Source of driver's side leak?

[mtraikov]

Hey all, long time lurker and I have to say I love this forum and thank you to everyone who contributes. I need some specific advice on troubleshooting this oil leak.

2005 Wrangler 4.0 A/T with 123k miles. Valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, and rear main seal were recently replaced.

This leak is on the driver side and once the jeep is warmed up, it starts leaking about a drop every 3 seconds. It is dripping from the O2 sensor connector as shown in the photo and it slides down the wiring onto the exhaust causing smoke to occur. I cant seem to find where it is leaking it from above the O2 sensor connector. The block looks dry, and valve cover looks dry. The oil pressure sending unit on the passenger side and appears fine. What else could be leaking on the driver side?

 

[A. Paul]

The Rockies are in between me and my jeep right now so unfortunately I can't crawl under and check. However there isn't much to leak on that side so it might possibly be running in from somewhere else, or being blown by the fan, or maybe it's power steering fluid leaking from the line.
Hard to say, I'm just spitballing maybe someone else will chime in here.

My suggestion to you would be to clean the oil off everything you can as it will make it easier to spot, a dye would help aswell.

And welcome to the forum, don't forget to add your jeep specs to your profile, might help when trying to diagnose.

 

[mtraikov]

Thanks for the reply! Good ideas. I don’t see the power steering leaking from the base of the reservoir at the hose attachment? Can it be from somewhere else? I also noticed the two metal pipings that curve along the driver side (transmission lines?) they are very wet all the time. But when I follow them back to the tranny bone dry. The only place I see sweating is passenger side rear at the head but it’s not even much to drip every 3 seconds. Can the transmission leak at the front of the motor? Because I noticed my trans oil was low And I had to fill a bit.

 

[K0LCB]

Transmission lines can leak, pin hole or loose connections

 

[Rich1961]

I'd use a degreaser and clean up the engine. You'll have a much better chance to pinpoint where the leak is coming from.

 

[A. Paul]

Thanks for the reply! Good ideas. I don’t see the power steering leaking from the base of the reservoir at the hose attachment? Can it be from somewhere else? I also noticed the two metal pipings that curve along the driver side (transmission lines?) they are very wet all the time. But when I follow them back to the tranny bone dry. The only place I see sweating is passenger side rear at the head but it’s not even much to drip every 3 seconds. Can the transmission leak at the front of the motor? Because I noticed my trans oil was low And I had to fill a bit.

Yes, those are transmission cooler lines going to the front of the motor, transmission fluid is red so it's usually easy to identify.

 

[mtraikov]

It ended up being a pinhole leak on the metal portion of the transmission cooler lines. Was able to catch it spewing when fully warmed up idling. I am in the process of trying to remove them now, how do I get them removed? I can’t seem to find a way to clear them through the exhaust and oil pan etc. they are both disconnected from both sides.