Oil Leak

[eric1514]

When I bought my 2005 Liberty with the 3.7l gas engine, it came with oil leaks. The first and largest was the power steering pump so I replaced it and the high-pressure hoses and that has cured the most obvious and largest leak.

I have not thoroughly cleaned the engine yet but there's maybe a clue to where the remaining leak is coming from if you're familiar with these trucks, and I'm not. If I crawl under the Jeep, there's always a drip on the end of the v shaped trough, that plastic piece meant to catch spills from changing the filter. I can reach in there and wipe it clean but in a day or two there will be a fresh drip on the end of it. The oil does not seem to be coming from the filter. The filter is dry on the outside.

At first I thought the pan gasket was leaking but I don't think oil from there could make its way to that trough. Does oil in that tray definitively point to a common leak these engines develop like a front seal? I would love it to be anything other than the pan gasket. I understand that's a miserable job.

TIA

 

[Neal]

When I bought my 2005 Liberty with the 3.7l gas engine, it came with oil leaks. The first and largest was the power steering pump so I replaced it and the high-pressure hoses and that has cured the most obvious and largest leak.

I have not thoroughly cleaned the engine yet but there's maybe a clue to where the remaining leak is coming from if you're familiar with these trucks, and I'm not. If I crawl under the Jeep, there's always a drip on the end of the v shaped trough, that plastic piece meant to catch spills from changing the filter. I can reach in there and wipe it clean but in a day or two there will be a fresh drip on the end of it. The oil does not seem to be coming from the filter. The filter is dry on the outside.

At first I thought the pan gasket was leaking but I don't think oil from there could make its way to that trough. Does oil in that tray definitively point to a common leak these engines develop like a front seal? I would love it to be anything other than the pan gasket. I understand that's a miserable job.

TIA

Check the oil pressure sender for leaks.

 

[eric1514]

Check the oil pressure sender for leaks.

That's definitely a possibility. Pretty oily around there. For $20 it's worth a try. I'll go to NAPA today and put it in tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

[eric1514]

Put a new sensor in this morning. Encouraging because oil dripping out of the hole left by removing the old sensor ran down the trough just like the leak did. We'll see.

Thanks again.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Valve cover gaskets. Theyre always leaking on a 3.7/4.7.

Ive replaced the front main seal on both both the 3.7 and 4.7 as well.

 

[eric1514]

Valve cover gaskets. Theyre always leaking on a 3.7/4.7.

Ive replaced the front main seal on both both the 3.7 and 4.7 as well.

I pressure washed the engine yesterday to get all the accumulated crud off. I think I'll be able to see where the drip is coming from, now. Maybe.

I've discounted the valve cover gaskets because I thought I would smell burning oil because of the exhaust manifolds, but I could be wrong. Wherever it is, it seems to end up in the plastic drip tray.

 

[eric1514]

It's all nice and clean in front now, so when I crawl underneath the truck and look up, past the harmonic balancer, I can see some shiny metal. Looks like aluminum and it has thin film of clean oil on it. That oil finally collects and drips down and lands on that plastic trough. The trough is dry except for the last 1/2 inch.

I'm guessing the shiny bit I'm looking at is the water pump. How it's getting a thin film of oil is confusing, but I think now, the thing to do is remove and reseal the timing cover and replace the front crank seal while I'm at it. While I'm there, I might be able to see if the valve covers are seeping.

Sound like a plan or am I overlooking an obvious source of leakage less involved than what I'm thinking about doing?

TIA,
Eric

 

[eric1514]

Sprayed degreaser and then pressure washed the engine. I put some dye in the oil and I am almost 100% sure the leak is the front crankshaft seal. Here's a picture from underneath the engine. That green dot is the oil that is directly above the plastic trough. I didn't see any oil towards the back of the engine so I'm hoping what was there was coming from up front and just working its way back with the wind.

You must be registered for see images attach

Yippee! A relatively easy job. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Will I need a special tool to re-install the harmonic balancer or will the crank bolt draw it on?

 

[eric1514]

Back to finish this thread.

I removed the timing cover and while it was out, I replaced the front crankshaft seal. It's been about 2 weeks since I did that and I'm happy to report, I think the engine doesn't leak oil anymore. I suspect the leak was because the age of the sealant on the cover more than the crank seal.