Oil Leak!!
10-06-2019, 10:10 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Oil Leak!!
I have had a valve cover gasket leak for awhile now, but it’s very minor. As i was driving one day my oil light came on and i started smelling burning oil. when i got home within 15 minutes i had A LOT of oil on my driveway. i lost a quart of oil in one day. after looking at it, the oil’s highest point is on the engine block right next to the oil filter. it is also dripping on the oil filter. my thoughts were either the oil filter, oil pan gasket, or rear main seal. please help!!
10-06-2019, 10:21 AM
#2
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: CO
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 0
Received 20 Likes
on
18 Posts
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Are you able to clean the engine off and take a short drive to see where fresh oil is coming from?
1qt is a lot of oil to loose, is something loose, filter, drain plug?
1qt is a lot of oil to loose, is something loose, filter, drain plug?
The following 2 users liked this post by 4x4jeepmanthing:
318SixPack (10-06-2019),
Batman33165 (10-08-2019)
10-06-2019, 03:55 PM
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Southern Oregon Valley
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
5 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 LTR
As the block is below the head and you have a valve cover leak already, I would start there. if the burning oil smell is strong, accompanied by smoke, the only possibility is oil falling onto the exhaust manifold - again the valve cover gasket, although a very remote possibility of a bad head gasket.
The following 2 users liked this post by 280ezrider:
318SixPack (10-06-2019),
Batman33165 (10-08-2019)
10-06-2019, 09:09 PM
#4
Newbie
Thread Starter
I was working on it today. cleaned it off a bit, replaced the oil filter (stupid oil change place put the wrong filter on. never going there again) and ran it. Looks like it’s coming from oil filter adapter so i’m going to replace the gasket tomorrow and let you know. It blows my mind how much oil i’ve lost. went from full line to under the add line ��
The following users liked this post:
318SixPack (10-06-2019)
10-06-2019, 11:01 PM
#5
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: CO
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 0
Received 20 Likes
on
18 Posts
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I was working on it today. cleaned it off a bit, replaced the oil filter (stupid oil change place put the wrong filter on. never going there again) and ran it. Looks like it’s coming from oil filter adapter so i’m going to replace the gasket tomorrow and let you know. It blows my mind how much oil i’ve lost. went from full line to under the add line ��
I think you can get away with doing the gasket with out draining the oil, just residual from the filter.
Keep us posted on your progress, it sounds like you've found the area it's leaking from!
Best of luck
10-07-2019, 07:24 AM
#6
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,971
Received 1,559 Likes
on
1,263 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
REAR MAIN SEAL DIAGNOSIS
I’d be looking up ABOVE first, and VERIFYING the source of the oil leak YOURSELF.
Everybody, who doesn’t own or have to pay for or perform your vehicle repairs, loves to poke their noggin UNDER the Jeep and come out bearing the false bad news that your RMS is leaking. Many mechanics, friends, and good old Uncle Bob seem to enjoy telling you it’s the rear main seal. Has a catastrophic ring to it, doesn’t it?
A simple leak at the back of the valve cover or other source could produce the same symptoms. You don’t need to be a mechanic to figure this out. If you have good eyesight and a dim flashlight, you’re good to go on your own. Don’t jump on the RMS/oil pan gasket bandwagon right off the bat.
Almost any oil leak on your 4.0 is gonna drip from the RMS area for two simple reasons:
First off, the engine sits nose-up and any oil will run back to the RMS area.
Secondly, the RMS area is also the lowest point on the engine. Simple physics and the old plumber’s adage apply here: “Crap flows downhill”.
Valve cover gasket, oil pressure sending unit, oil filter adapter seals and distributor gasket, in that order, have to be eliminated as possibilities first. A little tip here. Rather than use a dizzy gasket, use an o ring instead. NAPA #727-2024. Tips 12 and 13 will help you get your distributor back in place correctly.
10-07-2019, 07:27 AM
#7
CF Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1,577
Received 278 Likes
on
242 Posts
Year: 1995 RHD
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0l
The adapter O rings are a very common leak spot. Make sure you have a good grip on the bolt that holds the adapter on as it can be very tight to break loose.
When I did mine, one of the old O rings just snapped.
When I did mine, one of the old O rings just snapped.
Trending Topics
The following users liked this post:
Jpoe0108 (10-07-2019)
10-13-2019, 10:41 PM
#10
Newbie
Thread Starter
still not fixed, but getting there
It is definitely the adapter, but idk who thought an inverted torq bolt was smart. the whole thing is completely stripped and i tried for two and a half hours to get that thing off. no luck. trying to get ahold of a welder friend and see if they can weld a nut on for me.
10-16-2019, 07:58 PM
#11
Newbie
Thread Starter
Two weeks later..
So i finally realized how much free time i DONT have. After a lot of frustration with the oil filter adapter (welded a nut onto it and replaced the gaskets) i learned that it was actually leaking from the OIL PRESSURE SWITCH!! Didn’t even know this was possible, but i guess that’s how i learn stuff. Thanks for everyone’s help!
10-16-2019, 08:41 PM
#12
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,971
Received 1,559 Likes
on
1,263 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
So i finally realized how much free time i DONT have. After a lot of frustration with the oil filter adapter (welded a nut onto it and replaced the gaskets) i learned that it was actually leaking from the OIL PRESSURE SWITCH!! Didn’t even know this was possible, but i guess that’s how i learn stuff. Thanks for everyone’s help!
I'm curious. Did you read Post 6 in this thread?
10-17-2019, 02:34 AM
#13
CF Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1,577
Received 278 Likes
on
242 Posts
Year: 1995 RHD
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0l
So i finally realized how much free time i DONT have. After a lot of frustration with the oil filter adapter (welded a nut onto it and replaced the gaskets) i learned that it was actually leaking from the OIL PRESSURE SWITCH!! Didn’t even know this was possible, but i guess that’s how i learn stuff. Thanks for everyone’s help!
10-17-2019, 08:28 AM
#14
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,971
Received 1,559 Likes
on
1,263 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
10-17-2019, 09:01 AM
#15
CF Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1,577
Received 278 Likes
on
242 Posts
Year: 1995 RHD
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0l
It was when it gave way.
I had just previously done the rocker cover gasket due to that leaking down the block which was by chance dribbling down onto the pressure switch. It looked like the oil on it was due to the higher up leak.
Most of it was, but just one day on the drive home it finally gave way and opened the floodgate.
I had just previously done the rocker cover gasket due to that leaking down the block which was by chance dribbling down onto the pressure switch. It looked like the oil on it was due to the higher up leak.
Most of it was, but just one day on the drive home it finally gave way and opened the floodgate.