XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

While having my 93 XJ I-6 auto inspected by the dealer, he diagnosed an
oil leak as coming from the rear main seal. He suggested that it wasn't
worth it to get it fixed, and suggested I just keep tabs on the oil
level.

A few days later, I had an independant mechanic change the front
differential fluid (dealer said there was water in there, but there
wasn't- go figure). This mechanic said that the seal might leak a little
oil for a time, but then catastrophically fail at an inconveniant time.

So, any ideas if I should have the seal fixed or leave it? At the moment
it's slow enough that it's not even an annoyance.
--
Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Ill bet you 10 bucks right now that it isn't your rear main seal. Its your
valve cover. Wipe your finger along the back of the head near the firewall.
If its oily, there's your leak. If not, the rear main is a breeze to
replace. The only hard part is cleaning the old stock original gasket.
http://www.jeepin.com/features/rearmain/index.asp

KH

"Monte Castleman" <qmdcastle@skypoint.com> wrote in message
news:vs8ijdfvff1a86@corp.supernews.com...
> While having my 93 XJ I-6 auto inspected by the dealer, he diagnosed an
> oil leak as coming from the rear main seal. He suggested that it wasn't
> worth it to get it fixed, and suggested I just keep tabs on the oil
> level.
>
> A few days later, I had an independant mechanic change the front
> differential fluid (dealer said there was water in there, but there
> wasn't- go figure). This mechanic said that the seal might leak a little
> oil for a time, but then catastrophically fail at an inconveniant time.
>
> So, any ideas if I should have the seal fixed or leave it? At the moment
> it's slow enough that it's not even an annoyance.
> --
> Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
> Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address
>

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Ill bet you 10 bucks right now that it isn't your rear main seal. Its your
valve cover. Wipe your finger along the back of the head near the firewall.
If its oily, there's your leak. If not, the rear main is a breeze to
replace. The only hard part is cleaning the old stock original gasket.
http://www.jeepin.com/features/rearmain/index.asp

KH

"Monte Castleman" <qmdcastle@skypoint.com> wrote in message
news:vs8ijdfvff1a86@corp.supernews.com...
> While having my 93 XJ I-6 auto inspected by the dealer, he diagnosed an
> oil leak as coming from the rear main seal. He suggested that it wasn't
> worth it to get it fixed, and suggested I just keep tabs on the oil
> level.
>
> A few days later, I had an independant mechanic change the front
> differential fluid (dealer said there was water in there, but there
> wasn't- go figure). This mechanic said that the seal might leak a little
> oil for a time, but then catastrophically fail at an inconveniant time.
>
> So, any ideas if I should have the seal fixed or leave it? At the moment
> it's slow enough that it's not even an annoyance.
> --
> Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
> Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address
>

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Ill bet you 10 bucks right now that it isn't your rear main seal. Its your
valve cover. Wipe your finger along the back of the head near the firewall.
If its oily, there's your leak. If not, the rear main is a breeze to
replace. The only hard part is cleaning the old stock original gasket.
http://www.jeepin.com/features/rearmain/index.asp

KH

"Monte Castleman" <qmdcastle@skypoint.com> wrote in message
news:vs8ijdfvff1a86@corp.supernews.com...
> While having my 93 XJ I-6 auto inspected by the dealer, he diagnosed an
> oil leak as coming from the rear main seal. He suggested that it wasn't
> worth it to get it fixed, and suggested I just keep tabs on the oil
> level.
>
> A few days later, I had an independant mechanic change the front
> differential fluid (dealer said there was water in there, but there
> wasn't- go figure). This mechanic said that the seal might leak a little
> oil for a time, but then catastrophically fail at an inconveniant time.
>
> So, any ideas if I should have the seal fixed or leave it? At the moment
> it's slow enough that it's not even an annoyance.
> --
> Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
> Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address
>

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

If it leaves a puddle, then it could be the rear main seal, if it only
leaves a drop or two then its the valve cover. That was my experience...
everyone said it was my valve cover but there was much more oil on the
garage floor than was coming down the back of the block. I don't know if I
would call it a breeze as Kevin did, but its not too bad. I had the take
the passenger side motor mount off to get the oil pan off. Then you have to
be very patient when installing the new seal so as not to damage it. Good
luck!

--
JimG
80' CJ-7, 258 CID
35" BFG MT's on 15x10 Centerlines
4.56 D30-D44 SOA
D300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks
Warn 8000i w/dual batteries
LockRight F&R


"Monte Castleman" <qmdcastle@skypoint.com> wrote in message
news:vs8ijdfvff1a86@corp.supernews.com...
> While having my 93 XJ I-6 auto inspected by the dealer, he diagnosed an
> oil leak as coming from the rear main seal. He suggested that it wasn't
> worth it to get it fixed, and suggested I just keep tabs on the oil
> level.
>
> A few days later, I had an independant mechanic change the front
> differential fluid (dealer said there was water in there, but there
> wasn't- go figure). This mechanic said that the seal might leak a little
> oil for a time, but then catastrophically fail at an inconveniant time.
>
> So, any ideas if I should have the seal fixed or leave it? At the moment
> it's slow enough that it's not even an annoyance.
> --
> Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
> Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address
>

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

If it leaves a puddle, then it could be the rear main seal, if it only
leaves a drop or two then its the valve cover. That was my experience...
everyone said it was my valve cover but there was much more oil on the
garage floor than was coming down the back of the block. I don't know if I
would call it a breeze as Kevin did, but its not too bad. I had the take
the passenger side motor mount off to get the oil pan off. Then you have to
be very patient when installing the new seal so as not to damage it. Good
luck!

--
JimG
80' CJ-7, 258 CID
35" BFG MT's on 15x10 Centerlines
4.56 D30-D44 SOA
D300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks
Warn 8000i w/dual batteries
LockRight F&R


"Monte Castleman" <qmdcastle@skypoint.com> wrote in message
news:vs8ijdfvff1a86@corp.supernews.com...
> While having my 93 XJ I-6 auto inspected by the dealer, he diagnosed an
> oil leak as coming from the rear main seal. He suggested that it wasn't
> worth it to get it fixed, and suggested I just keep tabs on the oil
> level.
>
> A few days later, I had an independant mechanic change the front
> differential fluid (dealer said there was water in there, but there
> wasn't- go figure). This mechanic said that the seal might leak a little
> oil for a time, but then catastrophically fail at an inconveniant time.
>
> So, any ideas if I should have the seal fixed or leave it? At the moment
> it's slow enough that it's not even an annoyance.
> --
> Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
> Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address
>

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

If it leaves a puddle, then it could be the rear main seal, if it only
leaves a drop or two then its the valve cover. That was my experience...
everyone said it was my valve cover but there was much more oil on the
garage floor than was coming down the back of the block. I don't know if I
would call it a breeze as Kevin did, but its not too bad. I had the take
the passenger side motor mount off to get the oil pan off. Then you have to
be very patient when installing the new seal so as not to damage it. Good
luck!

--
JimG
80' CJ-7, 258 CID
35" BFG MT's on 15x10 Centerlines
4.56 D30-D44 SOA
D300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks
Warn 8000i w/dual batteries
LockRight F&R


"Monte Castleman" <qmdcastle@skypoint.com> wrote in message
news:vs8ijdfvff1a86@corp.supernews.com...
> While having my 93 XJ I-6 auto inspected by the dealer, he diagnosed an
> oil leak as coming from the rear main seal. He suggested that it wasn't
> worth it to get it fixed, and suggested I just keep tabs on the oil
> level.
>
> A few days later, I had an independant mechanic change the front
> differential fluid (dealer said there was water in there, but there
> wasn't- go figure). This mechanic said that the seal might leak a little
> oil for a time, but then catastrophically fail at an inconveniant time.
>
> So, any ideas if I should have the seal fixed or leave it? At the moment
> it's slow enough that it's not even an annoyance.
> --
> Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
> Bloomington, MN to email, remove the "q" from my address
>

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Approximately 11/25/03 22:38, Monte Castleman uttered for posterity:
> While having my 93 XJ I-6 auto inspected by the dealer, he diagnosed an
> oil leak as coming from the rear main seal. He suggested that it wasn't
> worth it to get it fixed, and suggested I just keep tabs on the oil
> level.
>
> A few days later, I had an independant mechanic change the front
> differential fluid (dealer said there was water in there, but there
> wasn't- go figure). This mechanic said that the seal might leak a little
> oil for a time, but then catastrophically fail at an inconveniant time.
>
> So, any ideas if I should have the seal fixed or leave it? At the moment
> it's slow enough that it's not even an annoyance.

Before changing anything, check along the sides of your engine block.
The valve cover gasket is a very common oil leak, as the oil runs
rearward and down, main-seal happy mechanics may misdiagnose it as
a rear seal.

As for sudden failures of main seal, guess it could happen, never
heard of it. And the seal is reasonably simple to replace anyway.

--
Still a Raiders fan, but no longer sure why.

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Approximately 11/25/03 22:38, Monte Castleman uttered for posterity:
> While having my 93 XJ I-6 auto inspected by the dealer, he diagnosed an
> oil leak as coming from the rear main seal. He suggested that it wasn't
> worth it to get it fixed, and suggested I just keep tabs on the oil
> level.
>
> A few days later, I had an independant mechanic change the front
> differential fluid (dealer said there was water in there, but there
> wasn't- go figure). This mechanic said that the seal might leak a little
> oil for a time, but then catastrophically fail at an inconveniant time.
>
> So, any ideas if I should have the seal fixed or leave it? At the moment
> it's slow enough that it's not even an annoyance.

Before changing anything, check along the sides of your engine block.
The valve cover gasket is a very common oil leak, as the oil runs
rearward and down, main-seal happy mechanics may misdiagnose it as
a rear seal.

As for sudden failures of main seal, guess it could happen, never
heard of it. And the seal is reasonably simple to replace anyway.

--
Still a Raiders fan, but no longer sure why.

Re: XJ rear main seal: replace or leave alone?
 

Approximately 11/25/03 22:38, Monte Castleman uttered for posterity:
> While having my 93 XJ I-6 auto inspected by the dealer, he diagnosed an
> oil leak as coming from the rear main seal. He suggested that it wasn't
> worth it to get it fixed, and suggested I just keep tabs on the oil
> level.
>
> A few days later, I had an independant mechanic change the front
> differential fluid (dealer said there was water in there, but there
> wasn't- go figure). This mechanic said that the seal might leak a little
> oil for a time, but then catastrophically fail at an inconveniant time.
>
> So, any ideas if I should have the seal fixed or leave it? At the moment
> it's slow enough that it's not even an annoyance.

Before changing anything, check along the sides of your engine block.
The valve cover gasket is a very common oil leak, as the oil runs
rearward and down, main-seal happy mechanics may misdiagnose it as
a rear seal.

As for sudden failures of main seal, guess it could happen, never
heard of it. And the seal is reasonably simple to replace anyway.

--
Still a Raiders fan, but no longer sure why.