Who wants to talk Rear Main Seals/Oil Pan Gaskets?

[Cameron23]

So I checked my oil after fidgeting with my truck the other day and what do I find? I am just (and I mean JUST BARELY) showing anything on the dipstick. So after the required freak out (swearing, waving of arms and such) I looked under my rig.

I found that the cross member was thoroughly soaked in oil and the bell housing has oil on the underside (further inspection revealed oil along the mating surface of the bell housing and engine all the way up as far as I could see. First thought was valve covers are leaking again which upon checking I found to be correct. However, it seems like too much oil to only be the valve covers. Next thought is Rear Main Seal, or Oil Pan Gasket. Monday I will be tackling the driver valve cover gasket once more (once more into the fray) and hopefully this time being equipped with an inch pound Torque Wrench I will be able to apply the proper torque to each bolt unlike last time. I am already getting estimates on the Rear Main Seal replacement as well as Oil Pan Gasket replacement through the local dealer. I am getting them priced separately as well as together. My question for you Xterra Nation is who has tackled either one of these tasks or both of them, and can tell me if this is something I can tackle myself or if I should choke up the green to pay the dealership to do it. If someone could tell me what I would have to do to reach both of these that would be great too. Oh an one more thing, I have only until August 13th to get this figured out and completed.

 

[Muadeeb]

RMS: break out your check book (do people still use those?)
Pan: not _as_ bad, but still a headache. FSM says to remove a bunch of stuff on the bottom, unmount (but do not remove) the tranny, then you can remove the pan.

I'd probably have a mechanic deal with the RMS, but do the pan myself.

 

[Cameron23]

Anyone ever paid for this to be handled? How much?

 

[TheFauxFox]

My Jeep cost me about $250 because the one in the Jeep is relatively easy to get to. Its a messy and labor intensive job, but not impossible.

 

[Cameron23]

So it could really be either one. RMS or OPG. And since the only way to tell which one it is, is to do one and hope it fixes the problem. So which one would be the one to start with?

 

[Cameron23]

So my dad offered me his WJ Jeep for the Xterra to use it as a trade in on something new..... Before this problem becomes an expensive problem. It's looking better and better the more I research.


Sent via special forces trained carrier gophers

 

[bargs]

I got rid of a 2000 grand Cherokee 4x4 and purchased a 2002 xterra4x4 after I sold my ranger in between,,preffered a suv over a truck,I have a small oil leak somewhere,hard to trace,not leaving spots,just can see the drips on pan.also brother run my codes for check engine light,he said it showed 4 hits on o2 sensors and a knock sensor.it runs good though,better on gas then the 4.0 in the jeep..

 

[Cameron23]

If I get the Jeep he is gonna have whatever is leaking oil on the Jeep tracked down and fixed. And its the 4.7L V8 which gets about 16/19 mpg which is an upgrade from my current 13/16 I get with the Xterra. I haven't thrown any codes on the Xterra, but I just can't see shelling out 1600 bucks to get my RMS and OPG fixed. For my X which is currently worth about 3500. Granted the Jeep is worth less, but all of its problems would be fixed by the time I would get it.

 

[Airmapper]

I hate to say it, but I'd be kind leaning toward the WJ, not based on value, but on better options as to what you can do with it.

A friend of mine at work is building one into a wheeler, it's looking good, and he's not really breaking the bank on it. He's lifted it and upgraded the wheels/tires buying stuff off Craigslist. It has solid axles front and rear and coil springs all around. it's a pretty nice setup best I can tell. If your going to have a older truck and want to keep the off road thing going, honestly I'd say the Jeep WJ is a better setup, should be easier to work on, find parts for, and maintain than an aging X.

 

[bargs]

not trying to argue with you guys or anything,Im new here, the wj I had was a good rig but I was sinking a lot of money Into It at 120,000 miles,tranny problems,overheating,new water pump,radiater,still got hot in traffic,air screwed up,,12/13 mpg ,wouldn't shift ,hang up In high gears In the auto tranny,would lose 1st,and had a terrible shimmy In the front sometimes,never could track It down,maybe i had the lemon,lol way my luck goes,guess I got tired of it. guess Ill give the Nissan a try for a while. getting 16/17 mpg maybe a little better then that.

 

[Cameron23]

Let me make something completely clear here. If I weren't a broke college kid I would be sinking my money into the Xterra to keep it running. This is a totally solid platform. I might sell and upgrade to a new Xterra if money weren't an issue but it is so that is why I am considering the Jeep. I do think both of you offer good points, but I have to disagree with the jeep being a better rig for off road. I take my X WHEREVER I please. If I got the Jeep it would be sticking to paved roads and possibly the occasional dirt road but nothing rough like I take the Xterra on (rockslides, deep water, etc). Anyone who has been on here for a good length of time who has read my posts and stuff knows that I love my Xterra. The Jeep is a solid setup too though. It can go offroad, it can tow more, it has the acceleration I want (the X never has but that's okay), its engine is easier to work on as in everything is not totally jammed in there like the X, and the Jeep is FULLY LOADED. Sensors for everything opposed to the Xterra where I had to be the sensor for everything. It will be a few months before a decision is made so I will have the X for that long at least.