MileHIxj24

So my 01 xj has been parked in my garage for a few weeks while i get it ready for the summer. A puddle of oil has been forming under the oil pan/bell housing. I know all the common areas to check for. I am leaning towards VC or filter adapter, but could those leak when the jeep is not running? if not what could it be. Thanks for helping me narrow it down.

toyotech90

a lot of the times its the rear main seal, mine did the same thing for a while. also found the oil filter adapter seal leaks and runs along the side of the block to the bell housing area. Both aren't that hard to replace cause the rear mains are a 2 piece seal.

landude

VC Gasket, Oil filter housing O-ring and I was going to say distributor O-ring but you don't have one of those. There was probably enough oil on the engine that it all had time to settle underneath..

cruiser54

Oil level in the oil pan is below the RMS level when parked...................

Use this to diagnose the leak:




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, people on Jeep forums who can’t see your Jeep from where they’re at, 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. "$hit 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.

Revised 02-26-2013

SHELBYGT NSM

Also to note is to never buy cork type gaskets.