Tim Payne

Hey,
I was looking at buying an old 1991 Jeep Cherokee v6 4.0l; it's got
196k but was rebuilt 20k ago.

The car runs well, at least for right now. However, after driving the
car for 10 minutes it starts to smoke from the engine compartment.
The owner claims there is a new rear oil seal, do you think that a
leaky valve cover gasket dripping onto the exhaust (or is it the
intake?) manifold would be creating the smoke? I don't know if I
trust myself to replace the gasket, how much would a shop charge to do
it?

Thanks,
Tim (TPayne(nospam)@ivwnet.com

Dave

It is a straight or inline 6 cylinder engine (or it is supposed to be)
The factory/dealer method is to change the entire valve cover (VC). $$$

In your case you can remove the VC, clean out the old gasket material
(rubber), clean both surfaces with brake clean and a cloth, and using RTV
(Form A Gasket tube) apply even bead to VC. Then carefully reinstall VC
onto engine and don't fully tighten bolts just snug them down a little until
RTV sets.

Another gasket is cork, and they don't seem to seal for very long. :-(

Some wash the engine down first before attempting this VC gasket
replacement! Makes for cleaner job! :-)

NOTE:
I do recommend cleaning the flappers inside of the VC, altho they still
should be good after the 20K rebuild. Also clean out the little vacuum line
coming out of the VC.

--
later,
dave
88 XJ 4.0 auto
82 Wag Ltd. 360 auto (to be retired!) anyone interested, whole or parts?
88 FSJ-GW 360 auto (Alive Again)
Chicago

"Tim Payne" <TPayne@ivwnet.com> wrote in message
news:c2efe07b.0307192334.730d654e@posting.google.c om...
> Hey,
> I was looking at buying an old 1991 Jeep Cherokee v6 4.0l; it's got
> 196k but was rebuilt 20k ago.
>
> The car runs well, at least for right now. However, after driving the
> car for 10 minutes it starts to smoke from the engine compartment.
> The owner claims there is a new rear oil seal, do you think that a
> leaky valve cover gasket dripping onto the exhaust (or is it the
> intake?) manifold would be creating the smoke? I don't know if I
> trust myself to replace the gasket, how much would a shop charge to do
> it?
>
> Thanks,
> Tim (TPayne(nospam)@ivwnet.com

Chris Curtin

Let me guess...original valve cover? Replace the OEM plastic cover
with an aluminum one. Not too difficult and makes all the difference.
I just did my CJ this past weekend. ~$80 for the cover and gasket.
Most difficult portion is tapping the holes in the head. Make sure
you get the correct bottom tap.

TPayne@ivwnet.com (Tim Payne) wrote in message news:<c2efe07b.0307192334.730d654e@posting.google. com>...
> Hey,
> I was looking at buying an old 1991 Jeep Cherokee v6 4.0l; it's got
> 196k but was rebuilt 20k ago.
>
> The car runs well, at least for right now. However, after driving the
> car for 10 minutes it starts to smoke from the engine compartment.
> The owner claims there is a new rear oil seal, do you think that a
> leaky valve cover gasket dripping onto the exhaust (or is it the
> intake?) manifold would be creating the smoke? I don't know if I
> trust myself to replace the gasket, how much would a shop charge to do
> it?
>
> Thanks,
> Tim (TPayne(nospam)@ivwnet.com

Tim Payne

chriscu@bellsouth.net (Chris Curtin) wrote in message news:<41e59a2.0307200658.5d5cbb7d@posting.google.c om>...
> Let me guess...original valve cover? Replace the OEM plastic cover
> with an aluminum one. Not too difficult and makes all the difference.
> I just did my CJ this past weekend. ~$80 for the cover and gasket.
> Most difficult portion is tapping the holes in the head. Make sure
> you get the correct bottom tap.
>
> TPayne@ivwnet.com (Tim Payne) wrote in message news:<c2efe07b.0307192334.730d654e@posting.google. com>...
> > Hey,
> > I was looking at buying an old 1991 Jeep Cherokee v6 4.0l; it's got
> > 196k but was rebuilt 20k ago.
> >
> > The car runs well, at least for right now. However, after driving the
> > car for 10 minutes it starts to smoke from the engine compartment.
> > The owner claims there is a new rear oil seal, do you think that a
> > leaky valve cover gasket dripping onto the exhaust (or is it the
> > intake?) manifold would be creating the smoke? I don't know if I
> > trust myself to replace the gasket, how much would a shop charge to do
> > it?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Tim (TPayne(nospam)@ivwnet.com

Will using the RTV without a plastic/cork gasket most likely seal the
cover? Also, I've never done a gasket (though I've done a lot of work
on my Jetta so I do know my stuff a bit) how much of the RTV is
considered an "even bead"? Where should the RTV be placed on the
cover (outside or inside the cover)?

Thanks, for all the help so far...
Tim-

Mike Romain

That sets off alarm bells ringing loud in my mind!

A rebuilt engine should not need a new rear seal or valve cover gasket
at 20K! That implies sloppy work.

Maybe the valve cover, but a quick feel with your fingers on the bolts
will tell you quick.

Also the fact that it starts smoking after 10 minutes suggests the owner
would rather sell it than drive it or fix it.... Even though fixing it
before selling it will add $500.00 to the asking price in my mind....

I would 'really' be making sure where the smoke was coming from! Lots
of expensive things can start blowing smoke or oil like cracked heads
and head gaskets...

I would take it to a mechanic for an engine check and once over. Could
be money well spent.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Tim Payne wrote:
>
> Hey,
> I was looking at buying an old 1991 Jeep Cherokee v6 4.0l; it's got
> 196k but was rebuilt 20k ago.
>
> The car runs well, at least for right now. However, after driving the
> car for 10 minutes it starts to smoke from the engine compartment.
> The owner claims there is a new rear oil seal, do you think that a
> leaky valve cover gasket dripping onto the exhaust (or is it the
> intake?) manifold would be creating the smoke? I don't know if I
> trust myself to replace the gasket, how much would a shop charge to do
> it?
>
> Thanks,
> Tim (TPayne(nospam)@ivwnet.com

Jeff Strickland

"Tim Payne" <TPayne@ivwnet.com> wrote in message
news:c2efe07b.0307192334.730d654e@posting.google.c om...
> Hey,
> I was looking at buying an old 1991 Jeep Cherokee v6 4.0l; it's got
> 196k but was rebuilt 20k ago.
>
First, it's an I6, not a V6. There is a huge difference.



> The car runs well, at least for right now. However, after driving the
> car for 10 minutes it starts to smoke from the engine compartment.
> The owner claims there is a new rear oil seal, do you think that a
> leaky valve cover gasket dripping onto the exhaust (or is it the
> intake?) manifold would be creating the smoke? I don't know if I
> trust myself to replace the gasket, how much would a shop charge to do
> it?
>

A leaky valve cover gasket could very well be the problem you are finding.
Indeed, the valve cover gasket has been overlooked in favor of the much more
difficult (and reliable) rear main seal.




> Thanks,
> Tim (TPayne(nospam)@ivwnet.com