[1596]

I searched the old posts and learned alot, not enough i guess. the oil pan in my 88 xj is very rusty. last year I scraped it and did the rust restorer thing.anyway I did some work today, regular maintence stuff and noticed that there was what appeared to be oil coming from the front of the engine down to the oil pan and flowing back. checked the oil and was only half a qt down from last oil change two mos ago. it has 44000 orig miles on it but its still an 88. I assume the pan cant last as long as the engine.
would this be a front seal of some sort. what could I try
before bringing it to a mechanic. dont have that much extra time for work on it these days.it sounds like changing the pan is a real pain. thanks richie

 

[NIX]

Did you put in a new one piece seal in it after you cleaned it? The pan should live as long as your engine. It needs to be removed to replace the seal, but it's not that difficult. If it still leaks with a new 1-piece, it might be a seal or something else (up to a leaky valve cover seal).

In reply to:

oil coming from the front of the engine down to the oil pan

[/ QUOTE ] That doesn't sound like it's the pan or the gasket.....

 

[1596]

I didnt change the gasket or take it off, just cleaned and treated it. I never saw a pan so rusty. my 89 has very little rust anywhere but thats my baby. the 88 sat in someones driveway for a while. it was an estate <nobr>truck</nobr>.to the airport and back . I dont think its the pan although I want to change it because it looks like an accident waiting to happen.Im starting to think that the front seal
is starting to leak a little. I read in the search about using baby powder. I think Ill try that.If I have someone
replace the pan what else should I do as long as its off.
I looked at a bunch of old xjs yesterday and not one had rust like this one. where would I find step by step for changing the pan and gasket If I find the time to do it myself. Im guessing 5 hours from what ive read. am i wrong. ps whats up with the toyota truck ad, something new here I missed.

 

[krabysniper]

If the pan is as rusty as you say it is I would be looking at the uni body ALL OVER and checking for rust thru in key critical suspension attachment points. I'd be more worried that a rusted thru control arm was about to fail rather than the oil pan, because I can honestly say that even up here in the mid west where we use more salt on the roads than Mc D's uses on there french fries, I have never heard of an oil pan being rusted as bad as your saying yours is, so I am wondering if your jeep didn't go for a swim in the harbour or somtin.

 

[1596]

it used to live at a house on the beach but never went on the beach. I checked all the critical points and there ok. I have some problems on the drivers side floor but I have a buddy thats going to weld in a new floor. when I bought it the jeep had been siting for a while outside but with a
cover. I cleaned it up and did the por 15(on the critical points) and its been no problem since. I agree its strange, my other jeep is in the sand almost every day on the beach and its mint.salt here is a bitch also.