Torque wrench....loaner from Autozone (loan 2, one for lbs.inch and lbs.ft) as well as breaker bar (loaner as well).
2)Extention for your sockets.
3)13/16 socket for the cam lower brace bolts (13/16 spark plug socket works too)
4)Check with your local dealer to see how much the seal are (local store selling $30++).
4)You might wanna buy the oil pan bracket at the dealer as well (i didn't)
5)Anerobic gasket maker


This is the seal i got


My idiot proof setup


I'm sure many here can you out better than i do (that was my first time using a wrench and it ONLY took me 5 freaking days to complete ).
You will be ok, just post if you face any problem, there are many helpful members here.

Hope this help.
GL.

 

Yes, it will hit the front axle. I have a 2 inch lift so I had to use a small jack between the frame and the axle to make enough cleaance to get it out.

My question to you ... how hard was that oil filter seal?

 

That oil filter was a incredible pain in the @ss. I battled with it for weeks trying to find the right tool combination. I finaly ended up with a t55 not t60 breaking it loose. I used a wrench (cant remember the size) with the t55 bit set in it and wraped tape around the whole thing just leaving the bit exposed. I realized I need to lay under the engine so I could push up on the wrench with a 12 inch piece of cheater pipe. It broke loose after putting enough muscle in it that I thought I would break something. I had to remove the rest of the bolt with an ajustable set of pliers.

 

Damn. Thanks for the info!

 

So just wondering if anyone else has had this problem, I have a 2001 Cherokee. It has 8" lift with 33" tires. When I was going up the Mountains this morning I noticed I was burning off oil like crazy I started seeing it in the rear view...(burning off exhaust under oil/trans pan) But when I do normal city driving it hardly leaks? Didn't know if the extra strain on the engine would cause it to leak more out of the rear main? I didn't know if anyone else has had this issue maybe save me some time replacing parts if its not the RMS

 

I noticed mine seems to be more obvious after short trips in town, but after highway driving it does not seem to be as bad. I have not lost much oil at all in the last 800 miles. I am just a hair above the max line maybe 1/4 quart above and it has stayed that way so I dont get it I dont know where the oil is comming from, and I am sure its oil I checked it out.