Topic: Oil Leak Problem - Passenger Side - Need Help.

[DanMarino]

Help! My 1994 YJ with the 4 angry squirrels is suddenly leaking lots of oil down near the oil filter. I have swapped on a brand new filter and it is still leaking lots of oil. It is very difficult to see what's going on down there. Very black and dark and oily. I cleaned a bunch of oil off last night and my son drove the Jeep to school today, and the Jeep is now covered again. Drips are coming off the oil filter, as well as the thing to the left of the oil filter.

 

In March I just had the Clutch replaced and while they did the clutch, they did the rear main seal. I'm hoping this isn't the rear main seal. The oil is even sprayed on the top side of the distributor cap and plug wires.

 

The drivers side of the engine is clean.

 

It does not appear to be coming from the valve cover.

 

Any suggestions? Here are some terrible photos.












 



 



 

[Jeffy]

Seems strange if it was the rear seal since the bellhousing covers it.  I'm gonna guess it's coming from the dip stick.  Was the stick pushed down all the way?

[DanMarino]

Thanks Jeffy, I checked the dipstick and it was seated.  I also swapped a different oil filter on in case the old rubber gasket from a filter was stuck on the block.  But there was no double gasket and the filter housing seemed fine.

Yes, it is strange.  I guess it could be coming from the gasket at the base of the distributor, or else the oil pressure unit sensor is cracked and leaking.

I think I'll go ahead and swap in a new oil pressure sensor and distributor gasket since the originals are now 21 years old.

This winter I also put a new CCV plastic elbow in the valve cover and checked the hoses up there for blockages, but all seemed fine.

[Jeffy]

It could be the oil filter as well.  Was it replaced when the drained the block?  Maybe it's loose or if it was replaced, maybe they left the old o-ring in so it's doubled up.  I'm gonna guess it's not the oil sender since most of teh oil seems to be between the distributor and the coil.  Is there any fresh oil under the dip stick cap?

[DanMarino]

Update. I put in a new oil pressure sensor but the old one seemed fine and not leaky. More oil around the distributor. I started taking the distributor off but ran into a problem. I can't get the bolt off the plate that secures the distributor to the block. I can't get a wrench or socket on it. What's the trick and what size wrench?
Thanks!

[sharpxmen]

Update. I put in a new oil pressure sensor but the old one seemed fine and not leaky. More oil around the distributor. I started taking the distributor off but ran into a problem. I can't get the bolt off the plate that secures the distributor to the block. I can't get a wrench or socket on it. What's the trick and what size wrench?
Thanks!

you might be able to get it with an S wrench but a 75 to 90 deg bent wrench usually works, can't remember how I did mine but if I recall correctly I had a shorty that I was able to fit in there.

[Jeffy]

Socket with a universal and extension?

[DanMarino]

I purchased a 1/2 inch wrench with a bigger off-set and could barely get the distributor bolt off.  Had to go slow.  Lots of PBlaster.  No fun, but got it done.

The old distributor gasket/seal was rock hard and baked onto the distributor.  It was very hard to get it off, but I managed.

There was lots of oil there on the block at the distributor mounting point.   So while the distributor was out I cleaned the block off with brake cleaner.  Cleaned up as much as I could reach so that I can tell better if the leak returns.  Pretty dry looking now down there. 

Got it all back together and let the jeep idle for about 25 minutes in the garage.  No leaks observed.  Keeping my fingers crossed that it is resolved.
Thanks for everyone's help.

Tom

[DanMarino]

Update.  Looked at the Jeep again this morning.  There is a drip coming off of the oil filter.  Can see that it forms at the base of the oil filter and drips down and off the top of it.

Also some oil near the starter.

I'll swap on another filter I guess in case this one is bad.

Is there anything about the place where the filter is mounted to the block I should look at?

[sharpxmen]

the valve cover leaks on the back side (towards the firewall) sometimes, check if it's tight, mine was loose at some point and was getting the same thing (drops of oil a the end of the filter) - with the fan blowing it all over the place it's hard to pinpoint it sometimes

[DanMarino]

Still seems dry around the oil pressure sensor and at the base of the distributor.
The head gasket is dry.
Valve cover seems ok.
Did notice a slightest bit of oil at the dipstick, right where the dipstick cap thingy goes over the dipstick tube.
I put a MOPAR filter on and there is a slight drip at the base of it where it meets the block mounting point.
Also notice some oil coming off the starter.
It's not much at this point, but it's bothering me.

[grumpygy]

  Just to be sure is there any oil on the dipstick tube.  I know you said it was seated.

  Also is the Exhaust stock as in the Catalytic converter.

[Jeffy]

Still seems dry around the oil pressure sensor and at the base of the distributor.
The head gasket is dry.
Valve cover seems ok.
Did notice a slightest bit of oil at the dipstick, right where the dipstick cap thingy goes over the dipstick tube.
I put a MOPAR filter on and there is a slight drip at the base of it where it meets the block mounting point.
Also notice some oil coming off the starter.
It's not much at this point, but it's bothering me.

Oil off the starter is because it drips from the oil filter seat.  That's normal.  You might consider putting a 1/8 turn on the filter if you think it's leaking.

[sharpxmen]

how's the blowby? - you might get enough crankcase pressure to spray by the d/stick

[DanMarino]

So, what is the best way to determine if my leak is coming from the rear main seal?

Last week I replaced the oil pressure sensor, put a new gasket at the base of the distributor, and swapped on a new oil filter.  Then I cleaned the passenger side of the engine and that side is now dry.

I still  have drips that come off of the starter and drips off of the connecting point between the transmission and engine.  The curved oil pan that goes from the rear main seal area, down to the drain bolt is oily and eventually drips off of the drain bolt.

So I'm not sure if the leak is from the oil pan gasket, rear main seal, or valve cover, but the valve cover seems dry though.

Is there a way to inspect the rear main seal area visually?

Also, how much of a pain is the oil pan gasket?

Thank you,

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