Oil Leak

[DavidT]

My KJ 04 147,000 miles Just started leaking oil, its pretty bad too. It is leaking on the passenger side and hitting the catalytic converter. I can't really tell where it's coming from but there is a lot near this plug. The oil light has also came on the dash.

here are some photos from underneath

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any ideas where its leaking from? and how to fix it.

 

[ltd02]

Left side being driver's side?

Valve cover? Oil pressure sender?

 

[DavidT]

I meant passenger side left when facing it

 

[tommudd]

Valve cover leaks at the rear corner
easy fix

** always say left or right side when you are sitting in the vehicle , i.e. passenger side is the right side , left side is the drivers side ( in the US)

 

[DavidT]

Thanks

 

[ltd02]

Valve cover leaks at the rear corner
easy fix

X2. I was surprised how much oil can fly out a loose gasket back there when mine leaked.

Has a feeling it would be back there.

 

[LibertyTC]

Oil light ON !!!= eek!
Make sure you immediately check the Oil Levels and keep it topped up, until the leak can be fixed!

 

[ephantmon]

If it's not the valve cover gaskets, check to ensure the oil fill tube is tightened appropriately. I just experienced both of these leaks this past year.

 

[DavidT]

Well it looks like there is engine sludge, which is odd because i change the oil every 3k. Any tips on removing it? sea foam?

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[ltd02]

Doesn't look terrible to me. I don't think I'd bother with anything except make sure you use very good oil and keep up the 3k OCI.

I've heard the Seafoam works if you put a half bottle in about 500 mile before an oil change. You can run a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil with 4 quarts of 5-w30 next oil change and do a shorter (maybe 1-1.5k) OCI.

 

[LibertyTC]

It is hard to tell by the photo, but if there are major build ups, towards the middle bottom there...How deep is it?
A small plastic scraper will give you an idea....and a way to safely remove some of it, as a test anyways.
I think I would also be temped just to keep changing the oil every 3 k and consider using a full synthetic if you are not already.
The full syn's have much better cleaning properties, than regular dino oil.

 

[dude1116]

Well it looks like there is engine sludge, which is odd because i change the oil every 3k. Any tips on removing it? sea foam?

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Eek.

Just pulled my valve cover off like 5k miles ago (125k) and mine doesn't look half that bad.

I guess that's good news for me? :blah:

 

[Hockeygoon]

If you KNOW you don't have a coolant leak I'd fill with a high quality synthetic and change (with filter) at 700-800 miles then refill with synthetic and keep changing at 3000 miles. Do you do a lot of short trips without getting the engine up to full operating temp?

 

[tommudd]

Eek.

Just pulled my valve cover off like 5k miles ago (125k) and mine doesn't look half that bad.

I guess that's good news for me? :blah:

Yep mine at 197,000 didn't look like that, was still nice and clean really

 

[dude1116]

Yep mine at 197,000 didn't look like that, was still nice and clean really

Actually looking back at the picture i have on my phone (I took it from a pretty bad angle to tell how clean it is)...it actually looks spotless. All you can really see is the front corner and there's just oil there. No sludge.

I don't use synthetic by the way. I just change with conventional oil every 3k. I'm a firm believer that so long as you change the conventional every 3k, it'll stay clean. I'm usually pretty good with my changes so I just stick with it.

 

[Hockeygoon]

I don't use synthetic by the way. I just change with conventional oil every 3k. I'm a firm believer that so long as you change the conventional every 3k, it'll stay clean. I'm usually pretty good with my changes so I just stick with it.

I agree with that - especially if you are not have a sludge issue. But for a person that is having a sludge issue (seeping coolant, condensation build up, issues specific to a particular engine) It can't hurt and can only help.

 

[Hockeygoon]

Well it looks like there is engine sludge, which is odd because i change the oil every 3k. Any tips on removing it? sea foam?

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How hard was it to get the valve cover off?

 

[dude1116]

How hard was it to get the valve cover off?

It's KINDA a pain. Moving everything out of the way is the hard part. Other than that, there is a bolt that's too close to the firewall that's fairly annoying too. Other than those two issues, a couple of hours and lots of curse words should have the cover off.

 

[DavidT]

It took me 2 hours to get it off and 1 hour to clean the valve cover gasket off. 30 minutes was trying to break that stupid plastic piece that holds the two metal radiator hose for the heater. Probably about 2 hours to put it all back together. It was smoking a lot but it has went away. I hope that was the leak.

I'm going to switch to synthetic oil. For the most part I drive my car to work and back which is 37 miles each way and every month I have to go out of town which his a 520 mile round trip.

About 8 months ago it did over heat once but I pulled over immediately, water pump went out.

Edit... Jeep is running really good now. I dumped half a bottle of sea foam in the oil and half in the gas. Switching to synthetic oil in about 200 miles.

 

[Hockeygoon]

I've never driven a vehicle with Seafoam added to the oil. I usually pour it in and let it sit and idle up until it gets up to operating temp for a while then drain it.

Either way I would add a bottle of stop leak to the oil when you change it next. Seafoam and other solvents are ******* engine seals and gaskets.