Where is this leak coming from?

06TJRubi

06TJRubi

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All, for my 2006 Jeep Rubicon, 130K miles, what is this leak coming from? Seems to be clear oily liquid dropping down on the front dif .. and then onto my driveway. The leak just started about a day ago.

Thanks!

Leak Pic 1.jpg


Leak Pic 2.jpg
 
P man said:
You just did an oil pan gasket?
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I just bought this not too long ago from a previous owner. The only thing I have had professionally done was a rear main seal from my Jeep mechanic .. which that RMS leak as since stopped...

So, this leak is new and No, I did not do a oil pan gasket .. is that what is leaking?
 
06TJRubi said:
I just bought this not too long ago from a previous owner. The only thing I have had professionally done was a rear main seal from my Jeep mechanic .. which that RMS leak as since stopped...

So, this leak is new and No, I did not do a oil pan gasket .. is that what is leaking?
Click to expand...

Sure looks to me like the oil pan is leaking at the front. When the RMS was changed the oil pan gasket was as well and my ASSUMPTION is it didn't get installed correctly.

Get a can of brake clean and go HAM with it. Then start jeep and observe while it's running (ebrake on, wheels chocked etc etx)
 
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Jerry Bransford said:
To me it looks like coolant leaking from the weep hole in the water pump. If that's where it's coming from the water pump needs to be changed asap. Once it starts leaking from there it's not long for this world.
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Jerry, now that you say that, I did notice some orange/yellow liquid (coolant) dribbling down the transmission last week .. presumably from the location you are mentioning. Are you saying if I don't fix this soon, it will damage something major?
 
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06TJRubi said:
Jerry, now that you say that, I did notice some orange/yellow liquid (coolant) dribbling down the transmission last week .. presumably from the location you are mentioning. Are you saying if I don't fix this soon, it will damage something major?
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If the water pump is leaking coolant out from its weep hole in front the water pump needs to be changed. That leak means its bushings are going bad. Within a couple hours of mine starting to leak the pump was making a big racket and I barely got it home so I could change it. I had to stop a half-dozen times on the way home pulling into neighborhoods to borrow a garden hose to add water so I could make it another 5-10 miles. A couple times I couldn't find anyone home anywhere on the street so I had to use a couple garden hoses without permission.
 
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Jerry Bransford said:
If the water pump is leaking coolant out from its weep hole in front the water pump needs to be changed. That leak means its bushings are going bad. Within a couple hours of mine starting to leak the pump was making a big racket and I barely got it home from 60 miles away so I could change it. I had to stop a half-dozen times on the way home pulling into neighborhoods to borrow a garden hose to add water so I could make it another 5-10 miles. A couple times I couldn't find anyone home anywhere on the street so I had to use a couple garden hoses without permission.
Click to expand...

Ok, thank you!
 
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Time for a new pump and coolant. Check the belt and fan clutch while you're at it.

I'd flush it out so you know what coolant is in there.
 
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If you have to drive your TJ and don't have time to wait for it to arrive from some source like Rock Auto, I'd probably head to NAPA and get their best premium water pump.

P.S. If you're going to replace it yourself take your time removing the old gasket from the block. Have a light on it while removing the old gasket and make sure it's surgically clean before installing the new gasket. Use a wire brush to get the last remaining tiny bits and pieces, they'll cause it to leak if present. And yes I'd use the gasket that comes with the new pump, don't use RTV here.
 
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I put a Napa/Gates on my 97. It's doing just fine 18 months later.

Might be a good time to check the whole cooling system...at the very least I'd get eyes on your thermostat, check the fan clutch, replace the hoses and make sure you have constant tension clamps. Might also be a good time to look at your crank pulley...that rubber gets old.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/jeep-wrangler-tj-cooling-system-overhaul-faq.3397/
-Mac
 
macleanflood said:
I put a Napa/Gates on my 97. It's doing just fine 18 months later.

Might be a good time to check the whole cooling system...at the very least I'd get eyes on your thermostat, check the fan clutch, replace the hoses and make sure you have constant tension clamps. Might also be a good time to look at your crank pulley...that rubber gets old.

[URL]https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/jeep-wrangler-tj-cooling-system-overhaul-faq.3397/[/URL]

-Mac
Click to expand...
X2, and Gates is indeed a good brand of water pump.
 
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