Oil leaks from main seal again?

[tblack]

At 41k miles I took my 2000 XJ with 4.0L/AW4 to the dealer for a routine oil/filter/lube job. The service manager came into the waiting area after several minutes and informed me I had an oil leak from the main seal. I had them fix it and it took them 6 hours and cost me $650.00. Last week I took it in to the same dealer as always (where I bought it new) and it had 68,000 miles on it by now. Took it in for the oil/filter/lube. After several minutes, Mr. Service Manager comes into the waiting area and tells me the "23-point inspection" revealed I had an oil leak from the main seal. I have babied this XJ since day one. Changed oil every 2000 miles and never have had it over 80mph. I told the SM I don't think it needs a main seal every 27,000 miles. I know it has a slight leak and has for a long time. But the drip hangs at the tip of the oil drain plug and does not hit the ground. Does anyone know if it could be possible to need to change a main seal after only 27,000 miles since the expensive installation of the last replacemment seal?

tb

[badron]

Are they SURE it's the RMS. or could it be the oil pan? Sometimes then they replace the RMS they don't install the pan gasket properly but the RMS gets the blame for the new leak. Was the new seal soaked in a light oil before installing? They do say that's OLD SCHOOL and no longer needed but I still do. Was the engine turned over and the crank checked for barbs that would tear up a new seal? ( not very likely) A good RMS job is not as fast as many think if you just want to do it one time.

[JDPascal]

I would say at this point that leaks happen and continue to monitor the leak.

If you are happy to do any maintinance on your vehicles at all, get an aerosol can of brake clean and crawl underneath the jeep and wash down the area where he says the leak is and up higher on the back of the engine. Then watch to see how long it takes for the leak to reappear. Look at the back of the engine for any other source of the oil too and I know you probably have been keeping an eye on the oil level in the engine.

Just the way you describe how the need for the repair is anounced to you gives me the impression that the shop might be a bit of a repair mill.

JD

[JDPascal]

There is a leak detection method described at the link below that will show where the oil is coming from. They show it for an antifreeze leak but it will work for oil leaks as well.

http://www.diynet.com/diy/en_mainten...271227,00.html

JD

[tblack]

The main seal at 41k was replaced a couple of years ago. I am a light driver and don't put a lot of miles on it. To be honest, I went home that day and waited until they called because they have rules against watching the repair due to insurance reasons. I do know that I had to take it back the same day because it was leaking like a sive when I got it back home. They fixed it saying the guy didn't line up the oil pan "U" shaped gasket in the back of the oil pan correctly the first time. But for the last two years, no leaks until the slight one now. I just see another repeat of having to take it back two or three times to get it right and I just don't have the patience for that. I will probably not worry about it until it starts dripping on the driveway which I am sure it will start soon enough.
tb

[tblack]

Thanks JD, You wouldn't beleive it but the engine is regularly detailed and is as spotless as when new. I do not need the cleaning, but the method I will read and try. On my older '94 Cherokee that had a worse leak, the Jeep place put some kind of a dye in the oil that turned it flourescent grren and shined a flourescent light on the bottom of the engine to see where the now flourescently illuminated oil was leaking from. It was leaking from a little 43 cent seal around the distributor shaft. That seal is probably 63 cents by now. I can just see them replacing every seal and it costing me a thousand dollars just to have the 63 cent seal show up last!
tb