WJ 4.0 leaking at front too

[Frankpapa]

The 4.0 in the WJ is now leaking more oil in the front than in the rear. I guess that would be the crankshaft front seal or the timing cover seal?

[JeepPfeil]

i would say timing cover seal or vibration damper seal

[Flexxj90]

Crank seal, oil pan seal... Could be a few different things.. Hows the pan seal look. can you narrow it down? Spray the area wit hbrake cleaner or even degreaser, if you ve gulched it then its likely muddy and will be hard to see unless clean.. Once clean top the oil off and start it, see if it seeps at idle.
Then drive it.. Youll need to get it warm as viscosity changes with temp. Re look. It may be obvious at that point

[Frankpapa]

It's not Gulch mud but the stock WJ radiator skid that makes it hard to see. I'm going to try to get a mirror up in there, but probably can't get to it for a week or so.

From what I can see, the oil is dripping from just behind the pulley, right where the crankshaft front seal and the timing cover would be. It pools in the radiator skid, then drips out from there. It leaks when the engine is off but more when it's running.

Do any of those oil leak sealants do anything? Any downside to trying it, since I've got leaks front, rear and from the head?

[Flexxj90]

Hmm, Not thinking its the timing cover. Thinking cam seal or crank seal. When was the last timing change or WP?

[Frankpapa]

Water pump I'm thinking was replaced on warranty during first 75,000 miles. Long time ago.

Don't recall timing ever being adjusted in 160K miles, unless it was part of rooutine maintenance which was done religiously for many years.

[Frankpapa]

Got a closer look today, cleaned it up, ran the engine to see what's happening. Just behind the pulley, there's a gray rubber gasket that's squeezing out like a hernia. That's where the oil leak is. There are a couple bolts there, and all the leaking was on the passenger side bolt. I tightened that a bit to see what happens.

Jake suggested Valvoline long life oil has something that seals leaks. Lucas oil leak stop is another option. Anybody have experience and advice on these?

[JeepPfeil]

replace the harmonic balancer (vibration damper) seal = done, all you need is a puller for the balancer (i have one) and replace the seal

[H2_RECOVERY]

Sounds like the oil pan gasket to me, they use rtv where the timing cover and the engine block mate with the oil pan to fill the cavity so it wont leak. sounds like it is and the the oil pan gasket would need to be replaced.

[Frankpapa]

Sounds like the oil pan gasket to me, they use rtv where the timing cover and the engine block mate with the oil pan to fill the cavity so it wont leak. sounds like it is and the the oil pan gasket would need to be replaced.

Ding, ding, ding. That's what it looks like.

Hard to tell for sure that oil isn't coming from above the gasket, but all the fresh stuff seems to be seeping under the gasket and thru the bolt hole.

Guess the good news is, rear main seal and oil pan gasket can be replaced in one operation. Engine mounts aren't necessarily a problem, but with 11 years and 160K miles, does it make sense to do that too since eng mount bolts have to be removed to get the oil pan off?

[Frankpapa]

Doh! Dropping the oil pan means dropping the nth degree oil pan skid too. Nice design for a 4.0, but what a PITA that was getting it ON the jeep.

[TheYeti1775]

Whens the wrenching party?

[Frankpapa]

Probably when I can get an open lift. :tinysmile_kiss_t:

[TheYeti1775]

Or get fustrated enough to sell it to me for $500. :D

Let me know when it happens, I'm good for grunt labor and skid plate uninstall reinstall is pretty much grunt labor. Just can't do Friday nights.

[H2_RECOVERY]

Shop Nights will start up in September.

[Frankpapa]

I'll keep topping it off and keep a bucket under it until then. :tinysmile_aha_t:

Or leave it parked on the big incline of the driveway so it can't drip.