Nice. Yeah, im keeping mine very clean also!
BTW, how hard was the rear main seal job?
My oil pan gasket, and rear main are terrible. It leaks everywhere, and the underside looks like a junkyard relic.
The RMS job is not hard at all, but it takes time. Probably much more time than those who say it can be done in 2 hours, and even more time than those who claim it can be done in under 4 hours. I went into the project with a very clean Jeep and it took me 10 hours from start to finish, and it still leaks a tiny bit, but it is getting better.
I did my research and had all my tools and equipment. Raised the front end and let the axle drop for clearance. Began removing things like the battery connection, starter, O2 sensor, exhaust at the flange, tranny inspection plate, then drained the oil. I left the filter in at this point.
I removed the oil pan once all bolts were free. Again, this was a clean Jeep and the pan came right off. Everything (except the inspection plate) was easy thus far. Next, I removed the bearing cap retailer (10 bolts), and rear bearing cap (2 bolts).
I inspected my front seal. Looked good. Inside of engine looked great. I wiped the dripping oil from my forehead.
I spent well over an hour cleaning the lower half of the bearing cap. You need to get all of the old bearing residue out of the groove. That was tough. I pulled out the upper bearing seal as per online instructions. Easy so far.
I cleaned my oil pan seal surface and noted an extremely clean pan. I wiped it inside and out and installed my new pan gasket using 4 rubber bands to hold it in place.
Next came the fun part. I lied. This was the annoying part. I soaped up my upper seal as per directions, and began installing it in the upper groove. I dicked up the seal because I suck at this sort of thing, and had to drive to a local NAPA autoparts store to buy another one. Wasted time and money. On my drive there, I remembered something about loosening ALL of the bearing caps.
Upon my return with shiny new seal pack, I loosened up all bearing caps as noted above. Upper seal slipped right in. I added the expensive MOPAR RTV to the correct locations, then added more for good measure. Don't do that. Remember, I suck at this. Just follow directions.
I installed the lower seal and lubed up the bearing surface where I was supposed to, and didn't where I was not. Retorqued all bearing caps to proper spec, installed the bearing cap rail, and prepped the oil pan with RTV.
Again, I over used some RTV on the oil pan gasket, but so far it has not leaked. I installed the pan, loosely installed the bolts, and removed the rubber bands prior to tightening the bolts. I wrapped up the job by re-installing inspection plate (PITA), exhaust bolts, O2 sensor, starter, etc. I was pleased with the installation as it was much cleaner and faster than the dissassembly.
New oil and filter completed the job. I started the Jeep, drove around the block to check for oil pressure, and parked it. I immediately noted a quarter size pool of oil under the RMS area. I screamed, kicked, cursed, and pouted for a day until I realized it was my Oil Adapter Filter o-rings causing the leak.
I now wonder if my RMS was bad all along, as my OFA o-ring seemed to clear up all of my oil issues. Remember, I suck at this.
Good luck. I may be doing another RMS job in the very near future (different XJ).
membership, and get involved in the group runs. I'll head out to PC with you unless I already have wheeling, camping, or fishing plans. It is great fun and the more XJs the better (I'm starting my own fleet with a third XJ soon...).
arty:
