TSB - 3.8L Engine Oil Seepage Due To Front Timing Cover Surface Porosity
NUMBER: 09-008-07
GROUP: Engine
DATE: November 07, 2007
SUBJECT:
3.8L Engine Oil Seepage Due To Front Timing Cover Surface Porosity
OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves the replacement of the 3.8L engine timing cover.
SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
The customer may experience oil seepage from the engine. The oil seepage may be due to surface porosity in the aluminum material used to make the engine timing cover. This surface porosity is located on the surface that mates to the engine block.
The source of the oil seepage may be misdiagnosed. The following are areas where the engine oil seepage may be noticed due to the timing cover porosity:
a). Timing Cover - The seepage may appear as a gasket leak between the cover and the engine block.
b). Oil Filter- The timing cover porosity may lead to an oil seepage at the oil filter or immediate area of the oil filter. The technician may believe that the oil filter is at fault.
c). Unused Oil Filter Adapter Boss - Oil may seep along an unused open oil galley and display at the face of the unused oil filter adapter boss. The adapter boss is on the lower left side of the engine.
d). Oil Pan - The technician may believe that the oil pan gasket is at fault.
e). Rear Seal Carrier - The oil may seep along an unused open oil galley and display in the area of the rear crankshaft seal carrier. The technician may believe that the rear crankshaft seal is at fault.
f). Front Crankshaft Seal - The porosity in the timing cover above or around the front crankshaft seal may cause the technician to believe that the front crankshaft seal is at fault.
13 Comments so far
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I have a 2007 Wrangler Sahara 4dr. 4×4, I’m using 1/2qt. oil every 3000 mi. I can not find any oil leaks, the vehicle has 15,000 mi on it. The dealers are trying to tell me this is normal! I’m using the factory reuired oil. I think the 3.8 v/6 is probably a bulk oil grenade eng. Any info.
My 07 Sahara 2dr has a leak as well. The dealer told me the same thing as well. There was no leaking underneath or anywhere I could see. Now at 21000 mi I can see a leak somewhere around the intake manifold-top of the water pump area. Looks like it is leaking into the valley pan. Today I am taking it in to get the intake gasket replaced. They told me it was “industry standard” for a i quart per 3000 oil leak. I never had a car leak like that. What the hell kind of industry standard is that??
industry standard yeah right find an environmental agency state or federal and inform them of that. 1 quart of oil can contaminate 10 acres of land let alone if it gets into the water table. and then burning a quart of oil there is no way that would meet an emission test
I have this leak as well at the same place as Gary above does it is going in this week.
I am armed with the TSB as well as federal and provincial guidelines for spilled oil as well as Material safety data sheets for used motor oil. and present them with a business card from a local reporter.
why is it so hard to deal with dealers?
Scott
I’ve been into the stealership 4 times for this. Each time they made the wrong diagnosis[the ones in the tsb]. After [apparently] doing this tsb [new cover] no leaks till two days later. I took it back in and was told it was just residual oil on the clips and lines. They said they cleaned it all out, but two days later there’s that drip again[on the juncture of the the tranny/engine]. They told me it was probably still left over oil-that they currently have dye in my engine and to drive it over the weekend and they will look at it again. I pulled out my own blacklight and the drip glowed. I don’t know for sure if that is a real leak, or if it is old dye from the first couple times??
The lemon law in my state is 4 ‘reasonable’ attempts. I think I’ve been MORE than reasonable. I’ll post back after next week… wish me luck!
For Joe Koster:
1/2 quart of oil per 3,000 miles is not only normal, it’s generally better than normal. It’s not leaking, it’s being burned in the combustion chambers. Oil scraper rings don’t prevent every trace of oil from leaking by. That’s not possible. If you were using 1 quart every 1,000 miles I’d say that it would be worth investigating. However, 1/2 quart every 3,000 miles…. perfectly normal, even for a top dollar Lexus or Benz.
I have a 2008 6 speed. When I have to ride the clutch going in reverse for any reason, I get clutch burn. The dealer told me I had oil leakage from the crankshaft bolts and it ran onto the clutch plate. Replaced the clutch, pressure plate, etc,and it still does the same thing.
Any idea what is going on?
I use almost a quart every 3000 miles in my 07 jk.Dealer has never found a leak.I think it is just burning it
meant to say no leak
It is nice to know that others are experiencing the same issues with their jeep. i have an ‘08 wrangler unlimited and have been told that it is normal the my oil burns. other cars i’ve had did not seem to have that issue. now i know that i need to check my oil levels more frequently. are there any other things i should check often that they don’t tell you at the dealership?
I am also experiencing the same problem as you guys with my Jeep Sahara. I have added 2 quarts of oil since I purchased my jeep in 2007, which I think is not significant. I have 32800 miles now and check my engine quite often to be safe than sorry, but then again I find no leaks or seepage. However, I have found that my rear differential cover has oil seepage and brought to the service dealer, but the dealer tells me its normal and did not do anything about it. The irony to this is that they recommended that I should change the brake fluid system and my rear brakes?! at a cost of almost $600.
It sucks that you have to think that they are always trying to get something out of your pocket for something you know that you don’t need!
How can we even know if these dealerships are doing their job and their recommendations to their customers? No matter what you say or do…you’ll always get the end of the stick and thats up the ying yang!
I am just finding out now that there is so many recalls of the Jeep 2007 Wranglers.
I have been looking for recalls etc against my 2008 Rubi unlimited. I would venture to say the engine oil problem is not going to be any different. Would like to warn all who have or will purchase one of these. My front axle was OVERFILLED, noticed oil coming out the breather vent (that’s about 20″ above the axle!). It also came out the right side seal. I pulled the fill plug and about a pint came out. Gear oil should be level with the fill hole.
I just experienced this on my brand new 2010 Sahara unlimited after 1400 miles! Needless to say I was shocked! first trip to the deal they told me it was the oil pressure sensor (which was replaced. Got home still leaking around where the tranny meets the engine. Went back the same day they and they put dye in it. Then out of desperation I found this link. took it again,and thay had advised same thing regarding timing cover.it’s getting repaired as I write this. hopefully the only leak in the future is, the $$$ to fill er up:) thanks again for the great info!
my 07 wrangler takes a quart every 3000 miles, I am planning of putting a thicker oil like 10w30mobil shyntec, do you think this will siolve the problem!