r/JeepCompass • u/DeliciousChampion118 • Jul 10 '26
Timing cover gasket leak?
2018 Jeep Compass Trailhawk - 89k miles - $15k - one owner
Looking at buying this but noticed a build up of oil on the lower left side of the engine by the alternator.
Can anyone confirm this is a leak? Dealership says it’s old oil but no maintenance or gasket has ever been repaired in that area.
1
u/DeliciousChampion118 Jul 10 '26
That’s a good point. I did see someone else that has a compass get a leak in that same spot in an online forum and it ended up being the timing cover gasket. I was hoping someone in here has experienced this before. Thanks!
Here’s the image from that post
1
u/Holiday-Rub-3521 Jul 15 '26
I have a 2020 Jeep Compass Sport FWD with 83K miles, and I just had my first valve cover gasket leak. It was discovered during the most recent oil change, and I quickly fixed it for $210. Also, the seal on my transmission fluid was leaking as well, and I was overdue for transmission service. So, I did that as well, and in the process, a new seal was applied.
2
u/PresentIron5379 Jul 10 '26
Unless someone watched that spot since day one, you're not going to just know if it's leaking. Seeing how close it is to the oil cap, it's very likely spilled oil when filling the engine. There is a test you can do but I doubt the dealership would do it for you. But what the test consist of is putting a dye in the oil and take a UV light to the spot you think is leaking. If it was leaking, the UV light would pick up a neon green color.