So I travelled home for Christmas and drove into a 40+ MPH headwind which required me to drive at about 65 in drive at about 3500 rpms for about an hour. I drove home that night an noticed the smell of burning oil. I am due for an oil change, I run Lucas fuel additive about every other tank and have seafoamed my throttle body twice in past year. Also, I run a small filter on oil breather rather than route to intake (I've heard this can be bad).

This was my first highway trip in 6+ months. I drive daily about 14 miles round-trip.

The oil is dropping off the front of my tranny at rear of engine.

Also noticed my transfer case breather hose has been shredded by front drive line

First thought - valve cover gasket. But I thought I'd double check. Can't afford seal and inch pound torque wrench for about a week to swap seal. I don't want to change the oil and have my fresh oil seeping out.

So - does everyone agree? Vc gasket probably?
With sustained high rpms a lot of oil would be kicking around up there.

Can someone source me the breather hose? I am at a loss.

What else should I do if/when valve cover is off?


Y'all are great. Lift in spring and ill be looking for some montana jeepers

 

Its a 2001 sport. Thanks in advance.
Worries about breather hose with all the precipitation we get

 

" Also, I run a small filter on oil breather rather than route to intake (I've heard this can be bad)."
I think that'd be bad.. isn't that line to intake part of the PCV system?

"The oil is dropping off the front of my tranny at rear of engine."
4.0L? RMS is a likely suspect

"First thought - valve cover gasket. But I thought I'd double check.
Can't afford seal and inch pound torque wrench for about a week to swap seal. I don't want to change the oil and have my fresh oil seeping out."

I'd wait on the oil change as you're gonna drain it to do the RMS(if needed) anyway.. 'inch pound torque wrench'? we don need no steenkin' eench pound torque wrench' seriously.. I don't know what you'd need that for.

"So - does everyone agree? Vc gasket probably?
With sustained high rpms a lot of oil would be kicking around up there."

First/easiest thing to check, yes. Reach back there behind the head and feel for oil (or maybe a good light and mirror) If it was the RMS, it's not likely going to travel 'up' the back of the engine from there.

"Can someone source me the breather hose? I am at a loss."
The TC hose is just that.. a hose. Just pull it off and get some new 'by the foot' hose at autoparts. I'd get a couple three feet and route it up thru the engine compartment.(use colorful zipties)

What else should I do if/when valve cover is off?
Get the nice rubber one, and don't overtighten the bolts.. just snug will do and can re-snug after a few miles. I dab a little rtv at the bolt holes just fer grins, but probably not needed. Have FUN!

 

Sick. Prompt reply. Thanks


Can I spray down the top end with brake cleaner to Polish it up?

 

id stick with the stock cover, clean it with kero in and out, (brush it and re paint it, if you want), use alittle anti seize on the bolts and torq to spec... a torq wrench is your friend...
rtv? why?

 

I'm amateurish.... should I attempt rear main or just pay. Wish I had a few days off to replace all. Oil, ems, vc and oil pan

 

"rtv? why?"
cause I hates me some leaks

 

Tough call.. rear main seal: get an estimate or two, then decide.. It wasn't difficult for me, but i've been wrenchin' on cars for 30+ years, and have all the tools to do about anything to them.
oil and valve cover: you know you can do those easily
ems: ? sorry, i don't know what that is

 

The rear main is a pretty straight forward replacement. but it is about a 6 hour job and very messy.

basically you drain the oil, pull the pan, remove the last bearing cap closest to the back of the engine, take out both halves of seal and put new seal in. Put new oil pan gasket and button it all up. Refill with oil.

 

If you have oil coming from the back of the engine/transmission area. You can not rule out a rear main seal or pan gasket leak. Does the trans mission have oil on it? If so look at the rear main seal or the pan gasket. How about the starter? If the starter is wet, they I would agree it's likely the valve cover gasket.

 

I meant rms. Love the xj community.

Could I wait 3 months on rms if that's the problem? May be nice to tackle when I lift it in the spring and have track bar removed, Jeep jacked up, and a week off work.

I have a buddy who just sunk his Jeep in the river. I have a feeling he'll be needing a hand. Over a nalgene of water got sucked into his engine. But that's another topic

 

ya it will be fine, i would recommend checking the oil every week or so depending on how much u drive it. It only leaks when its running or right after its been running.