Catastrophic Oil Leak

[PlayLoud]

Morning All,
Thanks again for all your input and thoughts even the ones that needed a nap...Lol
6 lane highway at 9am is a busy road around here with no shoulder due to they
had to put in the extra lanes to support the traffic with steel barricades
As I mentioned before Pressure message flashed on and off and stayed off. The next sign
was smoke as I was half way around the ramp from the oil on the exhaust Given the information
all of you courteously provided I'm going to assume the filter housing or the filter itself let go as it just blew all the oil out instantaneously. The push button doesn't work as fast as you would think in
this situation as a key, Trust me I know... so I coasted it in neutral with no acceleration and the jeep shut itself down. Also I learned something, I now know it won't turn it off unless it's in park (Sometimes convenience /advancement isn't a good thing)
All I was looking for, was if this is a current/common situation as all the 2021 diesel gladiators on the road would have roughly the same miles on them. It is honestly a relief that it could be a one off
We'll I wait to see what the dealer says on Tuesday
Thanks again for the information
Cheers All

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[@californiajeeping]

Most likely the oil filter housing was over-tightened and failed. The 3.6L jeeps use a similar cartridge design and that was a common issue when that engine came out.

 

[KX L]

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.

.........

As usual, Shadows Papa is right. One flash of an oil pressure [not oil temp] light and you immediately shut down or the engine is VERY likely going to seize and be ruined due to extreme heat.

One of the reasons our Jeeps have emergency flashers is due to the exact issue of having to stop immediately in a traffic lane for whatever reason---no oil pressure is one of them for me and 95% of other mechanics/gear heads.

I hope most of you know to carry battery operated emergency flashers for when you pull over on the shoulder. I'm always amazed to see a vehicle without anyone around and it's flashers on. By the time the driver gets back he often can't start the vehicle due to draining the battery. So now he has an additional problem vice just running out of gas.... Obviously if it's an oil/coolant/transmission issue it most likely needs a tow truck.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

As usual, Shadows Papa is right. One flash of an oil pressure [not oil temp] light and you immediately shut down or the engine is VERY likely going to seize and be ruined due to extreme heat.

One of the reasons our Jeeps have emergency flashers is due to the exact issue of having to stop immediately in a traffic lane for whatever reason---no oil pressure is one of them for me and 95% of other mechanics/gear heads.

I hope most of you know to carry battery operated emergency flashers for when you pull over on the shoulder. I'm always amazed to see a vehicle without anyone around and it's flashers on. By the time the driver gets back he often can't start the vehicle due to draining the battery. So now he has an additional problem vice just running out of gas.... Obviously if it's an oil/coolant/transmission issue it most likely needs a tow truck.

I've never lost an engine, but I've worked on many, sometimes catastrophic issues, where the loss of oil pressure, even for a brief moment was ignored.
Any loss, even for a second, even if it comes back, means things are going south. Why would it lose pressure?
Low on oil, a leak perhaps, a bearing causing pressure loss, etc.
These have decent pumps and are pressure regulated at 30 - the constant state of pressure means if there's a deviation from that 30, it's trouble.
There is zero reason for pressure to drop and then come back that isn't reason to stop and check it.
At least with insurance, perhaps even some warranties, customer care comes into play. Oh, it's ok, it's covered.
Is it?
I know at least one fellow who found out it wasn't.
We towed in his Ford truck. He had good insurance on it, including road hazard and more. He hit a rock, the light was flickering but he figured he could make it to a decent point to get help. He didn't make it. We were called. We towed it in, ended up replacing the engine thanks to a good gouge in the oil pan.
When he came to pick up his truck he told us his insurance was going to pay. Nope, no money, you don't get the truck back.
A few days later he came in - paying for it all himself.
The company said they'd cover the oil pan but since driving further was his choice, it was on him Had he stopped instantly, or damage was instantaneous due to a hit, they'd have covered it. Bue because he figured he could make it somewhere, he ate it.
We were honest with his company, pictures of the pan were sent, we described the damage, etc. and they asked "what if he had stopped" - with that small a leak it would have been only the pan.
The customer has to decide - but be aware, the customer has a responsibility as well.
If that light flickers - don't assume hey, it went away, all must be fine or it would have stayed on. No, likely it was already critical and the pump was sucking air but any movement of the truck caused oil to be at the pickup screen again, so pressure recovered.

Anyway, it's up to the owner/operator of course, but don't assume. Lights have meaning. And if you drive on, it could get sticky in some cases.
Me - I'm stopping ASAP.
If I"m close enough - like a couple hours or so from home, I'll have my neighbor bring my car hauler. If he's not around, I'll talk my wife through hooking my car hauler up to her Grand Cherokee - it has a higher tow rating than my JT LOL.

 

[Rusty PW]

OP's situation was damn if I do, damn if I don't. Shutting the motor off on a 6 lane highway with no shoulder to pull off on during rush hour. Risking an accident. Or trying to make it to the next exit. Destroying the motor. Choose one.

 

[dcmdon]

OP's situation was damn if I do, damn if I don't. Shutting the motor off on a 6 lane highway with no shoulder to pull off on during rush hour. Risking an accident. Or trying to make it to the next exit. Destroying the motor. Choose one.

IMHO, they made the right choice given the road situation and the information presented.

I tell my wife constantly that we can afford to replace anything on the car. But if she has a problem she is to drive until she can get off the shoulder.

This is especially true with flat tires. Wheels are cheap. I can't tell you how many times I've seen idiots, sometimes in the left shoulder, stopped in a dangerous spot with a drivers side flat tire. Drive the freaking car until you can get somewhere safe.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

The OP acted reasonably for his own safety. Should he have put himself at peril to save his engine? Comes down to what is more valuable, what can be replaced, what can’t?

Will Chrysler fault him for his decision to be safe over that of an engine?

 

[Sandevino]

OP's situation was damn if I do, damn if I don't. Shutting the motor off on a 6 lane highway with no shoulder to pull off on during rush hour. Risking an accident. Or trying to make it to the next exit. Destroying the motor. Choose one.

I had a similar situation with a 1996 Ram 1500 sh!tbox edition with the 360 that had a coolant drinking problem. It over heated and I shut it down in the right lane of a 3 lane highway around 2:00pm on a Saturday. Flashers on, warning triangles set up 20, 40, 60 feet back, flares, etc….everything done right while I’m waiting on a rollback.

Some guy in a gravel hauler turned it into a hood ornament.

His insurance paid for the truck, my time and if I had to do it all again I wouldn’t change a thing. I paid $500 for it and got market value.

 

[Larry D]

Morning All,
Thanks again for all your input and thoughts even the ones that needed a nap...Lol
6 lane highway at 9am is a busy road around here with no shoulder due to they
had to put in the extra lanes to support the traffic with steel barricades
As I mentioned before Pressure message flashed on and off and stayed off. The next sign
was smoke as I was half way around the ramp from the oil on the exhaust Given the information
all of you courteously provided I'm going to assume the filter housing or the filter itself let go as it just blew all the oil out instantaneously. The push button doesn't work as fast as you would think in
this situation as a key, Trust me I know... so I coasted it in neutral with no acceleration and the jeep shut itself down. Also I learned something, I now know it won't turn it off unless it's in park (Sometimes convenience /advancement isn't a good thing)
All I was looking for, was if this is a current/common situation as all the 2021 diesel gladiators on the road would have roughly the same miles on them. It is honestly a relief that it could be a one off
We'll I wait to see what the dealer says on Tuesday
Thanks again for the information
Cheers All

Any updates??

 

[danimal2000]

similar thing happened to me. was after an oil change, and the leak was initially very small and not noticeable. after driving 20-25min, it got way more noticeable and i was able to get towed to a dealer. dealer determined that the cap and filter were on properly, and there must have been a tiny rip in the o ring so it couldn't seal properly. they replaced the o ring, and oil, and i was on my merry way.

i wonder if the o ring was messed up on yours, even the tiniest tear that initially kept things sealed, but finally gave way

 

[Gatorized]

Can you shut the engine off when the truck is still rolling? You’d like to shut it down and coast to the shoulder but I’m not sure that you can With the push button ignition.

 

[GoatPowder]

Can you shut the engine off when the truck is still rolling? You’d like to shut it down and coast to the shoulder but I’m not sure that you can With the push button ignition.

You cannot, must be in park for some inconceivable reason it even refuses in neutral while not moving

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

You cannot, must be in park for some inconceivable reason it even refuses in neutral while not moving

Man this is almost as infuriating as the whole auto park… door open, no seat belt, self slams into park….

(Sounds sketchy but I hook up to different trailers frequently and it’s got me a couple times- Bailey got the Jeep to move and it kicked it in park ?)

 

[PlayLoud]

Hey All,

Thanks again for the reply's and inputs

Sorry for the delay as this happened day one of our holidays, as I scooted out to tie up some
loose ends with a couple of clients. We went up north right after my last post

Update...
New engine will be arriving Feb 3rd and Jeep / Chrysler is covering all costs and even the rental
as they owned up to not torquing the filter properly. Certainly frustrated with the inconvenience but
content with them taking ownership of everything. I've rescheduled the install of all the components for the new year as we don't do much wheeling up here in the winter. Thinking a Moab trip in March might be in store to make up for the lost wheeling time... Lol

Cheers

 

[PlayLoud]

You cannot, must be in park for some inconceivable reason it even refuses in neutral while not moving

Yup, stupid upgrade just for convenience, probably could have saved the engine if shut down in neutral... I tried, and cursed, tried again and cursed louder and you can see where this went

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