Rear Main Seal Oil Leak - 3.6L Pentastar V6 - Jeep JK Wrangler

[@Ricks4WD]

If this video has helped you, please feel free Like and Subscribe! Let's let Jeep know they need to stop these oil leaks!

[@usnchief1339]

Thanks! Doing this right now to my 2012 Wrangler. 260K miles.

[@Ricks4WD]

Good luck with the fix! 👍😎

[@thirdgeargrind8033]

Thank you for sharing this experience seriously, it's such a help to everyone. Before I dive into a rear main job like this, it sounds like I will be doing an upper pan reseal as well.

[@Ricks4WD]

Good luck with the fix! 👍😎

[@JahkiBoy]

Thank for the video. Jeep going in the shop Monday for a main seal here. Not having my own garage just cost me $900... Would have much rather done it myself. The shop assigned a master tech with the best reputation in the shop, so my nerves are calmed a little bit.

[@Ricks4WD]

I hear ya! $900 not bad for this job, it's just a shame they fail like this so it has to be done at all...

[@JahkiBoy]

@@Ricks4WD yeah. $900 is just the rough labor estimate. There's another $200 in parts. (Again, estimate)

[@Ricks4WD]

That's about exactly what I paid too.

[@chinothedreamgiver1629]

How did it go? Was the issue fixed by your mechanic? And I would pay $1500.. as long as it’s fixed properly the first time.

[@AH-nr5ci]

Great explanation, many thanks 🙏 I just replaced my rear main seal and had the same problem.

[@joefelicia7497]

If you are removing the rear main seal, the upper oil pan should also be removed. The reason this leaked on the Jeep is that once the main seal unit is removed, it is nearly impossible to get it to reseal against the upper oil pan (where the new leak appeared). All manuals indicate the removal of the upper pan for that reason. I suspect that is why there is so much sealer present between the two. On a 4wd vehicle like this, the lower cradle cross member needs to be removed to remove the upper pan which is a lot of work. People try to bypass that part to save time. This is the result.

[@Paak14Ks]

Thank you for putting out out more visual details of seal! Awesome

[@CYoung-fv4vu]

Thank you for this vid and the information, Im having the same problem on my 16 JKU,, dreading this trip to the shop for the repair estimate

[@Ricks4WD]

Welcome! Unfortunately it is a costly fix, about 9 hrs of shop labor plus parts. Good luck with the fix!

[@CR3W1SH03S]

2014 JKU 6 speed manual with 250K on it now. Started noticing a dampness around the bell housing at 230K. Now it's an active leak at about 2 quarts a week. Looks like I'm getting a new rear main seal which is what I figured it was. The reason I came here was I was wondering if it was a one piece seal or old school 2 piece seal. Now that I know the trans is coming out, time for a new clutch too. Not that I need one as I'm pretty good with a stick but since I'll be in there, why not. Of course I wont have to do the job because Jeep made the mistake of selling me a lifetime, unlimited bumper to bumper warranty. Silly people. So far I've had both heads fixed for the infamous tap (100K D side, 200K P side). 3 heater cores and 2 radiators. They keep offering to buy my jeep back. I wonder why?

[@Ricks4WD]

That's paying for itself for sure! Good luck with the fix 👍😎

[@CR3W1SH03S]

@@Ricks4WD Yeah. It was like $2200 bucks.

[@queensapphire7717]

Yeah, mine is leaking at 55k miles, 2016 JKU, these 3.6 motors are a pile of garbage. Thank goodness I still have a Certified Pre Owned 7/100000 PowerTrain warranty.

[@zech007]

90% of the time the leaks going to be from the upper oil pan and not from the rear main seal because of the upper oil pan is recedes into the transmission area and its very close to the rear main seal, it always get misdiagnosed as rear main seal.

[@scottjones1491]

Try AT 205 reseal. I have a 2016 Jeep JK with a rear main seal leak it made a mess anywhere I parked it I have 85,000 miles after adding this product 95% of the leak resolved in 2500 miles I was quoted $1100 to do the seal and maybe one day I will do so but for $11 the leak is nonexistent I had to post this because I am shocked how well it worked no one carried it locally so I ordered it online.

[@bjfranck]

I just attempted to replace the seal without dropping the pan. It’s nearly impossible to make the gasket between the seal and the upper oil pan while it’s still assembled. All the RTV gets pushed out as you slide the seal in place. I suspect it’s required to remove the oil pan every time.

[@christschirhart77]

I'm going to see if I can get my mechanic to watch this video. My jeep is back in the shop for the second time for the same leak. Maybe them watching this will prevent a 3rd trip.

[@Ricks4WD]

Best of luck getting the leak fixed! 👍😎

[@loluspololus]

Poor seal design, there was same problem on vw audi cars , rear main seal leaking . Great video

[@usnchief1339]

250K on my Jeep when it started to leak. I don't think it's a poor design.

[@gayitoloco]

Wow really helpful video, thank you for sharing!

[@Ricks4WD]

Glad it helped!👍😎

[@daveyt4802]

242k miles on mine! Not leaking enough to change it. YET.

[@daveyt4802]

Great Info!

[@Ricks4WD]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@jimlayhey1965]

my jk only leaks on passenger side rubber plug and on bell housing do you think this is upper oil pan

[@derekbennett2924]

I have 2014 Durango and recently had to have the notorious Oil Filter Housing replaced. This week I noticed a leak near the Rear Main Seal. It’s set to be replaced tomorrow. Almost $2,400 for both repairs. Given that both items are tied to Powertrain; do you think it worthwhile to follow up with Chrysler in the hopes of recouping some of the cost of the repairs? Our Durango has less than 65,000 km on it... it’s hardly even broke in.

[@Ricks4WD]

If you're outside of the powertrain warranty on the Durango, then they won't help. Unfortunately, the cooler housing failure is very common in 2014 3.6L's. And it seems the rear main failure is increasingly common on these engines as well. Mine failed at 70k miles... way too early in my opinion... 😔

[@queensapphire7717]

Is this problem corrected on the JLs ? Or do those 3.6s have the same problem ?

[@phill8504]

Man, I wished I read this several weeks ago.. I am looking at this exact issue, but I need make sure that I under what I think I heard, in that residuals oil had made it back behind your torque converter as you where driving it would run back down the bell housing?

[@Ricks4WD]

Yes. On mine there was oil from the original leak back behind the TC. After driving it for a while it loosened up and leaked out of there. The shop took it all apart again and leak tested everything, but it wasn't leaking again. They cleaned it up inside the bell housing and I never had a problem again. 👍😎

[@phill8504]

@@Ricks4WD The shop took mine apart again on Friday, not exactly sure how far they got. This is the third time, I sent the owner this video, hopefully they haven’t already removed that oil plate again…But I think they are going to replace it. I will call them first thing in the morning

[@Ricks4WD]

They should be able to dye test the oil. That's what my shop did to figure out if it was still leaking or if it was just old residue.

[@phill8504]

@@Ricks4WD Yes Agree, I will let you know how it turns out

[@phill8504]

Well we put a new oil pan on it, and it is bone dry. We can’t see the crack, but we believe if is right under the flange on the passenger side.

[@jonathanrobles4338]

i have the same problem on my 2017 jku, i went off roading for the first time ever, and weeks later i noticed i had zero engine oil. im guessing the mud and high reving the jeep, what caused the seal to fail

[@brappineau4161]

Did they charge you for the 2nd and 3rd visit? Getting mine replaced now.

[@Ricks4WD]

They did not, but I do have a good relationship with my shop and they guarantee their work for 1 year 👍😎

[@donnstambaugh1506]

Thanks

[@Stalker-jf6vs]

thanks for the information I have the same issue in my 2011 grand cherokee with the same engine and transmission, my question is what is the costs the parts and labor in a dealer?

[@Ricks4WD]

My cost at at independent mechanic was a bit over $1100 including parts and labor. It's about 8-10 hours in labor. I have another video which gives symptoms of the leak as well as going over the invoice from my mechanic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4W8ppihr7Wjf6s

[@Stalker-jf6vs]

Rick Bernotas thanks

[@ericgroenberg706]

Craziness! I literally just yesterday finished changing out my upper oil pan gasket( called the Critical Pan Collar, I think) thinking that I fixed the leak. Nope, there is a leak right where you are describing. Bummer. I also have a manual Transmission on my 2011 JKU, only 96K miles. My question is that you mentioned you did some of the job yourself or just a portion of it? Knowing the expense of taking it in to a mechanic will be high, do you think you could have done this job 100% yourself? Not knowing your expertise of course. I am more of a beginner enthusiast.

[@Ricks4WD]

Nope, this was 100% done by my mechanic. It's a big job and requires removing the transmission. About 9 hours of shop labor.

[@ericgroenberg706]

@@Ricks4WD It is just a couple of dribbles and I am going to make sure it isn't any residual oil from the job I did on it yesterday. Carboard is in place! Fingers crossed that is all it is. If it is a rear main seal, I have a guy that has done a few, fortunately a close friend of mine. Time to learn something new..lol

[@Ricks4WD]

Could just be residual from the other job... when my rear main failed, it was really leaking a lot of motor oil. Good luck!

[@Jimmy074x4]

I’m curious as to how they started it w o a flex plate

[@usnchief1339]

hahaha...right! I guess they attached the flywheel before running and removed it after the run to check for a leak.

[@brucemees795]

I believe it was the upper pan from the start

[@Ricks4WD]

They put dye in the oil and ran the motor without the transmission. Leak was coming from the RMS.

[@zacharyelwell6634]

Thanks!

[@kasotty]

You swamped your Jeep!

[@Ricks4WD]

Here's are what the symptoms of a rear main seal leak look like on the Pentastar 3.6L engine: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4W8ppihr7Wjf6s

[@marcsciarrotta3109]

Hey Rick. Qwik question.....how many miles are on your Jeep? I have 2014 with 59k on it and I don't see how this could be leaking after only 60k miles. You're right. Thin seal. Thanks.

[@Ricks4WD]

Mine had just over 70k miles when it failed...so yeah... unfortunately, these can fail quite early.

[@marcsciarrotta3109]

@@Ricks4WD I am going to bring to the shop on Monday to have it looked at. Hopefully my extended warranty will help cover the cost. Thanks.

[@SooSmokie]

@@marcsciarrotta3109 I've had mine done twice so far in 45k miles.

[@davidblankenship7599]

How did your leak start I’ve got a leak and it starts around the starter /bell housing to block and is wind driven back all over the trans

[@Ricks4WD]

On mine it was obvious it was coming from inside the bell housing. It was leaking out the bottom and the sides of the mating joint. If you have oil on top of the bell housing, check the oil cooler housing at the top of the block.

[@davidblankenship7599]

Rick's 4WD & Outdoors I’ve done replaced it recently because of the oil sending sensor but I rechecked it and no leaks as of now in that area

[@williamstromer9772]

This is a very bad design. Any vibration from the crank will cause the seal to leak and the engine to lose oil which in turn will cause the engine to wear causing the crank to vibrate even more. Just piss poor engineering all around.

[@Ricks4WD]

Agree it's a bad design, seems like a lot of these Pentastars are having these fail now...