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2018 JLU Sport S 3.6 Pentastar Oil Leak

myers688

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Hi all,

I went to check my oil today and it is showing very low if anything on the dipstick (see photo). I went to investigate to see if there are any leaks and I found what looks to be a leak right by the oil filter housing area (see photos). There appears to be oil coming out of the housing and it is pooling up on top of the engine. What do you guys think could be the problem?

TIA
Jeep Wrangler JL 2018 JLU Sport S 3.6 Pentastar Oil Leak IMG-4952
Jeep Wrangler JL 2018 JLU Sport S 3.6 Pentastar Oil Leak 66639681694--E8435F31-622E-4A2B-AFF2-708765E1B815
Jeep Wrangler JL 2018 JLU Sport S 3.6 Pentastar Oil Leak IMG-4954
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MSteeves

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Cracked housing down at the base, from over torqueing the lid? Here is a notice about this sort of thing from 2014; note the paragraph about torqueing the cap.

https://www.mightyautoparts.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/tt-0180-chrysler-pentastar-engine.pdf

An excerpt: " While this writing is focused on 2014 applications, other year model vehicles with this same oil filter/cooler arrangement are subject to the same. "

Also Google the text string

pentastar 3.6 cracked oil filter housing
 

Strommen95

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Very common issue from over torquing the cap. Unfortunately, it's never looked to me like they fixed it. So I'm very careful when changing the oil.
 

Traveller128

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There's an o-ring on that black housing just below the lip. They might have pinched it, or gotten it installed not fully into the groove and given you the same issue. I've changed a fair number of these, and you need to lube them with old oil (just a little) prior to install so they don't hang up as they pull into place. Many OEM's are using similar housings.

That's the easy solution, and in my experience fairly likely.
 

mwilk012

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People always talk about cracked oil filter housings, I have replaced dozens of these things and never once seen a crack. The housing warps and leaks at the connection to the block. Has absolutely nothing to do with cap torque.
 

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myers688

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I just went in and pulled the filter off to see if the o-ring was pinched and it seemed fine (and for the record the cap didn’t seem overly tight). Then I cleaned the cap up a little and tightened it back down to spec (18 ft lb). After that I started the Jeep back up to try and see if any leaks were visible and I caught this on camera. Faulty o-ring?
 

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MSteeves

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I have seen the O-ring in the wrong groove on the cap, the one where the threads begin right after the bottom flange of the O-ring groove. Is the O-ring in the right groove? Or, perhaps a hairline crack in either the cap or the rim of the housing?
 

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With how common this sounds it’s funny I never heard of it before! After more digging into the issue I found this: Upgraded Aluminum Engine Oil Filter Housing.
Likely much more reliable than the crappy OEM plastic one…
We have replaced three of these with the “upgraded” dorman filter housing. One leaked immediately. The mounting gasket between the oil cooler and the housing is a really bad design. Youhave to either transfer or replace the sensors with new and for the JL, plug the unused hole.
 

faisal123

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I just went in and pulled the filter off to see if the o-ring was pinched and it seemed fine (and for the record the cap didn’t seem overly tight). Then I cleaned the cap up a little and tightened it back down to spec (18 ft lb). After that I started the Jeep back up to try and see if any leaks were visible and I caught this on camera. Faulty o-ring?
I think I'm having a similar issue. What did you do to fix it?
 

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CarbonSteel

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People always talk about cracked oil filter housings, I have replaced dozens of these things and never once seen a crack. The housing warps and leaks at the connection to the block. Has absolutely nothing to do with cap torque.
I wonder if the torque does play a role--not in cracking, but in the twisting that happens which transferred to the housing that is going to put a lifting force on either the driver or passenger side depending on whether loosening or tightening. Over time, I cannot help but wonder if this contributes to the leaking.

I just replaced my dirty side hose from the PCV to my catch can as it was leaking and I have not ran it long enough to see if that was the only leak or if the cooler is leaking too. If the cooler is the culprit, I am going to add a Baxter oil filter adapter and a remote spin-on oil filter so that I am not removing the cap from the oil filter housing at all.
 
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myers688

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I think I'm having a similar issue. What did you do to fix it?
The old o-ring was very hard and brittle. I ended up replacing the oil filter and o-ring. No issues/leaks since!
If anyone is curious, the faulty o-ring came from the Purolator One oil filter (link) and I replaced it with FRAM Ultra (link). I have gone through several replacements and oil changes with the FRAM now and have never had an issue.
 

Rhinebeck01

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People always talk about cracked oil filter housings, I have replaced dozens of these things and never once seen a crack. The housing warps and leaks at the connection to the block. Has absolutely nothing to do with cap torque.
Well, I have seen I think it has been 3 caps now that have been cracked.

My buddy who is a Tech at the local Jeep dealership has seen a few cracked ones also.

Funny, a year or so ago, he came to my place and borrowed a new cap that I had one hand..... his dealership had none on hand that day..

Anyway, not real common but the caps do crack on occasion.
 

Rhinebeck01

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The old o-ring was very hard and brittle. I ended up replacing the oil filter and o-ring. No issues/leaks since!
If anyone is curious, the faulty o-ring came from the Purolator One oil filter (link) and I replaced it with FRAM Ultra (link). I have gone through several replacements and oil changes with the FRAM now and have never had an issue.
Sure you could get old stock of any brand that has been sitting in a hot hot warehouse for years and that sitting in the heat had a negative impact on the o-ring.

By the way, you can get a Mopar / OEM filter for $7.71. No need to pay $11+- for an oil filter.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZPE0DLC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

IF you ever need to buy a replacement Mopar / OEM Oil Filter Housing Cap
Genuine Mopar Oil Filter Housing Cap - 68191350AA

https://www.amazon.com/Mopar-Genuin...cb-adf4-ea8c3b726635&pd_rd_i=B00TO1NX8W&psc=1
 

Rhinebeck01

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@myers688

When you install the o-ring, first coat it with motor oil and then gently, roll it down the cap threads until you get to the proper install position on the cap. (as shown in the picture below) Also, coat the caps threads with a tad of motor oil.

Jeep Wrangler JL 2018 JLU Sport S 3.6 Pentastar Oil Leak Mopar Oil Filter Housing Cap - 68191350AA
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