What To Do If Your Jeep Wrangler Is Burning Oil
Owning a Jeep is a great privilege, but that privilege comes with a price. Repairs, maintenance, and all of the other costs it takes to own a vehicle can be overwhelming at times. Luckily, there is a wealth of information available to help make this easier.
What to do if your Jeep Wrangler is burning oil? Burning oil is most likely due to a leak. The leak could be on the inside or outside of your engine.
We can learn how to fix it ourselves, which will require the correct parts, tools, and knowledge.
Here’s a YouTube video explaining step-by-step how to fix a burning oil problem:
If we can’t fix it ourselves, we can also go to a service center for repairs.
Read on to learn a little more about options for what to do if your Jeep Wrangler is burning oil, and in no time you’ll be back on the road safely again.
Learn How to Fix it Yourself
If you’ve got the time, energy, and motivation, fixing the car yourself can be fun and rewarding.
DIY Jeep repair projects are also often much less expensive than taking it to the dealership for repairs. Jeep parts for projects such as this can be purchased at most local auto parts dealers, such as AutoZone or Advance Auto.
If your Wrangler is an older model, and parts for it are difficult to find at a common auto parts shop, finding a dealer for specialty parts shouldn’t be too difficult. Your local Jeep dealer can help. Also, e-bay almost always has parts for older Jeeps for sale by Jeep enthusiasts.
If you don’t have the time, energy, or space in which to work, it may be difficult to repair your own Jeep. Or maybe you aren’t interested in mechanics enough to want to learn how to do it yourself- It may turn out that DIY car projects just aren’t your bag.
It could be more trouble than it’s worth to you to learn how to fix the conditions that lead to oil burning in your Jeep. Working on cars takes time, patience, and a willingness to get your hands dirty.
Take the Wrangler to a Service Center for Repairs
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If your Jeep is still under warranty, chances are repairs will not be as costly, and you’ll receive a rental until it’s fixed. Also, you’ll be spared the time and work required to fix it yourself.
Word to the wise, it’s always a good idea to contact your dealership and validate the conditions of your warranty and service benefits.
Even if you have a warranty, there are situations where it could be voided, and the dealership won’t recognize it:
- If you haven’t adhered to the conditions of maintenance and upkeep as outlined in the warranty, including using designated kinds of oils, coolant, and any other fluids commonly replaced during a tune-up.
- Damage by natural disasters usually voids a car’s warranty.
- Misuse or abuse of the vehicle.
- If you’ve made any custom modifications to the vehicle.
- If you or someone else who isn’t certified by Chrysler/Jeep has made repairs to the Jeep.
If your Jeep is older, no longer under warranty, or is not eligible for repair under warranty, repairs can be quite expensive. This is particularly true for the labor involved.
Often, repairing an engine oil leak requires the removal of the engines’ head to work on its valves. This is time-consuming and raises the cost of labor.
Also, in these cases, the dealer most likely won’t provide you with a rental to use until it’s fixed.
Whether we decide to take it into the shop or fix it ourselves, we first need to know if our Jeep Wrangler is, in fact, burning oil.
How Do We Know if our Jeep Wrangler is Burning Oil?
There are a few ways to determine if your Jeep Wrangler is burning oil:
Pay Attention to the Exhaust
If your Wrangler emits a strong burning odor, especially when the engine is running, it could be an indication that you’re burning oil. And/or, if blue smoke is coming from its exhaust pipe, you may be burning oil.
If you are unsure, have a friend follow behind while you are driving to look for any heavy smoke or blue smoke to indicate burning oil.
Be Sure to Check the Oil
When checking your car’s oil, you’ll need a clean rag. Underneath your Jeep’s hood, you’ll find the oil dipstick. This measures the oil levels in the car. Pull out the dipstick, wipe clean with the clean rag, then insert it back into the tube from where it’s housed.
Pull the dipstick back out and measure what level the oil reaches on the stick. Usually, a dipstick has notches to show when levels are high, low, or right in the acceptable range.
Repeat this process a couple of times until it comes out consistently the same or near to the same level. If the dipstick reads low, and you have no oil leakage beneath your Jeep, chances are you have an oil-burning problem.
A word of caution: Never drive your Jeep if it’s oil levels are low, as it could result in severe damage to the engine’s parts. If your oil levels measure low, replace the oil until it’s restored to an appropriate level.
Pay Attention to How your Motor is Running
While driving your Jeep, listen for misfires (that loud, firecracker-sound that comes from your exhaust pipe when something’s wrong).
Also, you can tell if there’s a problem by how the motor feels while running. If an engine is burning oil, it will damage the spark plugs and create problems with how the engine runs. If it’s sputtering or vibrates unnaturally, this could be an indication of burning oil.
Be Sure to Inspect Those Spark Plugs
To inspect your Jeep’s spark plugs, you’ll need a spark plug wrench. One spark plug at a time, pull the wires off using the spark plug wrench, and remove. Upon examination, if the spark plug has a dirty, oily, or wet terminal, it’s a sign your Jeep is burning oil. Replace each plug and wire after examination.
Why is your Jeep Wrangler Burning Oil?
In a nutshell, most likely, your Jeep is burning oil because there is a leak somewhere in the engine. There are two reasons for these leaks that are the most common and result in the burning of oil in your engine:
- Oil Leaking Through Damaged Piston Rings
Poor maintenance and/or high mileage can damage your engine’s piston rings. The piston rings provide a seal to keep the engine oil from leaking into the engine’s combustion chamber. If the piston rings are damaged, oil can leak through and burn in the engine during combustion.
2. Oil Leaking Through Valve Seals
Valve seals can experience degradation from low oil levels, high mileage, or they can dry out and crack if your Jeep isn’t driven enough.
If the valve seals are damaged, oil can seep through them while your engine is off. Because of that leakage, the oil will pool on the piston. When you start your car, it will heat, burning the oil.
Whether your Jeep Wrangler has mechanical problems or it happens to be brand new, it’s so important to keep up with its regular care and maintenance. This is not only for the sake of the car but for your own safety’s sake. Take care of your Jeep, and it will take care of you!
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