Three weeks ago, Project CJ suffered yet another setback in the engine department.  Another oil leak.  Now, this is leading me to believe that there is something seriously wrong with the engine.  If you've read any of my previous posts, you would know that every gasket and seal on that engine has been replaced in the last year. 

So, here's how it happened.  I had finally gotten the rear brakes fixed (new wheel cylinder).  So, I decided to bring the Jeep up to camp for the weekend.  It's about a 45 minute drive, mostly highway to get there.  Well, somewhere around the last 2 miles, I notice a problem.  The oil pressure guage pegs high.  Now this struck me as odd.  But, since I was about 2 miles from camp at this point and it was 10 at night, I said screw it, if the engine blows, it blows.  Well, I made it into camp, shut it off, and left it for the night.  The next morning I notice oil all over the passenger side of the block.  It was originating from somewhere on the front of the engine. 

Next step was to clean the block off.  I happened to have a can of brake clean in the jeep from the brake job earlier in the week, so I completely cleaned the oil off the block, checked the oil (2 quarts low), refilled the oil, and started it up.  It ran fine.  After 20 minutes of idling, still no oil leak.  So, I took it for a trip around the lake (5 miles or so) and still no oil leak.  So, now I was baffled. 

Anyway, the end of the weekend comes, and I head home.  I knew the seal was going to need replacing, but I just wanted to make my way home and fix it there.  So, I get home, I'm 2 quarts low on oil again, and the jeep has been sitting since.  The next step is to do a pressure test on the cylinders to see if one is blowing by.  If that looks good, hopefully it's just a bad pcv valve that caused the oil pressure spike.  Unfortunately, I have the feeling it's a bad cylinder.  I'm half tempted to just scrap this engine and start looking for a cummings 4bt to drop in it.  Of course, that will cost me even more.  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.  I'm interested in hearing some opinions.  Oh, and if you don't know, the engine in it now is a 305 chevy small block.
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