Rear Main seal, 1 piece oil pan gasket and valve cover gasket

[KingOfTheHill]

any tips or tricks i should know? anything i should look out for?

i have checked a few "How to's" but curious if others have gone off those and then realized a better way or something they forgot?

its stock height, 90 4.0... so im hoping i can squeek the oil pan out of there... wish it was lifted already

JOe

[5-90]

Try a quick search - I've covered this in pretty decent detail several times, with the last one being as recent as sometime last week. I know it's out there...

(Sorry about the "Search!" comment. I tried to be civil, but I don't normally care to repeat myself, and I know it's been covered in detail.)

[KingOfTheHill]

u got it...

like i said, i have been reading up on them... but the ones i have been looking at are a few years old.

JOe

[liljoe71]

I just did this to mine and followed some instructions from here, they worked great. Theres only one thing I would have added. I had to use a tie down strap to move my axle forward a bit to clear the pan when I reinstalled it. It actually came down with no issues. Other than that it has been covered here on several posts. Good Luck!

Lil Joe

[ebjones7]

I just replace the RMS and VC gasket on my 01 XJ. Wasn't all too bad but just be prepared to spend a little time on it. I was having trouble getting my oil pan out. I disconnected my shocks and still barely slid it out. I also had to remove the little oil pump that was inside the oil pan before I was able to get the pan out. It is an easy two bolts. I had the whole jeep on jack stands from the frame not the axle. I have a post about it which might help. Just search my posts (ebjones7). Good Luck

Elliott

[citRon]

turn your wheels to the left- moves steering stuff out of the way.

[Bugboy]

I just did mine as well. A 90 4.0. It was a royal pain. just get the axle as low as possible. I loosened the shocks and also the sway bar end links to get more drop out of it and it still barely made it.

good luck!

sean

[xjtrailrider]

One tip that I have is to use some small zip ties to hold the gasket in place putting the pan in. I did this and it really helps, just get the pan into position, start a few bolts and the snip the zip ties and pull them out (don't leave them in or you will have a leak)

Here is a pic

[Harlee&Tahoe]

I'm doing this RIGHT NOW and am having a beer moment while I gather my thoughts on how to get the oil pan dislodged. ALL bolts are out. Tried 8#BFH padded by wood still no go. I'm now going to try razor blade around as much of pan as possible. Screwdriver, I'm afraid of bending the pan too much, I'm tired of leaks.

Searching had no results with oil pan and many variables and wildcards.

Did you all have to remove inspection plate? I haven't. err... couldn't how many bolts hold that damn thing in?

[xjtrailrider]

No you do not have to remove the inspection plate and the 3 pans that I have pulled on my XJ's have fallen right off!

Do you have a drum brake adjuster tool? Sometimes you can slip the slender flat end in and pop it loose somewhere.

[5-90]

Originally Posted by Harlee&Tahoe

I'm doing this RIGHT NOW and am having a beer moment while I gather my thoughts on how to get the oil pan dislodged. ALL bolts are out. Tried 8#BFH padded by wood still no go. I'm now going to try razor blade around as much of pan as possible. Screwdriver, I'm afraid of bending the pan too much, I'm tired of leaks.

Searching had no results with oil pan and many variables and wildcards.

Did you all have to remove inspection plate? I haven't. err... couldn't how many bolts hold that damn thing in?

I've had luck with a rubber hammer as well (~2#) - those factory seals are tight!

If you do bend the lip, it can be straightened. Use a fairly soft drift (hardwood, Nylon, brass, bronze - something about 1/2"-5/8" diameter,) set the pan upside down on a flat surface (garage floor can work, if it's fairly smooth. I don't recommend a driveway) and tap it flat. I've had good results doing this with a number of pans where I've had to bend the flange to get the damned thing loose...

[iwannadie]

I dont know if this applies to your motor... However, when I did my valve cover gasket the rubber CCV grommets needed replaced. They just cracked and fell apart when I tried to remove them. They are cheap from the dealer so might as well replace them.

Also, I spent some time cleaning the valve cover up really well and thought about painting but ran outa time ha.

It might also be a good time to replace the O-rings on the oil filter housing.

[Brett M]

I've done mine 3 times now (I can get it done in 2 hours or less now ) and it still leaks. The only thing that I can come up with is that A) I'm an idiot or B) My crank is grooved and I just need to buck up for a new block. Which isn't a bad idea, considering the motor has 211K and getting to be a bit loud.

Tips? Let it sit overnight so as much of the oil as possible gathers in the pan. I changed out my BIL's RMS (he dropped it off) and it sucked having oil drip all over you for hours. Oh and his sealed up nicely

[5-90]

Originally Posted by Brett M

I've done mine 3 times now (I can get it done in 2 hours or less now ) and it still leaks. The only thing that I can come up with is that A) I'm an idiot or B) My crank is grooved and I just need to buck up for a new block. Which isn't a bad idea, considering the motor has 211K and getting to be a bit loud.

Tips? Let it sit overnight so as much of the oil as possible gathers in the pan. I changed out my BIL's RMS (he dropped it off) and it sucked having oil drip all over you for hours. Oh and his sealed up nicely

A1) - you've installed the seal backwards. The "open side" of the V should be on the inside - and if you didn't pay attention, you could have gotten it reversed. Twice. (Unlikely? Experience has shown otherwise for me...)

Or it could be a groove in the crank, or a crack in the rear of the engine, or a leak down the back from the valve cover gasket.

[ocean_jet]

Originally Posted by xjtrailrider

Here is a pic

Great idea!! Wish I would have known this two weeks ago.