Odd oil leak from back of JTR engine

[Guardian682]

While out on the trail today I noticed a very small drop of oil below the truck.

After crawling under to investigate I noticed that it looks like oil is dripping on the top of the transmission then trickling down the passenger side of the transmission case and the very back of the transfer case. I’m not sure where to even start sourcing the leak with it being so far back. Anyone else already fight this battle???

The JT is a 2020 with 198000 miles on it, I’m the sole owner and it’s never been in the shop, so I guess I was lucky until now.

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[PuddleJumper]

rear main seal? oil line?

 

[PuddleJumper]

While out on the trail today I noticed a very small drop of oil below the truck.

After crawling under to investigate I noticed that it looks like oil is dripping on the top of the transmission then trickling down the passenger side of the transmission case and the very back of the transfer case. I’m not sure where to even start sourcing the leak with it being so far back. Anyone else already fight this battle???

The JT is a 2020 with 198000 miles on it, I’m the sole owner and it’s never been in the shop, so I guess I was lucky until now.

wait wait. 198,000 miles!!!! i think thats the highest yet I've seen on a JT

 

[jeepers29]

Have you checked the oil filter housing?

 

[Minty JL]

My '23 JTM with 17k on it has a right valve cover gasket leak right now. Its bad enough where I had to replace the O2 sensor til I can get it to the dealer

 

[Loud Lyle]

I second checking the oil filter housing. If there is oil sitting in the valley under the intake that’s the culprit.

 

[Hootbro]

Yeah, that looks like it is coming up high from the top engine side. What others said about the oil filter/cooler housing and valve covers would be my first look at.

 

[wildtaco]

When my oil filter housing failed on my JKU, it looked very similar to this. I suctioned out an entire Corona bottle (lol) worth of oil from the V of the engine.

 

[Hootbro]

Look at it this way, at 198K, you are probably due for another set of spark plugs. You will be 75% into the job already replacing that oil filter/cooler assembly if it is the culprit.

 

[Flyboy2109]

Just had my JT to dealer for recall. They found a valve cover leak in a 2900 mile engine. Since they were doing the manual transmission recall that is where they were working, right where you are noting a leak.

 

[Zero_Accel]

I had a valve cover fail on my JT, 46,000 miles. Oil leak symptoms looked very similar.

Mine was replaced under warranty.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Some of you with valve cover leaks - hope they followed the TSB and replaced the valve cover as well.

Already said, but that's engine, not transmission.
My understanding is that the FCA-built ZF transmissions have leak trace in the fluid from the factory, so a UV light would indicate oil vs MOPAR/ZF ATF.

 

[UNlimited65]

Oil filter housing - when was your last oil change - housing could have cracked.

 

[OHJeeper]

While out on the trail today I noticed a very small drop of oil below the truck.

After crawling under to investigate I noticed that it looks like oil is dripping on the top of the transmission then trickling down the passenger side of the transmission case and the very back of the transfer case. I’m not sure where to even start sourcing the leak with it being so far back. Anyone else already fight this battle???

The JT is a 2020 with 198000 miles on it, I’m the sole owner and it’s never been in the shop, so I guess I was lucky until now.

Maybe it's your camera, but it looks like there is leak detect in that fluid to me - especially that last picture (very yellow). Going by @ShadowsPapa's post, it may be ATF.

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