Help identify/advice on this leak

[MitsJeep]

Looked up under the jeep today for the first time in a little bit, and I see some seepage from the area where the trans and motor meet at the rear main seal.
Looks like it’s just at the bottom only by those little rubber plugs. I don’t see much from anywhere else up top.
Smells/looks kinda like trans fluid, but I’m not an expert nor have I had the chance to see the ZF 8/9 speed fluid in person before.
We had our first real temp drop of the season recently, and I did have an early morning trip during that. Could this possibly be just temperature related in any way?
What does a typical rear main leakage look like on these JLs for those who have had it happen?
This is the first time I’ve seen any leakage from this area. I’m only at 77,000 miles or so and so of course it feels premature for this to pop up.

Should I Check the torque on those bolts? What would you all think/say about this?

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[GATORB8]

IIRC, the 8 speed trans fluid is green. Soak some up on a white paper towel or toilet paper to see what color it is.

Oil based fluids will not dry out, water/condensation will dry.

 

[HiJinx69]

I Have the same issue on my '18. I always thought it was the rear main seal, but just found out it was the oil filter housing. A well known issue, I was just told this morning by the Jeep Service Tech to look at it after I went to make an appointment. I used my borescope and found the leak. The oil leaks down and collects at the rubber plugs at the bottom, which leads to assuming it's a leak at that area. Here's my pic and video.

 

[MitsJeep]

Hmm. Yours does look wet there for sure. I have not looked at my oil cooler and the valley there in a bit. I'll have to try and take a look there. It is plausible due to the region. I was just crossing my fingers the oil cooler would somehow last a long time lol. Thanks for the pics!

 

[HiJinx69]

Hmm. Yours does look wet there for sure. I have not looked at my oil cooler and the valley there in a bit. I'll have to try and take a look there. It is plausible due to the region. I was just crossing my fingers the oil cooler would somehow last a long time lol. Thanks for the pics!

Update. I should have known not to take dealer statement at face value. To clarify, it was my service advisor who said he bet it was the oil cooler when I was there to make an appointment. He said he had over 20 come in this year for oil leak and most of them were oil coolers, so he made an assumption on mine. So, I had the Jeep looked at last week by a technician and it was not the oil cooler! They did agree there was an oil leak, but didn't know where it was coming from.

They told me they can't do anything until they know exactly where it's coming from. Well, I do now. Main Seal. I have an extended warranty that runs out in February, but he keeps telling me it will cost $2500 to fix. I reminded him about the warranty, but he keeps telling me that it wouldn't be a good idea to spend the money without knowing exactly where the leak is.

Anyways, they put dye in the oil and told me to come back for the next oil change and then they can have a better look. I do my own, I don't need to pay for that! So, I got a black light that has the two common wavelengths and here is some pics.

I didn't find dye anywhere else but here. I started to think maybe he was trying to avoid this warranty work because of what is happening with Jeep/Stellantis, knowing that my warranty end is coming soon. I'm going to go back and show these pics and push for the repair.

 

[mwilk012]

Getting warranty approval is much harder than getting customer approval, and warranty pays less. Yours is leaking from the rear main seal. That is the only thing back there.

 

[HiJinx69]

Hmm. Yours does look wet there for sure. I have not looked at my oil cooler and the valley there in a bit. I'll have to try and take a look there. It is plausible due to the region. I was just crossing my fingers the oil cooler would somehow last a long time lol. Thanks for the pics!

Any update on your leak?

 

[Fatboy97]

My 2019 3.6 has been leaking like this since about 2k miles. I removed the plug and ran a rag up inside along with some cleaner to try and see how bad the leak was. Not much at all. Certainly nothing to really worry about as long as it stays this way. I do believe it’s the rear main seal. Sometimes this can become a problem when vehicles do not get driven much. I’m running 5w-30 since my first oil change and the leaking is almost non existent but some is still present. Again nothing to really worry about. There is no way I’m going to let any dealership touch my Jeep. If someday this gets worse I’ll pay someone who is a real mechanic to pull the transmission and replace the rear main seal.

 

[MitsJeep]

Any update on your leak?

Yes, looked today up under. It took me a bit to get back around to this due just to busyness. I oil changed a few weeks ago, and took that chance to clean up around the area. Been driving it a bit since and it has leaked again. I looked all over and do not see any oil coming from any higher places then the bottom half of the rear main seal area. Some pics here below. I’m going to get the oil cooler handled anyway since plugs, Pcv, etc. are coming, but I guess I have to add this to the list Pretty frustrating considering I am about 78k in to this thing. Is there any chance just snugging the bolts at the bottom will tighten this up?

Anyone have any thoughts? I like to keep my vehicles clean and issue free, so I’d like to get this fixed at some point. A pretty annoying issue to be honest.

 

[MitsJeep]

My 2019 3.6 has been leaking like this since about 2k miles. I removed the plug and ran a rag up inside along with some cleaner to try and see how bad the leak was. Not much at all. Certainly nothing to really worry about as long as it stays this way. I do believe it’s the rear main seal. Sometimes this can become a problem when vehicles do not get driven much. I’m running 5w-30 since my first oil change and the leaking is almost non existent but some is still present. Again nothing to really worry about. There is no way I’m going to let any dealership touch my Jeep. If someday this gets worse I’ll pay someone who is a real mechanic to pull the transmission and replace the rear main seal.

Yours has been leaking since you had only 2k miles on the jeep from new? Seems like it would’ve been a warranty issue if it was me at that point.

it feels pretty unacceptable that this young of a vehicle needs a rear main.

 

[MitsJeep]

I Have the same issue on my '18. I always thought it was the rear main seal, but just found out it was the oil filter housing. A well known issue, I was just told this morning by the Jeep Service Tech to look at it after I went to make an appointment. I used my borescope and found the leak. The oil leaks down and collects at the rubber plugs at the bottom, which leads to assuming it's a leak at that area. Here's my pic and video.

I also can’t really see the valley. I don’t have a borescope or small camera at the moment to look down there since it’s so tight. But I’m looking all up under and I see nowhere else higher this leak is coming from, yet it is identical to yours.

 

[mwilk012]

No, tightening bell housing bolts has zero effect on the rear main seal. Tightness of the cover plate if you could even access it would also have no effect. The transmission must be removed and the seal replaced.

 

[MitsJeep]

No, tightening bell housing bolts has zero effect on the rear main seal. Tightness of the cover plate if you could even access it would also have no effect. The transmission must be removed and the seal replaced.

It makes sense, appreciate the reply to my wishful thinking. *sigh* Now to find the right shop….

 

[Fatboy97]

After seeing additional pictures of your Jeep the leak is much more serious than mine. I only have a few drops around the plug on bottom of transmission. I’m not all that sure, but you might have more than a rear main seal. My engine and transmission are completely dry.

 

[NASSER_93]

Yes, looked today up under. It took me a bit to get back around to this due just to busyness. I oil changed a few weeks ago, and took that chance to clean up around the area. Been driving it a bit since and it has leaked again. I looked all over and do not see any oil coming from any higher places then the bottom half of the rear main seal area. Some pics here below. I’m going to get the oil cooler handled anyway since plugs, Pcv, etc. are coming, but I guess I have to add this to the list Pretty frustrating considering I am about 78k in to this thing. Is there any chance just snugging the bolts at the bottom will tighten this up?

Anyone have any thoughts? I like to keep my vehicles clean and issue free, so I’d like to get this fixed at some point. A pretty annoying issue to be honest.

Hello ... did you fixed the issue or still??? I have the exact same leak!

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