I'm starting to get into my 1989 4.0L XJ as I need to get it going. I want it to eventually be my DD here.

PO told me that the valve cover gasket was bad (Ray Charles could've seen that), and that he thought the rear main was bad also.

I replaced the valve cover gasket with a FelPro Perma-dry Plus one-piece rubber design last night. Sealed up great as far as I can tell, and a pretty uneventful job really.

Today I'm running the XJ in the driveway looking for leaks and Seafoaming her. After about 15 minutes I took a peek under the jeep, and there's a MASSIVE puddle of oil, about 6 inches in diameter. To make sure this wasn't just some oil that got spilled when I took off the VC, I rolled the jeep forward a few feet. Each time I revved it to about 1800RPM and held it there for about 10 minutes. Again, a massive puddle of oil.

I took a peek under and it doesn't look like anything is coming from the rear main or the back of the pan. It's VERY CLEARLY dripping from either the front of the oil pan or from behind the crankshaft. It ONLY seems to leak when running. It sat in my driveway for days and didn't leak that much. What could it be?? Could the oil pan gasket possibly leak that much and only when running???

 

Try tightening the oil pan bolts, then clean the engine.
If it still leaks, it eill br pretty apparent where from.

Nick

 

I read you have tracked the leak to the front of the motor. Can you see which side it is coming from? My best guess is oil pan gasket, front seal, oil filter, oil filter adaptor or Oil Pressure sending unit is leaking. With oil pressure sending unit or oil filter adaptor being the most likely candidates. The oil filter, oil filter adaptor and oil pressure sending unit are all on the passenger side of the motor about midway back.

 

Check the oil filter adapter housing. Mine was leakin there and it only would leak when it was runnin and it just about ran out.

 

x2 That can make a mess as it's under pressure when running!!

 

any ideas on left rear corner of the engine? I leave a pretty nasty puddle when I park. I just haven't had time to crawl under and look.

 

Was it leaking before you used the seafoam?

 

I`m not saying this is where your leak is coming from but as others have mentioned a leak at the oil filter adapter will do some odd things.. Mostly because it will leak onto the rail of the engine and run along and come out the first avaliable spot...So the place you see the oil leaking from isnt where the leak actually is...Same goes for a lot of oil leaks..They will run along ridges and rails and pop out at some seam in the engine and it looks as if that is where the oil is coming from.

 

Yes, absolutely. The entire underside of the engine and transmission was oily when I picked her up, lol.

 

X2 Clean up the engine real good. Especially the bottom around the oil pan. Than start her up and crawl under to take a look. Look real close at the oil filter adapter. Mine was leaking from there and made one heck of a mess. Couple of "O" rings. No more leak from there.

 

X3 CLEAN IT ALL!! Then start it and get under there imedeatly with a flash light and you will probably find it