Major Oil Leak!

Joopin · #1 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

This past weekend I went up to Norther NY (Potsdam) to party with my friend that was graduating from college and to do some off roading. Saturday I went off roading for the first time and I was quite impressed with my stock jeep, which is another story...
Anyways, I was on my way back down to Jersey Monday and about 5 hours into the trip I stopped to get some gas. I imediatly smelled burning oil. I looked under my jeep and saw oil dripping out from where the man. trans meets the engine. It was leaking very bad. I let the Jeep cool down and checked the oil, it was 2 quarts low! I then bought some 20 50 oil and some STP additive to slow down the leak. I didn't know what was wrong so I called my mechanic. He thinks it is my rear main seal which is a pain in the butt to get to i guess. I did make it home after another 2 hours and the leak slowed dramatically. Though it is still leaking I havn't gotten it looked at yet.
I was just wondering if anyone has encountered this before and what it could be caused by... perhaps my off roading from 2 days before? I did go through a river about 3 feet deep, huge mudholes, etc... its probably the first time this jeep has seen stress like this... maybe I'm just breaking it in. Thanks

[IMG]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SQAAAFQWKT!Al4CGRg47iOdk15K9ulMjFkfmyVz1nMcxCnG1q S1gaVTlcg!VTWPN65JTj71CylaJ6NwxpyrzKbQ8YoH*uhPLazt QVWMlqx72ezwTwkFX0w/Muddy-small.jpg?dc=4675420809110643429[/IMG]
Had to take a pic when I got back since I had none during the trip!

edited by: Joopin\', May 06, 2003 - 05:30 PM[addsig]

RAVEN13xxx · #2 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

As the saying goes, "Jeeps don't leak they mark their territory." But.... yes it sounds like the rear main went out. The same thing happened to my TJ the first time I stressed it out, but it loves mud now. :-D

[addsig]

Joopin · #3 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

Well raven thats good to hear... somewhat. But here is another question... Since replacing the rear main seal involves removing the trans, transfer case, and disconnecting the driveshaft... now would be a good time to put in an SYE full kit. I will be putting a spring over in this summer, and I only feel iffy about the SYE. I havn't talked to my mechanic yet about this idea, but I'm sure he will be up for it. Then I can do the rest of the spring over myself.
So does replacing the main seal mean taking out the transfer case? Thanks[addsig]

Johns89YJ · #4 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

Joopin' What year is your Jeep? I have an '89 and did not have to remove anything but the oil pan to replace my rear-main seal. One note though, I made the mistake of using synthetic after the replacement. Then everything leaked again. This time I took it to a shop because I was convinced that I damaged the bearing, and YEP, I did. It was not totalled, but certainly lost some of it's life. The mech told me that he has been working on Jeeps for about 30 years and has never just replaced the seal. he always does the bearing as well. Just my $.02[addsig]

Joopin · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

I have a 91 with a 4.0 ... you replaced your rear main yourself? If all I have to do is replace the oil pan then I could to... but I'm not sure whats going on now... The leak slowed Waaaaaaaaay down. Which is good but confusing. My mechanic said that when I put in the thicker oil and Stp additive it swelled the seals and slowed the leak down. But if I go on another long trip it will most likely leak like a siv again. I wasn't aware they could do that. Which bearing are you talking about? I have never been up in that part of my jeep so its unfamilar to me.[addsig]