Why Does Jeep Wrangler Leaking Oil? [Solved]

Anyone who faces the Jeep Wrangler oil leaks knows how bothersome it can be! From time to time due to several reasons you become a sufferer of this oily Jeep Wrangler issue & want to know anxiously why does the Jeep Wrangler leaking oil.

The leading reasons that cause the leaking oil issues on your Jeep Wrangler are broken oil filters, overfilled oil, or damaged valve cover gasket. A defective rear main seal or leaky drain plugs can also make you face the problem on your jeep.

Knowing only the reasons isn’t enough to tackle the issue. That’s why we’ve come to you with an ultimate guide covering all the way to the Jeep Wrangler oil leak. So, read on to learn and fix the leaking oil issues.

What Are The Oil Leak Symptoms On Jeep Wranglers?

Whenever there is an oil leak issue on the Jeep Wrangler, it throws some symptoms indicating the problem.

Before moving to the causes, take a look at the oil-seeping symptoms. Through it, you can get to know that your Jeep Wrangler has an oil leaking issue.

Dashboard Oil Light Message

Oil Under Jeep Wrangler
Yellow or dark brown puddles
Oil under the subframe

Oil stains over the engine
Overheating
Oil Burning Smell

Smoke From Engine

What Caused My Jeep Wrangler To Leak Oil?

Oil leaking in the Jeep Wrangler must feel unsettling as well as messy making you panicked. Although no need to be panicked as there are easy fixes to resolve the matter that we’re going to cover below.

But as the owner of the Jeep Wrangler, you must want to know what causes your jeep to leak oil. Here are the most common reasons.

Overfilled Oil

The simplest reason can be that the engine is overfilled with oil. When you fill your engine with extra oil, excessive oil starts dripping from your Jeep Wrangler, creating an irritating situation.

Damaged Valve Cover Gasket

A damaged valve cover gasket is another typical source of oil leakage. Depending on the leak’s location on the gasket, it’ll damage other parts of your jeep.

When there is a gasket leak above the exhaust, you’ll get a burning smell. Moreover, ignition issues may develop in case of the oil seeps from the gasket to the spark plugs.

Problem With Rear Main Seal

Another common cause of seeping oil is the broken rear main seal. As the rear main seals fill the gap between the engine & transmission, its failure causes engine oil leak.

Low oil levels on the Jeep Wrangler are usually the main reason for the rear main seal failure. High heat, due to age or worn out bearing, the rear main seal can also fail, making the scope for the oil leak.

Clogged Or Broken Oil Filter

The other common scenario for a Jeep Wrangler oil leak is a clogged or broken oil filter. Due to a clogged oil filter, the oil can’t flow easily through its system.

It creates pressure in the filter and it leads to leaking oil in your jeep. Besides, it can also be possible that the oil filter is broken or has not sealed properly causing the issue on your Jeep Wrangler.

Broken Oil Pan

It’s the usual reason for oil leakage of most Jeep Wrangler users. Accidental damage is common because the oil pan is located under the engine.

By any chance, if an object hits the oil pan at the wrong angle, it gets broken. When there is a worn-out gasket or impact damage, it causes an oil leak from the oil pan.

Leaky Oil Drain Plug

When the oil drain plug is defective or becomes loose, it causes the oil to seep into your jeep. A damaged or misaligned thread or loose oil drain plug is a common oil leak factor from the oil drain plug.

Oil Pressure Problem

Due to damage, and worn-out faulty oil pumps, the oil pressure may drop. The fallen oil pressure can easily mess up your Jeep Wrangler, creating a way to leak.

Improper Installation Of Fuel Pump

Sometimes, improper installation or care of the fuel pump causes a leak in your vehicle. Due to it, the moving components of your jeep can’t get adequate lubrication allowing oil leaks around them.

How To Find Where The Oil Is Leaking In Jeep Wrangler?

To sort down the leaking oil issue on Jeep Wrangler, identifying the exact location is a must. Diagnosing the oil leak source isn’t as hard as it seems. You can use this easy leak-diagnosing method that we’ve covered below.

[Cautions: Before moving towards the inspection method, ensure your engine is totally cooled down & there is no strong air from the front grill. Also, avoid muddy areas during the test as it can mess up the result’s accuracy.]

Tools Required:

UV Dye
UV Flashlight
Safety Glasses

Method:

To find out the leaking oil location, mix the UV dye leak detection fluid into the motor oil.
Usually, oil starts leaking when the engine starts. So, before starting the engine, clean out the oil grease using a degreaser so that you can see where the oil leak is happening.

After cleaning the oil grease, start your engine. Now you can look through where your Jeep Wrangler is leaking using a UV flashlight, as the UV dye will glow on the flashlight.

You may diagnose the approximate place of oil leakage now.

How To Resolve Oil Leak On Jeep Wrangler?

Oil leak fixing strategy depends on the leaking scenario of your Jeep Wrangler.

When you notice any leak on your vehicle, it’ll be better to know the exact reason. However, some effective ways can assist you to resolve the issue.

1. A little tightening can help: The easiest fix for the oil leaks is to tighten the bolts, filler caps, or drain plugs. In most cases of oil leak in Jeep Wrangler, tightening the loose bolts have solved the matter.

2. Add oil stop leak additive: In case the oil dripping on your jeep isn’t severe, an oil stop leak additive can help you out.

3. Replace the faulty parts:

If the oil seeping is from an oil filter or seal, you have to replace them.
In case the valve cover region is faulty to leak the oil from your jeep, check whether there are any worn-out cover seals.

Replace the damaged seal cover. The same process goes for the rear main seal or the gasket.

4. Call for experts: In case you find it difficult to locate & get the problem resolved, you can contact a professional mechanic. They will help you all the way to resolve your jeep oil leaking issue.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix The Oil Leak In A Jeep Wrangler?

When there is an oil leak issue on a Jeep Wrangler, fixing it will cost between $150-$1000.

This price range will vary according to different parts, labor & your dwelling area.

Here are some oil-leaking parts estimated replacement costs for you to get a rough idea.

Replacing Parts	Estimated cost
Oil Filter	$289
Valve Cover Gasket	$119
Rear Main Seal	$500- $1,100
Oil Drain Plug	$3.99 up to $7.36
Oil Pan	$290

How To Prevent Leaking Oil On Jeep Wranglers?

Prevention is always better than facing the difficulties of annoying oil leaking matter. So as not to experience this unwilling issue in the future, take the precursors to prevent it.

However, here are the most effective tips that you can check out.

Check the oil level on the Jeep Wrangler for one week or two.
Change the oil of your jeep regularly within the correct interval. Usually, after 3000 miles, you should get it replaced.

Always prefer high-quality oil for your Jeep Wrangler.
Avoid overfilling oil into your engine.
Never over-tighten the drain plugs on a Jeep Wrangler oil pan.

When any components of your jeep need replacement, ensure to have high-quality replacement parts.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

At this moment, we’re going to explore some most encountered thoughts of Jeep Wrangler owners related to the oil leak issue. Let’s have a look together.

Is a small oil leak OK on the Jeep Wrangler?

Actually, a small leak on a Jeep Wrangler is nothing to worry about. But if you leave it unencountered for a long time, it’ll grow bigger. Also, it will cause greater damage to your jeep.

Can I drive my Jeep Wrangler if it’s leaking oil?

Yeah, you can drive when your Jeep Wrangler is leaking oil. But it’s not a good idea because proper lubrication is necessary for good engine functionality. Also, an oil leak can harm the engine of your jeep.

How do you temporarily fix an oil leak on a Jeep Wrangler?

Using seal breathers or vents, you can fix the oil leak temporarily on a Jeep Wrangler. Use breakers or solvent to clean the leaky oily area of your Jeep Wrangler. It can help you out.

Is it normal for a Jeep Wrangler to leak oil when parked?

If you see your Jeep Wrangler leak oil when parked, it means that there is an oil pan leak. When there is a hole in your oil pan, it’ll leak oil even though your jeep is parked.

Wrapping Up

When you notice any leaking oil issue on your Jeep Wrangler, your mind opts to think of something serious. But sometimes leaking oil is nothing more than an indicator of a major issue that may have a simple fix.

So, without being panicked before, try to assume what is wrong with your jeep. If you’re willing to get your oil leak fixed by a technician, contact an experienced expert.

Some mechanics are straightforward whereas some go into depth. Either way, you should know what you’re dealing with.

That’s it! Best of luck with your fixing journey.

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