Leaking Oil

[ComancheShaman]

Alright so about a week ago the starter died on me. It has been sitting in the parking lot since then because have to wait for next pay to get a new one. Well during the week I noticed that there was a sizable oil spot on the ground. When I went under to pull the starter I noticed that it appeared to be coming from the bell housing (Think that is what its called lol). I'm wondering what could be leaking? is there some type of seal between the engine and tranny that can go bad? I've never actually dealt with anything that has required lifting an engine or dropping a tranny really so I don't know what i could be. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

I want to note that the dripping (which is no constant to be seen but enough that the sizable spot always seems fresh) starts right at the oil drain and bell housing (it looks as if doing it from both) and continue in random spots going towards to rear for about 2 feet.

 

If I can get pics tomorrow with phone will post them

[jimoshel]

Just off hand, I would say rear main oil seal.

[cruiser54]

Do this first.

 

I'd be looking up ABOVE first, and VERIFYING the source of the oil leak YOURSELF.

Everybody, who doesn't own or have to pay for or perform your vehicle repairs, loves to poke their noggin UNDER the Jeep and come out bearing the false bad news that your RMS is leaking.

Many mechanics, friends, people on Jeep forums who can’t see your Jeep from where they’re at, and good old Uncle Bob seem to enjoy telling you it’s the rear main seal. Has a catastrophic ring to it, doesn’t it?

  A simple leak at the back of the valve cover or other source could produce the same symptoms. You don’t need to be a mechanic to figure this out. If you have good eyesight and a dim flashlight, you’re good to go on your own. Don't jump on the RMS/oil pan gasket bandwagon right off the bat.

Almost any oil leak on your 4.0 is gonna drip from the RMS area for two simple reasons.

First off, the engine sits nose-up and any oil will run back to the RMS area. Secondly, the RMS area is also the lowest point on the engine. Simple physics and the old plumber's adage apply here. "$hit flows downhill".

Valve cover gasket, oil pressure sending unit, oil filter adapter seals and distributor gasket, in that order, have to be eliminated as possibilities first.

   Revised 02-26-2013
 

[mvusse]

And yet, my oil leak WAS the RMS. Finally fixed this a couple months ago after living with it for two years.

[Bmoore2]

And yet, my oil leak WAS the RMS. Finally fixed this a couple months ago after living with it for two years.

Same here.... Just had mine replaced as well.  And I am pretty sure you can get to it by just dropping the Oil pan. Although that might not be as easy as it sound if your rig is not lifted.

[mvusse]

I did my own, and yes, I did just drop the oil pan to do it. But I'm lifted 6.25" in the front.

[Bmoore2]

If you have the tools and know how I would advise DIY.... I have neither. Shop charged me 2.5 hours of labor just an FYI

[jeepsouth]

My leak was the distributor gasket.

[Biotex]

Mr. ComancheShaman.

Not able to read minds yet, even though I tried real hard. it would be helpful if you filled in your signature line with the specs on your truck. If you have a manual transmission, and if you have an internal slave, that could be the source of the leak. Have you noticed your clutch fluid reservoir going low?

 

If you have an automatic, do you notice any loss of fluid? Can you tell what kind of fluid is leaking? try putting a clean white cloth where the drip is and catch some oil. If you put some red ATF in your manual gearbox, you will know if the front bearing retainer seal is leaking for instance.

[cruiser54]

Mr. ComancheShaman.

Not able to read minds yet, even though I tried real hard. it would be helpful if you filled in your signature line with the specs on your truck. If you have a manual transmission, and if you have an internal slave, that could be the source of the leak. Have you noticed your clutch fluid reservoir going low?

 

If you have an automatic, do you notice any loss of fluid? Can you tell what kind of fluid is leaking? try putting a clean white cloth where the drip is and catch some oil. If you put some red ATF in your manual gearbox, you will know if the front bearing retainer seal is leaking for instance.

So, you're telling us that your crystal ball is still in the repair shop? LOL. Good point.

[Geonovast]

Last major oil leak I dealt with was actually caused by the passenger coil spring breaking, causing the right side UCA to smack into the hump in the oil pan for the oil pump, bent it to hell and had a very nice oil hemmorage.

[ComancheShaman]

It is a 4.0L Inline 6, Auto. I'm pretty sure its not lifted at all.

 

 

Do this first.

 

I'd be looking up ABOVE first, and VERIFYING the source of the oil leak YOURSELF.

Everybody, who doesn't own or have to pay for or perform your vehicle repairs, loves to poke their noggin UNDER the Jeep and come out bearing the false bad news that your RMS is leaking.

Many mechanics, friends, people on Jeep forums who can’t see your Jeep from where they’re at, and good old Uncle Bob seem to enjoy telling you it’s the rear main seal. Has a catastrophic ring to it, doesn’t it?

  A simple leak at the back of the valve cover or other source could produce the same symptoms. You don’t need to be a mechanic to figure this out. If you have good eyesight and a dim flashlight, you’re good to go on your own. Don't jump on the RMS/oil pan gasket bandwagon right off the bat.

Almost any oil leak on your 4.0 is gonna drip from the RMS area for two simple reasons.

First off, the engine sits nose-up and any oil will run back to the RMS area. Secondly, the RMS area is also the lowest point on the engine. Simple physics and the old plumber's adage apply here. "$#!& flows downhill".

Valve cover gasket, oil pressure sending unit, oil filter adapter seals and distributor gasket, in that order, have to be eliminated as possibilities first.

   Revised 02-26-2013
 

This thing nor any other vehicle of mine has ever gone to a shop for work while I've owned it. The only time this has been in one was for inspection. I looked at this myself. Valve Cover was changed maybe month ago now?  I've not seen any leaking from up top as of yet. Yes it is dripping from those areas but this is also with the truck just sitting and not running for over a week. The leak goes back beyond the stated point as well. I've seen both regular oil at that spot and further back its leaking a small amount of tranny fluid.

I have the Haynes for this thing but at times it does not seem very helpful really. I'm going to look up the things suggested and see if I can figure out what it causing it. Once I'm out of work tomorrow will check some of them, It gets interesting though complex has pretty strict rules about not working on vehicles yet when its dead there is really no choice in the matter lol.

[cruiser54]

YOU are perfectly capable of figuring this out and best of all, YOU are THERE!

[ComancheShaman]

YOU are perfectly capable of figuring this out and best of all, YOU are THERE!

Lol I know absolutely nothing at all about jeeps which was why I posted it in first place. Without ideas on what it could be I would be sitting there for hours probably just attempting to trace the leak and scratching my head.

[cruiser54]

 

YOU are perfectly capable of figuring this out and best of all, YOU are THERE!

Lol I know absolutely nothing at all about jeeps which was why I posted it in first place. Without ideas on what it could be I would be sitting there for hours probably just attempting to trace the leak and scratching my head.

 

 

 

YOU are perfectly capable of figuring this out and best of all, YOU are THERE!

Lol I know absolutely nothing at all about jeeps which was why I posted it in first place. Without ideas on what it could be I would be sitting there for hours probably just attempting to trace the leak and scratching my head.

 

Any comments on here are guesses. Facts will only be found by YOU.

[HOrnbrod]

 

YOU are perfectly capable of figuring this out and best of all, YOU are THERE!

Lol I know absolutely nothing at all about jeeps which was why I posted it in first place. Without ideas on what it could be I would be sitting there for hours probably just attempting to trace the leak and scratching my head.

Looking for an oil leak is good training for you. You have been given ideas and possibilities, now all you have to do is look for it. C'mon man.

[MmMBurritos]

 

YOU are perfectly capable of figuring this out and best of all, YOU are THERE!

Lol I know absolutely nothing at all about jeeps which was why I posted it in first place. Without ideas on what it could be I would be sitting there for hours probably just attempting to trace the leak and scratching my head.

I didn't know much about jeeps and tbh I'm still scratching the surface but thats what question's are for.  Don't succumb to paying someone else to fix your problems, its never worth it in the long run.  Lots of knowledge to be had here, we should all reflect on where most of us would be back before forums existed... the library :cry:   

[Keith]

I had the massive leak which I surmised was the Rear Main, left a big pool every place I stopped, one nice day last fall I was changing the oil and filter and I noticed oil around the filter adapter plate where it bolts to the block.   Make a long story short, replaced the three "O" rings on the oil filter adapter plate and no more leak! The oil would run down the block and then to the back of the pan and bell housing and appear just like a rear main leak.  O rings were hard as a rock, easy replacement job even for a novice.