Catastrophic Oil Leak

[PlayLoud]

Morning Everyone,

Hope All the Canadians out there are having a great Thanksgiving weekend !!!

So My Jeep experience took a turn for the worst yesterday morning and I just wanted
to put it out there as I can't seem to find too much info on this happening which I'm going to assume
is a good thing

The story...

Yesterday as I was driving along the highway/freeway to a clients house through a metropolitan area so Exists are every Km or 6th of a mile depending on where you are from. The Low Oil pressure light flashed and went off as quick as it came on. Did notice the little oil can light stayed on above the thermostat temp gauge so I made the decision to catch the next exist and take a look. Wasn't halfway around the off ramp and smoke started pouring from out under the hood. The engine started rattling (worse than usual, diesel Joke) I mean piston slapping (still no lights except the little oil can) Engine came to an abrupt halt, I threw everything into neutral and I was able to coast / push it into a parking lot. All of the oil dumped out the drivers side of the engine.

I'm not sure if this has happened to anyone here before I'm just trying to get the word out and get some feedback. The Jeeps last service was a week and a half ago at the dealership and was given the official all clear so it's not a result of neglect. (31,000km on the rig 19,262 miles got it new last October)

I've attached some pics as I had some time waiting for the flat deck any insights would be appreciated as I've got all the boxes sitting in the garage for the next phase... lift, winch, 37" tires, rims etc and I'm having some doubts on moving forward. F*ck it was booked to go in the week of the 24th to get all of this installed. I probably won't even have it back by then. (That was a vent moment) We love our "Donkey" to date! I would just like to be sure moving forward the investment is right and I am hoping this is a "one" off situation which I can live with but if the diesels are starting to show their true colours I'd rather move on (maybe a 392?)

Thanks in advance for all of your inputs

Cheers

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[Jeep-A-Kneez]

I'd say the oil filter would be a good place to start investigating.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Have a great thanksgiving weekend too! I’d agree with Jeep-A-Kneez. My first thought was the oil cap. Crack maybe,…loose??

If the leak is from the cap, was a torque bar used and set right? I’d have to look but I think it’s 18lbs. Neglect wasn’t you as you took it in for service but it wouldn’t be the first time the green horn at the dealership over/under tightened a cap

 

[WoolyKris]

This happened to me beginning of this year at 12k miles, cracked valve cover. Luckily dealer was not far away, and I was able to limp it. Truck was in the shop for a couple of days, now it’s good as new.

 

[Sandevino]

I vote a cracked valve cover over a cracked oil filter housing as the latter would have made itself known almost immediately.

 

[Stratus109]

Who cares about the leak at this point, you continued to drive when you should have immediately pulled over . You probably ceased the engine or at least did serious damage to rotating assembly bearing surfaces and cam.

 

[Bjeepz]

Who cares about the leak at this point, you continued to drive when you should have immediately pulled over . You probably ceased the engine or at least did serious damage to rotating assembly bearing surfaces and cam.

Go back to bed. He took the 1st possible exit to maintain his safety. When being rude and making assumptions proper spelling is preferable, better luck after your nap!

 

[Stratus109]

Go back to bed. He took the 1st possible exit to maintain his safety. When being rude and making assumptions proper spelling is preferable, better luck after your nap!

Haha ok forum avenger. What was so rude and not true about what I said?

 

[22EcoDs]

Ladies play nice. It sounds like he did the reasonable thing to get off the road however the increased runtime with less oil and notable noises points to damage.

 

[Stratus109]

Go back to bed. He took the 1st possible exit to maintain his safety. When being rude and making assumptions proper spelling is preferable, better luck after your nap!

Ladies play nice. It sounds like he did the reasonable thing to get off the road however the increased runtime with less oil and notable noises points to damage.

exactly . I feel I was u fairly attacked but ill let it slide. My point is why inspect for a leak ( unless dealer negligence is suspected) , when you likely will need a new engine or heads, bearings etc etc…

 

[Rusty PW]

I would rule out the valve cover. Because it dumped the oil out too quick. Either oil filter or the filter housing. Regardless, the engine is toast.

 

[Bjeepz]

Haha ok forum avenger. What was so rude and not true about what I said?

Good to see you got that nap in!! haha

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The Low Oil pressure light flashed and went off as quick as it came on. Did notice the little oil can light stayed on above the thermostat temp gauge so I made the decision to catch the next exist and take a look.

Hint - never think "I can make it to the next exit". When the light comes on, pull over and get 'er shut down ASAP, not in a minute or two, do it now. Once things get to that point, you are starting to do damage.
Yes, find a SAFE way, but there are generally shoulders, places to pull off the traveled portion.
Yeah, we don't know exactly what road you were on, and how safe it was - but get 'em shut down ASAP.
My bet - engine is toast.

I say this because you aren't the first one to say "I made it to..........." after seeing a light come on.
Once it happens, it's not "you have 3 minutes before self-destruct sequence begins".

Go back to bed. He took the 1st possible exit to maintain his safety. When being rude and making assumptions proper spelling is preferable, better luck after your nap!

Maybe highways are different where he lives - here, you can pull over almost any place. And a Jeep can pull over farther than most LOL.

Yes, we do not know his exact traffic situation or safety, but we sure see a lot of "I drove it until it was convenient" or similar such messages here.

 

[dcmdon]

I sometimes drive in rural areas. There are plenty of places to pull over IMMEDIATELY, with complete safety.

A couple of months ago I was on the Cross Bronx Expressway. Three lanes of angry New Yorkers and for a couple of miles, ZERO shoulder and concrete side walls to the highway that were too tall to climb up.

We also have areas in Boston on Storro drive where there is no shoulder or place to pull off (even in a jeep) for a mile plus. In this case, ASAP is probably 90 seconds of driving.

The other thing is that he said the oil pressure light only flashed. The oil fill light stayed on. If I read it right, that is a "pull over when its practicable", not ASAP type situation. In other words, if my vehicle is telling me I'm low on oil, but I've still got oil pressure, I'm driving to the next exit.

If my oil pressure has dropped, I'm shutting off the engine asap.

One other thing. My previous car would show low oil level in the gauge cluster when it was 1 quart down. Hardly a big deal.

When does our Jeep show low oil level? 1 quart down? 2 quarts? It would be good to know.

I learned this when I rushed to get off an exit when I got the message. I pulled the dip stick and knew I was fine when I saw that I was only a quart down.

 

[Rockabillyroy]

Sounds like you got a defective vehicle. And while it might be nice to know what all the bells and whistles mean, that's not your job. You paid good money for a truck that is supposed to not crap the sh*tter. As long as you got out safely, they can fix it and make it right. Good luck.

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