Why Is My Jeep Wrangler Leaking Oil? | 4 Reasons

Jeep wrangler leaking oil is not a common problem, and any motor oil leakage is a severe problem. Most oil leaks are unnoticeable for many vehicle owners because all the oil leaks do not reach the ground. Because slight motor oil leaks are deposited on the subframe and engine parts, it is hard to diagnose them, but some leakage can easily be identified.

There could be several reasons for wrangler motor oil leaking. It can be a gasket fault, oil filter damage, oil pan problems, or other seal faults. These leaks can cause other failures such as engine and radiator damage, degrading seals and rubber hoses, and safety hazards like fire. This leakage finally results in wear out of the engine parts prematurely.

In this post, we will describe jeep wrangler leaking oil symptoms. Why is my jeep leaking oil?

Jeep wrangler oil leak symptoms.

These are the most common jeep wrangler oil leaking symptoms. Even if it is a minor or critical wrangler oil leak, you can quickly identify it with the following steps.

Oil under Jeep Wrangler.

Park the jeep overnight in a dry area. You can place cardboard underneath the jeep. If you notice any oil marks under the engine area, Jeep wrangler motor oil leaks may occur. If you have a belly pan for a Jeep wrangler, temporarily remove it.

Oil under subframe.

A minor oil leak may not reach the ground, so such a leak may not be noticeable. Such a small leak of oil residue may be stored under the Jeep wrangler subframe. Closely check the subframe for any moisture.

Oil stains over the engine.

Oily stains on the engine valve cover are another jeep wrangler leaking oil symptom. Sometimes the top of the valve cover is clean, but the driver’s side may contain oily residue. Moreover, check the valve cover and cylinder heads for any oil marks.

Engine Overheating.

Lack of motor oil causes engine overheating. Motor oil works as a lubricator and engine coolant, and this oil reduces internal combustion engine parts friction. As the motor oil level drops, friction on metal parts increases, causing the engine temperature to rise. If your Jeep wrangler engine overheats after an oil change, it could be an oil leak.

The smell of oil burning.

When oil leaks in a hot engine, it burns out. This is common when oil leaks from the valve cover. Therefore when the engine gets hot, if there is a burning smell, it could be an oil leak from the Jeep Wrangler.

Dashboard oil light.

Another symptom of Jeep Wrangler oil leak is frequent dashboard oil light illumination. This dashboard indicator triggers when the oil level is low. Check if your vehicle’s engine compartment has any signs of oil spills.

Smoke from the engine.

If you notice smoke coming from under the hood of a Jeep Wrangler, it could be a motor oil leak. When the oil touches the hot surface, it burns off.

However, smoke coming from the engine is not only an oil leak; it could be a faulty cooling system, wiring issues, or any other.

What might cause jeep wrangler oil to leak?

These are the common Jeep wrangler oil leaks reasons.

• Damaged oil filter.

A damaged or aged oil filter is one of the most common reasons for jeep wrangler leaking oil. If the wrangler oil filter is loose, it can leak oil. Moreover, if the filter is too tight, it can damage the gasket and leak the oil.

• Overfilling oil.

Motor oil reservoirs are designed to store extra oil. However, too much oil is not good, and this will damage bent rods, collapsed valve pipes, oil deposit catalytic converters, and white smoke.

• Valve Cover Gasket damage.

The valve cover gasket is made of plastic, rubber, or cork and it use to seals the cylinder head to the valve cover. Over time with engine temperature, this gasket cracks and is damaged. The damaged gasket will lead jeep wrangler leaking oil.

• Rear main seal/crankshaft seal issue.

The real main seal oil leak is a serious and dangerous issue. Oil travels at high pressure in this area, so leakage is high. The main reason for wrangler rear main seal oil leakage is wear and tear, and these rubber seals are worn-out over time due to high temperatures.

How to find the jeep wrangler leaking oil location.

Once you notice a possible motor oil leaking jeep wrangler, you must identify the exact source to fix the issue. If you cannot spot the location, you can use several DIY methods.

When you are following these DIY oil leak inspection methods, you have to be more careful. Ensure that your engine is cool down to touch engine parts and that no strong wind comes from the front grill. Furthermore, do not drive on a muddy road to perform these tests, and these interferences may reduce the test result accuracy.

Use UV dye leak detection.

Material needed.

• UV Dye (Automotive grade) (Buy on Amazon).
• UV flashlight (Buy on Amazon).
• Safety Glass (Buy on Amazon).
• Jack and Jack stand (Buy on Amazon).

Step 01: Fill the UV dye.

This oil and fuel system UV dye leak detection fluids can directly pour into the engine and test run the engine for a few minutes (around 20 to 30 minutes). Before starting the test, you should not clean the oil residue on the engine and subframe; if you like, you can clean them.

You must use a leak detection UV dye with UV light for this inspection. AutoPro Oil and Fuel System UV Dye is one of the recommended dyes; we need a quality UV flashlight to view the glowing dye leaks. Anker Bolder UV flashlight is a quality product that detects UV dye leaks. This dye is safe for use in engines and small motors.

Step 02: Inspect glowing spots using UV light.

Once it mixes well with the motor oil, you can find the wrangler motor oil leaking spot using a UV light. This ultraviolet light dye glows in UV light in yellow-green at the leak source. Without UV light, this dye is not visible to the human eye.

Using baby powder/talcum powder.

This method is more inexpensive; it gives accurate results if the oil leak from the upper part of the jeep wrangler.

Materials needed.

• Baby powder (Buy on Amazon).
• Flashlight (Buy on Amazon).
• Brake cleaner (Buy on Amazon).
• Safety Glass (Buy on Amazon).
• Jack and Jack stand (Buy on Amazon)

Step 01: Clean the engine.

First, let the engine cool down. Do not try this in hot engines. Clean the engine’s oil residue using brake cleaner. Non Chlorinated brake cleaner is highly flammable, but you should not use chlorinated brake pad cleaners on heated surfaces; therefore, ensure that your engine’s temperature is normal. These cleaners produce harmful fumes on heated surfaces. It can be a toxin to humans.

Step 02: Apply powder.

Apply the powder/talcum to possible areas where you suspect oil leaks. Typically valve cover, joints, and seals are the potential moto oil leaking sources.

Step 03: A test drive.

After applying the powder/talcum test, drive your Wrangler for around 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure that there are no strong winds come front of the vehicle.

Step 02: Inspect powder applied areas.

Move the vehicle into a bright spot or use a flashlight to check the oil leaking area. If the powder gets wet, those areas are possible jeep wrangler leaking oil sources.

How To Fix Oil Leak on A Jeep Wrangler?

As soon as you notice the jeep wrangler leaking oil, it would be best if you found the exact reason for this. If it is an oil filter or seal fault, you have to replace them immediately. When replacing the filter, make sure that it fits properly.

If the oil is leaking near the valve cover region, make sure that the valve cover is tight enough. If the valve cover bolts are loose, tighten them using a torque wrench. Closely check if the valve cover seals are worn or damaged. If they are damaged, you have to replace them.

If the jeep wrangler leaking oil due to the rear main seal/crankshaft seal worn out, you have to replace them.