Leak?
- Thread starter JMT
- Start date
Aggravatingly possible, even probable. My prior 03 looked like that. The shop I took it to tried replacing the valve cover gasket first and told me to drive it a while, in the hopes that was the issue, but not too long after, leak was back. Did the RMS replacement soon thereafter.
Is it oil that leaks out of that seal? It smells like slightly burnt oil. It's a very slow leak though, never a drop, just enough to collect dust and grime. Is it difficult to fix? Is it costly?
Thanks @Serbonze . In the meantime, when I should have been working, I saw this video by bleepin'Jeep, I've found them to be a very helpful source, good tips along the way. Looks like ~ a 6 hour job. For anyone interested...Thanks for help guys. Fortunately, right now, the leak is slow...
Mine leaked since the day that I bought the Jeep five years ago, and I just lived with it by changing out the cardboard under it every month or so. Just a few months ago I finally decide to have it fixed, and I'll be honest that I didn't do it myself. The $400 it cost me was well worth the time and aggravation saved. I guess it was insurance should against something going wrong like the seal still leaking after the fix (which is known to happen).
Hmm...yeah, mine is so minor that no oil even gets on the floor where I park the Jeep. I never would have noticed it if I wasn't under there doing a close inspection of my oil skid after beating it to hell on a ledge. Maybe I'll watch close the next few months and see if there's any change.
Mine leaks slowly like yours. Has since I bought the jeep years ago. I think mine is also leaking from the back of the valve cover, so I'll be changing that first since it a much easier job than the RMS.
No, but that rear breather tube does spit a little blow by over time. I'm talking about the actual valve cover gasket at the very back of the head. Hard to see with the wiring harness and the bulkhead in the way. They can leak there and the oil will travel down the bell housing mimicking a RMS leak. Or, it could be both.
Ok, I can see that possibility. I'll take a look too, since I wondered if it was possibly coming from up above.
If it is that minor, I wouldn't sweat it. Mine would drip a couple drops after parking it, so minimal I didn't worry. Wasn't until I did a clutch swap that I finally took care of it.
My wife's XJ has marked it's territory from the day we brought it home with 102,000 miles on it (now has 160,000 and change). As noted by others, it appears to be fairly common. Until I get around to replacing the rear main seal, I elect to look at it as rust preventative. You know what they say about when Life hands you lemons....... 
I talked to an older buddy of mine who had an old Comanche. He said it was more likely the head gasket and to at least start there, and replace with a felpro and go from there. I’ll probably leave it for now and keep all your advice in mind. Thanks!
Not sure that I'd agree with it's "more than likely a head gasket", but will admit that it does stand a chance of being one. It seems that the rear main seals are fairly common leakers on the 4.0, so I'd be more inclined to start there, myself. As the leak progresses (and I assure you, it will progress), it may become more evident as to the source. Just a "for what it's worth", my friend!
Really? Bobthetj03 thought it was a good possibility. I don’t know much about engines. I’m learning. I guess all I can do is check as best I can, hard to see everything.
If it's the valve cover gasket, it should be fairly easy to tell with a flashlight or to just stick your hand on the back of the block and feel for oil. If it's not leaving puddles on the ground, I honestly wouldn't worry about it too much. I left mine for five years, and just monitored the oil level. Never did it leak enough to get to the point that I needed to add oil.
Thanks, I’ll check this morning. I can get OCD about the TJ. Then again, I like working on it and so I’m always looking for an excuse to learn some new procedure and get after it. Lots to give thanks for! Almost Thanksgiving.
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