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Oil weep from a 97 4.0, passenger side

6K views 10 replies 4 participants last post by  tworley 
#1 ·
So I've got an oil leak from passenger side of my 4.0l 97 wrangler. It shows up on top and bottom of oil filter, starter and such.

I've had jeep for a over a year. Ive replaced valve cover gasket. Did rear main and oil pan gasket. This is the last leak.

Is it head gasket? Distributor? Oil pressure sensor? I'm down to fix anything including head gasket, as Ive absorbed a lot of info and research incase that's it. I have no other symptoms (eg. Coolant doesn't have any contamination)

I can post pics tomorrow if needed
 
#3 ·
I was told that the oil filter adapter was only used on the Cherokee's. For what its worth, mine leaks there also... and its a 97. I replaced the valve cover gasket and RMS on mine as well. Mine is more of a weep though... Let me know if you find a fix.
 
#5 ·
Good info. Thanks man. Looks like I'll be tackling the timing cover/front crank seal, as well.

Just welded artec lower front ca brackets with girlfriends dad. We looked at the engine. There's at least 2 leaks it looks like. Head gasket. Then distributor stem looks to be leaking. Possible oil pressure sending unit as well.
 
#6 ·
I thought mine was from the distributor at one point too but the head gasket, rear main seal, timing cover seal and valve cover fixed all of the oil leaks I had.
 
#7 ·
Well i did oil pan gasket, rear main and valve cover. So i think i'm in a similar boat. These are things i need to consider anyway. I was thinking about going through Clearwater cylinder heads for a heavy duty cast head. I'm moving to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands in a year, so i need to "shore" some things up now.

Thanks again man. Invaluable info.
 
#8 ·
Wow, that sounds like a fun move. Are you taking the TJ? Are there places to wheel over there?

I still have a small bit of weeping on the passenger side of the head. I would suggest a very light coat of RTV along that edge of the headgasket. There's nothing over there to clamp it tight so I can see why it tends to leak.
 
#11 ·
Ive got the same leak on my 97 too. It is barely a weep though so I havent been too concerned with it
 
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