2015 JKU Sport Leaking Oil? Just bought.

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JWood5280

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Ahhh the JKU Oil leak? Oil Cooler? Maybe? Something more?

I just bought a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport with 77k miles on it, one owner who parked it in the garage. I was told they replaced the infamous Oil Cooler Filter due to a leak, which I was stoked about given how widespread this issue is. However, I took it home yesterday after they replaced the oil cooler filter to find a decent amount of oil leaking from around the transmission pan and covering the sides of it which we typically see with the Oil Cooler leak. I brought it back today, they looked at it and said it was all RESIDUAL oil and that they would clean it up with a powerwasher and brake cleaner(?) I believe and added some dye to the oil should it continue. They gave it back, I went for a bit of a hike which resulted in a roughly 20-25 miles roundtrip. I came out a few hours after getting home to look and find more oil dripping from around the transmission pan again.

- I have looked in the engine valley, it appears clean and there is no visible pool of oil.
- Oil level remains full, top of the "gauge" on the dipstick

I guess, what do you all think? Where else does this oil pool if it is still residual? How much oil can pool up here?

I am hoping that it is indeed residual oil but it's hard to imagine there would still be residual oil coming down after they cleaned it.

Really appreciate any help, pictures and videos below.

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I had what appears to be same issue. Hoped it was the oil cooler. Wasn’t, it was rear main seal with additional leaking from the torque converter seal(auto trans) . Crawl under, wiped down the weep holes between trans and block, look at it next day. Leaking there that’s probably your problem. Hope it’s not. If it is find a Jeep specialist in your area. Have the look at it.
I tried everything, finally just not the bullet and had the rear main seal , upper oil pan seal, torque converter seal replaced. All good now, no oil leaks. Good luck.
 
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twodogs112 said:
I had what appears to be same issue. Hoped it was the oil cooler. Wasn’t, it was rear main seal with additional leaking from the torque converter seal(auto trans) . Crawl under, wiped down the weep holes between trans and block, look at it next day. Leaking there that’s probably your problem. Hope it’s not. If it is find a Jeep specialist in your area. Have the look at it.
I tried everything, finally just not the bullet and had the rear main seal , upper oil pan seal, torque converter seal replaced. All good now, no oil leaks. Good luck.
Click to expand...

How much was it to have it fixed? Most of my oil is leaking toward the back of the transmission and not so much near the bell housing or rear main seal but who knows at this point, I am a beginner with a lot of this too. Basically, oil is dripping from everywhere around the transmission.
 
JWood5280 said:
How much was it to have it fixed? Most of my oil is leaking toward the back of the transmission and not so much near the bell housing or rear main seal but who knows at this point, I am a beginner with a lot of this too. Basically, oil is dripping from everywhere around the transmission.
Click to expand...

Are you sure it's oil and not transmission fluid?
 
Ok, trans fluid is reddish in color when new. It appears like oil when dirty. The leaks from a trans come out from trans pan, bell housing, or at driveshaft. After changing my rear main, I sucked out old trans fluid with a device and replaced it with new. Important not to flush the trans.

Easiest way to tell what it is is to clean off residual fluid (wipe or hose off). Should be clean now. Wait overnight. Look at where fluid comes out. In our case it was at the weep holes(rubber plugs on the bellhousing) . Mine came and went, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.
With regards to cost, the parts are in expensive. Labor is not. Transfer case and driveshaft. Trans brace, transmission have to be removed. It’s best to do rear main, upper oil pan, torque converter seal at the same time. Do not use a dealer unless you have to. Recommend using a jeep specialist in your area. Ask fellow local Jeep owners who they use. Ours cost$ 1,500 to do. Good price from what I understand. Dealers, $2500 to 3k. The good news, done right it will probably never have to be replaced again. Depending on how you drive it.

Note , after you clean off the fluid, if it is coming from the top of the trans, that’s the oil cooler. I used long qtips stuck it down by the oil filter to rule that out. Good luck.
 
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