Common oil leak on a '98 XJ 4.0?
 

I was under the Jeep the other day and noticed a fresh oil residue on
the rear of the oil pan near the drain plug. Looking straight up there
is a "valley" between the oil pan/block and transmission and that
appears to be where the oil is coming from.

Its not a big leak where I can see a visible trail of oil coming down
and it its not making it on to my driveway so I wonder what the cause
is... any clues for me?

TIA


--
Taylor

'89 Audi 200
'03 Audi S6 Avant
'98 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Re: Common oil leak on a '98 XJ 4.0?
 

This is a common spot to find oil as it's the lowest and most rearward area
on the engine for it to accumulate. Most likely to be 1) a leaky valve cover
gasket, 2) leaking main seal, 3) leaking oil pan gasket, 4) all of the
above, 5) none of the above. I'd advise you clean it off with solvent and
watch it for awhile. Before you pop for a new rear main & pan gasket, when
it's cool to the touch, reach around the back of the cylinder head by the
firewall and see if you feel any oil running down the head below the valve
cover. If the gasket is leaking you'll find oil in this area, this is a very
common leak source on these engines.

"Just Taylor" <taylor@wilhelp.com> wrote in message
news:3f81c8ee.11895554@wilhelp.com...
> I was under the Jeep the other day and noticed a fresh oil residue on
> the rear of the oil pan near the drain plug. Looking straight up there
> is a "valley" between the oil pan/block and transmission and that
> appears to be where the oil is coming from.
>
> Its not a big leak where I can see a visible trail of oil coming down
> and it its not making it on to my driveway so I wonder what the cause
> is... any clues for me?
>
> TIA
>
>
> --
> Taylor
>
> '89 Audi 200
> '03 Audi S6 Avant
> '98 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Re: Common oil leak on a '98 XJ 4.0?
 

This is a common spot to find oil as it's the lowest and most rearward area
on the engine for it to accumulate. Most likely to be 1) a leaky valve cover
gasket, 2) leaking main seal, 3) leaking oil pan gasket, 4) all of the
above, 5) none of the above. I'd advise you clean it off with solvent and
watch it for awhile. Before you pop for a new rear main & pan gasket, when
it's cool to the touch, reach around the back of the cylinder head by the
firewall and see if you feel any oil running down the head below the valve
cover. If the gasket is leaking you'll find oil in this area, this is a very
common leak source on these engines.

"Just Taylor" <taylor@wilhelp.com> wrote in message
news:3f81c8ee.11895554@wilhelp.com...
> I was under the Jeep the other day and noticed a fresh oil residue on
> the rear of the oil pan near the drain plug. Looking straight up there
> is a "valley" between the oil pan/block and transmission and that
> appears to be where the oil is coming from.
>
> Its not a big leak where I can see a visible trail of oil coming down
> and it its not making it on to my driveway so I wonder what the cause
> is... any clues for me?
>
> TIA
>
>
> --
> Taylor
>
> '89 Audi 200
> '03 Audi S6 Avant
> '98 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Re: Common oil leak on a '98 XJ 4.0?
 

This is a common spot to find oil as it's the lowest and most rearward area
on the engine for it to accumulate. Most likely to be 1) a leaky valve cover
gasket, 2) leaking main seal, 3) leaking oil pan gasket, 4) all of the
above, 5) none of the above. I'd advise you clean it off with solvent and
watch it for awhile. Before you pop for a new rear main & pan gasket, when
it's cool to the touch, reach around the back of the cylinder head by the
firewall and see if you feel any oil running down the head below the valve
cover. If the gasket is leaking you'll find oil in this area, this is a very
common leak source on these engines.

"Just Taylor" <taylor@wilhelp.com> wrote in message
news:3f81c8ee.11895554@wilhelp.com...
> I was under the Jeep the other day and noticed a fresh oil residue on
> the rear of the oil pan near the drain plug. Looking straight up there
> is a "valley" between the oil pan/block and transmission and that
> appears to be where the oil is coming from.
>
> Its not a big leak where I can see a visible trail of oil coming down
> and it its not making it on to my driveway so I wonder what the cause
> is... any clues for me?
>
> TIA
>
>
> --
> Taylor
>
> '89 Audi 200
> '03 Audi S6 Avant
> '98 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Re: Common oil leak on a '98 XJ 4.0?
 

Don't forget the oil filter adapter - it runs right back there as
well.

On Fri, 3 Oct 2003 19:15:37 UTC "Gerald G. McGeorge"
<gmcgeorge@frontier.net> wrote:

> This is a common spot to find oil as it's the lowest and most rearward area
> on the engine for it to accumulate. Most likely to be 1) a leaky valve cover
> gasket, 2) leaking main seal, 3) leaking oil pan gasket, 4) all of the
> above, 5) none of the above. I'd advise you clean it off with solvent and
> watch it for awhile. Before you pop for a new rear main & pan gasket, when
> it's cool to the touch, reach around the back of the cylinder head by the
> firewall and see if you feel any oil running down the head below the valve
> cover. If the gasket is leaking you'll find oil in this area, this is a very
> common leak source on these engines.
>
> "Just Taylor" <taylor@wilhelp.com> wrote in message
> news:3f81c8ee.11895554@wilhelp.com...
> > I was under the Jeep the other day and noticed a fresh oil residue on
> > the rear of the oil pan near the drain plug. Looking straight up there
> > is a "valley" between the oil pan/block and transmission and that
> > appears to be where the oil is coming from.
> >
> > Its not a big leak where I can see a visible trail of oil coming down
> > and it its not making it on to my driveway so I wonder what the cause
> > is... any clues for me?
> >
> > TIA
> >
> >
> > --
> > Taylor
> >
> > '89 Audi 200
> > '03 Audi S6 Avant
> > '98 Jeep Cherokee Sport
>
>


--
Will Honea

Re: Common oil leak on a '98 XJ 4.0?
 

Don't forget the oil filter adapter - it runs right back there as
well.

On Fri, 3 Oct 2003 19:15:37 UTC "Gerald G. McGeorge"
<gmcgeorge@frontier.net> wrote:

> This is a common spot to find oil as it's the lowest and most rearward area
> on the engine for it to accumulate. Most likely to be 1) a leaky valve cover
> gasket, 2) leaking main seal, 3) leaking oil pan gasket, 4) all of the
> above, 5) none of the above. I'd advise you clean it off with solvent and
> watch it for awhile. Before you pop for a new rear main & pan gasket, when
> it's cool to the touch, reach around the back of the cylinder head by the
> firewall and see if you feel any oil running down the head below the valve
> cover. If the gasket is leaking you'll find oil in this area, this is a very
> common leak source on these engines.
>
> "Just Taylor" <taylor@wilhelp.com> wrote in message
> news:3f81c8ee.11895554@wilhelp.com...
> > I was under the Jeep the other day and noticed a fresh oil residue on
> > the rear of the oil pan near the drain plug. Looking straight up there
> > is a "valley" between the oil pan/block and transmission and that
> > appears to be where the oil is coming from.
> >
> > Its not a big leak where I can see a visible trail of oil coming down
> > and it its not making it on to my driveway so I wonder what the cause
> > is... any clues for me?
> >
> > TIA
> >
> >
> > --
> > Taylor
> >
> > '89 Audi 200
> > '03 Audi S6 Avant
> > '98 Jeep Cherokee Sport
>
>


--
Will Honea

Re: Common oil leak on a '98 XJ 4.0?
 

Don't forget the oil filter adapter - it runs right back there as
well.

On Fri, 3 Oct 2003 19:15:37 UTC "Gerald G. McGeorge"
<gmcgeorge@frontier.net> wrote:

> This is a common spot to find oil as it's the lowest and most rearward area
> on the engine for it to accumulate. Most likely to be 1) a leaky valve cover
> gasket, 2) leaking main seal, 3) leaking oil pan gasket, 4) all of the
> above, 5) none of the above. I'd advise you clean it off with solvent and
> watch it for awhile. Before you pop for a new rear main & pan gasket, when
> it's cool to the touch, reach around the back of the cylinder head by the
> firewall and see if you feel any oil running down the head below the valve
> cover. If the gasket is leaking you'll find oil in this area, this is a very
> common leak source on these engines.
>
> "Just Taylor" <taylor@wilhelp.com> wrote in message
> news:3f81c8ee.11895554@wilhelp.com...
> > I was under the Jeep the other day and noticed a fresh oil residue on
> > the rear of the oil pan near the drain plug. Looking straight up there
> > is a "valley" between the oil pan/block and transmission and that
> > appears to be where the oil is coming from.
> >
> > Its not a big leak where I can see a visible trail of oil coming down
> > and it its not making it on to my driveway so I wonder what the cause
> > is... any clues for me?
> >
> > TIA
> >
> >
> > --
> > Taylor
> >
> > '89 Audi 200
> > '03 Audi S6 Avant
> > '98 Jeep Cherokee Sport
>
>


--
Will Honea

Re: Common oil leak on a '98 XJ 4.0?
 

On 3 Oct 2003 22:45:08 GMT, "Will Honea" <will@codenet.net> wrote:

>Don't forget the oil filter adapter - it runs right back there as
>well.

That was replaced at 73,000 miles under my last warranty visit back in
May... that one was easy to spot as it appeared as if the oil filter
was leaking. Thanks just the same though for the tip.


--
Taylor

'89 Audi 200
'03 Audi S6 Avant
'98 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Re: Common oil leak on a '98 XJ 4.0?
 

On 3 Oct 2003 22:45:08 GMT, "Will Honea" <will@codenet.net> wrote:

>Don't forget the oil filter adapter - it runs right back there as
>well.

That was replaced at 73,000 miles under my last warranty visit back in
May... that one was easy to spot as it appeared as if the oil filter
was leaking. Thanks just the same though for the tip.


--
Taylor

'89 Audi 200
'03 Audi S6 Avant
'98 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Re: Common oil leak on a '98 XJ 4.0?
 

On 3 Oct 2003 22:45:08 GMT, "Will Honea" <will@codenet.net> wrote:

>Don't forget the oil filter adapter - it runs right back there as
>well.

That was replaced at 73,000 miles under my last warranty visit back in
May... that one was easy to spot as it appeared as if the oil filter
was leaking. Thanks just the same though for the tip.


--
Taylor

'89 Audi 200
'03 Audi S6 Avant
'98 Jeep Cherokee Sport