Oil Leak?

[metalmoto]

When coming to a hard stop, I sometimes get a strong smell of what smells like burning wax. It used to smell like the oil they use to cook french fries in fast food places, but now it smells more like wax. Can anyone give me a clue, where to look for this leak? Yes, I have to add oil quite often...

 

[uss2defiant]

oil has been widely reported to leak at the rear passenger valve cover and drip on to the exhaust causing it to smell like burned oil.

 

[metalmoto]

Thanks for your reply. I will look there first!

 

[LibertyTC]

When cold, take a paper towel and wrap it around the back corner to see how much it is leaking...
Post #15 with photos..LINK: http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f196/2004-liberty-3-7-smoking-under-hood-59240/index2.html

Edit & Topic of what brand of Valve cover gaskets to use LINK: http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f196/fel-pro-mopar-valve-cover-gaskets-59273/

 

[fishyx]

I've been having to add a quart every 1000 miles to the old 2002. Nothing is hitting the ground, doesn't smoke and she runs like a champ. Kinda gotten used to the oil smell!!!! Just need to change out the oil filter every 5000 and I'm good to go. Love the 2 stroke Liberty!!!!!

 

[LibertyTC]

If engine is burning oil not good. Look at air filter & PCV should rattle, make sure it is clean.
If it was not for the efficient cats, you would be viewing smoke.
The cats are burning it off, but that will harm cats in the long run $.
Compression test engine and repair to stem seals or rings will make your Jeep truly run like a champ. :gr_grin:

 

[teeje]

If you smell burning oil in the cabin, most likely it is a leak externally not internally. If it was internal (such as piston rings) it would exit through the tail pipe. Since it is entering the cabin, oil is dripping somewhere onto either the manifold, or cats. I would suggest doing the paper towel trick like LibertyTC said. Let the jeep sit overnight and wipe around the valve covers. I want to say a rear main seal and front main seals are also a possibility but so is the timing cover, etc etc


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[TwoBobsKJ]

The leak is at the back corner of the valve cover right next to the firewall. The oil drips down directly onto the catalytic converter, burns and the smoke rises up and is sucked into the inlet for the cabin. That's why you don't smell anything when the Jeep is moving - the smoke gets blown under the vehicle.

You'll probably not see any oil on the garage floor from a valve cover leak since the oil is burned off when the Jeep is running. The front seal and rear seal are positioned so that oil drips from them would just flow along the oil pan (for a front leak) and down around the bell housing (for a rear leak.) In neither case would the oil drip on a hot surface.

Bob

 

[metalmoto]

Sounds like I have the infamous valve cover leak, that many of you have mentioned.
Also seems like a real pain to fix... So many parts to take off, just to get the valve cover off! And after replacing the coolant overflow tank, water pump, radiator, thermostat and hoses. Now I have to disconnect the heater hoses, to get the valve cover off! I think, I will just deal with the nasty smell, and keeping an eye on the oil level for now. Too many other more important things, need to be fixed first. But I want to "thank everyone", for helping me figure out the smell and oil leak was coming from.