Oil leaking, not the oil filter housing, dripping down starter onto drive shaft

[HANSHOTFIRST]

Hey Folks,

I bought a 2020 Gladiator Rubi with 76k on it. Overall...it seems in pretty good shape. I noticed a fair amount of oil in the driveway so I looked and found that its not the oil filter housing...I can't see where it originates but it becomes visible on the starter and then dripping down onto both the drive-shaft and the seam where the engine and transmission connect.

It poured raining here yesterday and I hit some of those monster puddles on the highway and this morning when I check everything looks "squeaky clean" for now but I do still see it dripping off the starter again onto the drive-shaft.

I'm about to bring it to the shop for warranty work. My guess is it is the rear main, but I'm curious what this groups experience says. I have a little concern that the dealer is going to do whatever they can to convince me it is fixed without actually fixing it...because I'm VERY close to out of warranty.

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[bleda2002]

There are 2 main places it can leak from usually.

1. Rear main seal: pull the inspection plugs and check for oil on them in inside. If it's covered, it's the RMS.​

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2. Oil filter housing: if this cracks you'll have oil down the side the engine.​

Rain won't clean the inside parts that should be covered in oil still so if it's leaking they'll see it. They can also add dye to see if it's leaking and they should do it after the fix as well to make sure it's stopped.

 

[Svenable]

You might want to check the valve cover gaskets. Especially if the leak is manifested on one side of the engine. They frequently drip off the rear outboard corner of the valve cover.

I would rule out the PCV valve since it is mounted on the passenger side.

Rear main is usually limited to oil at the bottom of the oil pan as the oil leaks out from the two access plugs and along the seam where the bell housing bolts to the engine.

The oil filter housing can show oil on the back of the engine and the sides of the engine.

Good lock isolating the leak location. I am chasing one on my JK and getting ready to remove the intake plenum and manifold to check the oil cooler, again.

 

[HANSHOTFIRST]

Update: Dealership (I bought used so not a Jeep dealer) said it was a valve cover gasket. Replaced it and sent me on my way.

It's still leaking so I pulled the inspection plugs and found dripping from the upper oil pan bolts.

See pic. Seems to me like it's the rear main at this point? Anyone else have a more informed observation?

 

[Hootbro]

See pic. Seems to me like it's the rear main at this point? Anyone else have a more informed observation?

Only two things up there that could be leaking. Rear main on the engine or transmission front input seal. Either one is going to require the transmission to be dropped for a fix.

 

[bleda2002]

Update: Dealership (I bought used so not a Jeep dealer) said it was a valve cover gasket. Replaced it and sent me on my way.

It's still leaking so I pulled the inspection plugs and found dripping from the upper oil pan bolts.

See pic. Seems to me like it's the rear main at this point? Anyone else have a more informed observation?

Looks like RMS to me, i've had mine replaced 3 times, its a fairly quick fix.

 

[HANSHOTFIRST]

@bleda2002 Three times? That sounds terrible.

 

[HANSHOTFIRST]

Thanks folks. Hopefully I have a healthy Jeep back soon.

 

[bleda2002]

@bleda2002 Three times? That sounds terrible.

Every year and half like clock work. Pretty sure I have a small flaw in one of the mating surfaces, and as the seal ages I get a tiny amount on the plugs. It's been covered under warranty so Ive replaced it, but if it wasn't under warranty I wouldn't have bothered.

 

[HANSHOTFIRST]

Update: The Dealership (non-jeep / Chrysler) is telling me that a) they don't see any oil even though I shared the pictures with them and that b) what they do see is "fine" so no further work is necessary.

To be clear...they have the jeep and are in person looking at the same thing I was looking at when I was investigating the leak...and are somehow denying that my photos show oil.

I'm about to drive there and point it out to them...

If anyone has suggestions on how to best handle this as I'm about to be out of warranty soon...I'm all ears.

 

[VA6489]

If this is a 3.6 motor the oil filter housing could be leaking, filling up the valley and leaking out the back of the motor.

 

[HANSHOTFIRST]

@VA6489 Thanks for the reply. I already have the aluminum replacement for the plastic part that fails up there. It's dry as a bone on the top of the engine.

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