Well atleast i think its the rear main seal. I've got alot of oil leaking from either the oil pan or the main. My question is how hard is it to change. Can i just drop the pan and drop the crank down enough to change the seal? I also hear what sounds like a bearing . The engine sounds normal at any speed when its cold but once it warms up you can hear it...eh who knows. The good news is I pick up my new Rubicon on monday. haha.
Brian
88 YJI doubt your rear main is leaking unless the crankshaft has some slop in it. Yes its fairly easy to change its two piece. KH
Standard response is "your valve cover gasket is leaking" The 258 is NOTORIOUS for leaking out the back of the cover. It mimics a bad rear seal nicely. At least one of the regulars on the NG actually replaced the rear seal TWICE before he got at the valve cover gasket.
Wipe off the back of the head and block or, better yet, power wash it at the self service car wash. Stick a paper towel down behind the head, between the head and the firewall. Drive for 5 miles, bets are that it will be completely soaked in oil.
Fixing it is simple but touchy. 3 basic choices: stock platic cover with RTV sealant, plastic cover with expensive foam/cork gasket, or aluminum cover with cork gasket. My personal choice is to clean cover and gasket squeaky clean (final cleanup with carb cleaner spray), heavy bead of RTV, set the cover on withing 5 minutes so it is still tacky, let it sit for at least 24 hours so it cures. Works for me, lots of discussion on what works for others. :)
Cheers.
Wranglerjeep1 wrote:
HaHa...yeah I've replaced the valve cover gasket about 3 times since i've owned this jeep.....I'm positive its not the valve cover. The back side of the head is dry. I crawled under and actually watched it drip from the back of the pan.
Brian
Also check oil filter adapter. The adapter has 3 o-rings and a leak there will let oil blow back to end of engine and drip of. Depends on age.
odd-inge
To check, warm up the engine and take a clean rag and wipe the rear of the head just below the valve cover. If you find oil, you have found the leak.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT'sWranglerjeep1 wrote:
I resemble that remark.
Replacing the rear main is easy enough. On my CJ, I had to remove a motor mount to gain access to a few pan bolts, but that is easy. All one needs to do is support the motor with a floor jack, take the pan off, loosen the bearing caps, remove the rear bearing cap and use a brass punch to push the upper seal out of the block and set the new seal flush, replace the lower seal that is in the bearing cap that you removed, and put everything back together. The bearing cap bolts must be tightened in the correct sequence, and the pan gaskets are somewhat of a bitch because there are several that have to be overlapped and stacked right, but basically it's an easy job.
Probably NOT the problem though. I encourage you to look at the valve cover gasket first.
I'm inviting you over for pizza and beer if my rear main seal starts leaking Jeff. ;)
Jerry
Jeff Strickland wrote:
I'm just the guy you need fo rthat Jerry. I have plenty of experience eating pizza and drinking beer, while watching somebody else work the wrenches.
Well if its not the main then I'm sure its the oil pan.....i crawled around underneath and I'm 100% sure its not the valve cover. Right now I don't care I just pulled my new Ruby in the garage. Finally after all these years of old CJ's and my last YJ I gotta new one.
Brian
Jeff Strickland wrote:
wrenches.
starts
everything
lol, Im gonna go put some oil on your pan and a puddle in your drive so we can get free beer. KH
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