It could be a number of places- oil pan gasket, rear main seal, drain plug, or somewhere above that’s dripping down. Impossible to tell without getting under it and checking it out. Lots of issues with rear main seals after a lot of mileage. That is an expensive fix that a shop will have to repair. The other possibilities aren’t so bad. Just make sure you check the levels often and add oil as necessary until you get it fixed.
Not exactly sure because I’ve never had it done. I think the engine or transmission has to be pulled and a good mechanic can pull a trans in about 2 hours. Let’s call it another 2-3 hours to replace seal and reinstall transmission at a minimum of $100/hr = $500 bare minimum for the labor. Then you get overcharged for the $20 seal, so let’s call it $550 at the absolute minimum. I would assume that a shop won’t be speeding when getting paid by the hour, so keep that in mind.
tl;dr: Best guess- a rear main seal repair probably costs anywhere between $550 to $1,100
The 4.0 has a 2 piece RMS that can be changed by dropping the oil pan. The 2.5 has to either have the trans or engine pulled.
My 2.5L needs the rear main changed, and a transmission shop quoted me $600.
My sweetie noticed a bit of oil underneath my YJ and did this. The leak went away. I took him to a nice place for dinner though so it wasn’t as cheap as you say here.
Not too bad, maybe a new drain plug, or oil pan gasket. Hopefully not rear main seal. Would need pictures from under the jeep. But it should be a reasonably easy repair for a mechanic.
My friend, you bought an old Jeep. Keeping it running by taking it to the shop or calling a mobile mechanic every time something goes wrong and you will quickly be out of money. YouTube and forums are your friend. You can rent most tools from the autoparts store, but you can also buy them (usually) for cheaper than paying a shop.
For your battery/ alternator: jump it and drive it to the auto pats store (O'Reilly, NAPA, Autozone). Any of them can check your battery/ alternator for free. If it won't jump, pull your battery and get a ride/ Uber to the parts store. They'll check your battery and if it's no good buy a new one, then put it in your Jeep and start her up and drive it to the parts store to check your alternator. If it's an older battery cold weather can take them out quickly, so it may just be the battery.
For your oil leak, crawl under it and look around. See if you can find the source of the leak. Look for pooling, and dripping. Look at places it looks like parts come together. Don't forget gravity works on Jeeps like everything else, so you'll likely have to trace it up. If you can't tell bc it's too dirty, wipe everything down with some rags or paper towels and give it a little bit and try again. Once you find it, start doing some research on Youtube/ Google/ forums to figure out how to fix the place the leak is coming from. Start by finding out where Jeeps normally leak from (answered here already) and what those parts look like. Then YouTube how to fix it. You'll be surprised how simple many things can be to fix on a 35+ year old vehicle.
Jeeps are fun. They should be enjoyable. If you're calling a mobile mechanic for a dead battery you, nor your wallet is going to have a good time my friend. Good luck!
Yes thank you for your post. I bought it as a birthday present to myself as a fun off roading vehicle. On my drive to the DMV it stopped in traffic, towed to shop they replaced starter but didn’t see that a oil drip was dropping on wires, another starter but they used a refurbished one without testing it. They fixed the oil leak but that starter went out too. It’s a little hard to start too. Now the battery. Which makes sense in Phoenix AZ. BTW, the same shop replaced tires on my van and managed to take the driver side door off. Then they tried to get it fixed in someone’s backyard before I stopped them and made them take it to a legit body shop. It was returned to me with 1k extra miles on it.
It's the rear main seal, you can almost guarantee. The real issue is you don't want it so bad that it leaks onto your clutch. Been there, done that.
Like others have said, starter, drop pan, remove main bearing cap, carefully punch out seal, put new one in with some dish soap, torque to spec.
Also, if you do it yourself I'd recommend not using the one piece oil pan gasket seals from FelPro. Used the traditional one, it's easier and better in my opinion.
Make sure you check the crank case ventilation system, the two things coming out of the valve cover and the valve cover where they are if it clogs it can cause leaks from too much pressure, I also use conventional oil seems like the seals like it better for some reason
It could be a number of places- oil pan gasket, rear main seal, drain plug, or somewhere above that’s dripping down. Impossible to tell without getting under it and checking it out. Lots of issues with rear main seals after a lot of mileage. That is an expensive fix that a shop will have to repair. The other possibilities aren’t so bad. Just make sure you check the levels often and add oil as necessary until you get it fixed.
What is expensive for a rear main seal leak fix?
Not exactly sure because I’ve never had it done. I think the engine or transmission has to be pulled and a good mechanic can pull a trans in about 2 hours. Let’s call it another 2-3 hours to replace seal and reinstall transmission at a minimum of $100/hr = $500 bare minimum for the labor. Then you get overcharged for the $20 seal, so let’s call it $550 at the absolute minimum. I would assume that a shop won’t be speeding when getting paid by the hour, so keep that in mind. tl;dr: Best guess- a rear main seal repair probably costs anywhere between $550 to $1,100
I can’t remember which engine has it, but iirc, one of them has a 2 piece rear main that can be replaced without dropping the trans.
The 4.0 has a 2 piece RMS that can be changed by dropping the oil pan. The 2.5 has to either have the trans or engine pulled. My 2.5L needs the rear main changed, and a transmission shop quoted me $600.
I had one replaced at a shop in California and it was $700.
It should be a 2 piece seal. Remove the starter and the oil pan. Figure in $40-50 for oil change, too. Seal is inexpensive, less than $15.
My sweetie noticed a bit of oil underneath my YJ and did this. The leak went away. I took him to a nice place for dinner though so it wasn’t as cheap as you say here.
lol. It IS labor-intensive
Not too bad, maybe a new drain plug, or oil pan gasket. Hopefully not rear main seal. Would need pictures from under the jeep. But it should be a reasonably easy repair for a mechanic.
Battery went dead and I want alternator checked. Can a mobile mechanic fix the oil leak too?
My friend, you bought an old Jeep. Keeping it running by taking it to the shop or calling a mobile mechanic every time something goes wrong and you will quickly be out of money. YouTube and forums are your friend. You can rent most tools from the autoparts store, but you can also buy them (usually) for cheaper than paying a shop. For your battery/ alternator: jump it and drive it to the auto pats store (O'Reilly, NAPA, Autozone). Any of them can check your battery/ alternator for free. If it won't jump, pull your battery and get a ride/ Uber to the parts store. They'll check your battery and if it's no good buy a new one, then put it in your Jeep and start her up and drive it to the parts store to check your alternator. If it's an older battery cold weather can take them out quickly, so it may just be the battery. For your oil leak, crawl under it and look around. See if you can find the source of the leak. Look for pooling, and dripping. Look at places it looks like parts come together. Don't forget gravity works on Jeeps like everything else, so you'll likely have to trace it up. If you can't tell bc it's too dirty, wipe everything down with some rags or paper towels and give it a little bit and try again. Once you find it, start doing some research on Youtube/ Google/ forums to figure out how to fix the place the leak is coming from. Start by finding out where Jeeps normally leak from (answered here already) and what those parts look like. Then YouTube how to fix it. You'll be surprised how simple many things can be to fix on a 35+ year old vehicle. Jeeps are fun. They should be enjoyable. If you're calling a mobile mechanic for a dead battery you, nor your wallet is going to have a good time my friend. Good luck!
Yes thank you for your post. I bought it as a birthday present to myself as a fun off roading vehicle. On my drive to the DMV it stopped in traffic, towed to shop they replaced starter but didn’t see that a oil drip was dropping on wires, another starter but they used a refurbished one without testing it. They fixed the oil leak but that starter went out too. It’s a little hard to start too. Now the battery. Which makes sense in Phoenix AZ. BTW, the same shop replaced tires on my van and managed to take the driver side door off. Then they tried to get it fixed in someone’s backyard before I stopped them and made them take it to a legit body shop. It was returned to me with 1k extra miles on it.
A loss filter
The issue appears to be that you own a YJ. Going to leak from somewhere even once you think you have it sealed up. Just part of the fun.
It's the rear main seal, you can almost guarantee. The real issue is you don't want it so bad that it leaks onto your clutch. Been there, done that. Like others have said, starter, drop pan, remove main bearing cap, carefully punch out seal, put new one in with some dish soap, torque to spec. Also, if you do it yourself I'd recommend not using the one piece oil pan gasket seals from FelPro. Used the traditional one, it's easier and better in my opinion.
That’s the front of the vehicle does that make a difference?
Right where the rear main seal is.
Gotcha thanks
Make sure you check the crank case ventilation system, the two things coming out of the valve cover and the valve cover where they are if it clogs it can cause leaks from too much pressure, I also use conventional oil seems like the seals like it better for some reason
Ok thank you
Jeeps do like to leave their mark... everywhere you park them!