Oil From Blown Head Gasket? - 88 Cherokee

[Luke Home]

1988 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer -- 180,325 Miles - Given to me.
White Tag (Sticker) on Fire Wall (Driver's Side) Reads:
Engine Family: JAM4 OT5LND1
Evaporative Family:
JT-4 OH-1S XE
EF8953004743

I was Given this Jeep and though it seems to run, I was told it has a blown head Gasket and that is why it leak so much oil.

My question is: If indeed it has a blown Head Gasket, would it be leaking oil?
While it is running I can see air/bubbles/oil coming from what looks like where the Head and Block mate -Picture HERE-
- Close-UP Shot - just to the left of the distribitor. I steamed cleaned the engine and then took it for a 20 minute ride. When I looked at what was clean before the drive it was now all oily again and it looked like it was indeed coming from where the headgasket is, as stated above.

I did take a compress check of all the Cylinders (thottle open all the way) while it was still hot.

Here are the results of my compress readings.

-- Compression Results --

I also made a check of compress after appling 3-4 squirts of oil in the cylinders. Results can be seen from the third & forth columns in the table above.

Is this indeed a blown Headgasket? Or am I looking at a different problem?

Thanks,

Luke

[JDPascal]

You probably do need a head gasket though it is not showing up on your compression test. I think that will clear up your oil leak problem.

From your picture, looks like around cyinder #4 is where the leak is and #4 compression is not bad at all.

The worst cyinders are #1,#2, & #3 where you have the most jump between the wet and dry readings. That shows the rings are weaker than the other cylinders. - On the other hand- Maybe the rods on #4, #5, & #6 are throwing off more oil and the the rings are better lubed. - Probably the rings I think.

What do the plug deposits look like for each cylinder???

JD

[Luke Home]

Originally Posted by JDPascal

What do the plug deposits look like for each cylinder???

JD

Base on the what the Haynes 50010 Jeep Cherokee 1984 thru 2000
manual for Cherokee - Wagoneer - Comanche, inside cover of the Last page.... the Picture that says it is:

TOO HOT
Symptons: Blistered, white insulator, eroded electrode and absence of deposits. Results in shortened plug life.
Recommendations: Check for the correct plug heat range, over-advanced ignition timing, lean fuel mixture, intake manifold vacuum leaks, sticking valves and insufficient engine cooling.

Well that manual certainly pin-points whats wrong ... NOT!

Anyways, that is what all the plugs looked like. I should have taken a picture of one of these to ... for those with the experience in what may be causing the spark plug to look like it does.

The plugs that were existing are the "Autolite 3924".

I also forgot to mention, there is no coolant in the oil. Oil looks new.

Thanks for replying JD

[Saudade]

It looks more like you need a new valve cover gasket. In the close up above the distributor, there looks to be a lot of oil.

You're also missing your fan shroud.

[89ltd]

I agree with the valve cover gasket, from the picture it looks like that is where its coming from, just changed mine, used a cork gasket with rtv silicone on both sides. Does it run , idle very good?

[Luke Home]

Originally Posted by 89ltd

..... Does it run , idle very good?

Hello 89ltd,

It runs and starts right up. But it seem to idle very rough. The spark-plugs/Wires/Cap/Rotor certainly need to be replaced though. Would this rough idling be caused by leaking vacuum hoses? I read somewhere that all vacuum hoses should be replaced every four-five years and all connection ends should be tightened with a nylon
cable tie. This supposedly will make the difference between a fine tuned motor running smooth and a rough running one after all major electrical components have been replaced.

Any comments on this?

[Saudade]

Leaking vacuum hoses would generally cause a high idle (try pulling one off while running). I'd suggest you change the plugs, cap, rotor, and wires first.

Make sure you check all of the vacuum lines. They are mostly hade from hard plastic and can break very easily.