Zack_09

Been chasing a pretty bad oil leak on my 99 cherokee hasn't seemed to get better and can't figure out where it's coming from. I replaced valve cover and oil filter adaptor o rings after using dye and noticing a leak. Slowed a bit but still leaks quite a bit even when non running parked in garage. Any other common leak spots before i tear pan off and do RMS? Distributor o ring and Oil sender don't appear to leak. Oil is inside of inspection cover, so is that for sure rms?

nysm1

Honestly, first step will be to degrease everything since you other repairs and then go from there. You have the right idea with the dye, but oil leaks can be tricky. Once cleaned, run it for a couple days and then look again. Try to find the highest point that have any dye on it. I’ve replaced the oil filter o-ring a couple times and have had issues with it still leaking, mostly due to not being tightened enough. Do you have any pictures?

IJM

Be sure to check the oil pan gasket for leaks. Of course, you'll be replacing it anyway if you do the RMS.

Saudade

Did you buy the cork gasket or the molded rubber one? The cork ones can be difficult to seal properly, especially if you overtighten the bolts. Make sure it's not leaking down the back of the head.

Is there no longer any oil by the oil filter adapter?

Zack_09

Felpro and the vc bolts were torqued and not a drip on back of head. No oil on starter or bottom of oil filter.

IJM

That's the same scenario as mine. I'm 90% confident it's the RMS in my case.

RockyMtn96XJ

I thought of all those items also... valve cover, oil adapter, RMS, etc... turned out to be my head gasket.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/cau...270897/index2/

Zack_09

like so?

RockyMtn96XJ

Yup. Yours looks real fresh and small. The area mine was leaking was a lot wider, hence much more dye in my pics. Mine got real bad because I was chasing the leak from everywhere else before I learned it could be the head gasket.

Zack_09

yea oil pan and rms are definitely leaking. Gonna do that and ignore the head until it starts to get worse it is a 225k mile engine. Compression is 150 across the board so that's impressive.

RockyMtn96XJ

I have 227k. That area normally doesn't cause bad compression, at least in these cases. As I learned, that side is the oil galleys where oil leaves the head and falls back down into the motor. There's a lot more gasket on the passenger side. But yeah you have a little time. Weird saying that about a head gasket.

lawsoncl

Mine weeped from the passenger side as well. My solution was an engine swap when I found a rebuilt engine with 30k mile for $300. :}