You got an EXCELLENT vehicle there. I picked up a used '99 Cherokee for my daughter and fell in love with it while she was learning to drive. When I handed her the keys, I went out and found a 2001 for myself. Hers is a 5-speed 4x4 2-door, so its actually more desirable than my 4-dr automatic 2-wheel drive, but the 01 is optioned up better. I paid 3k for each of them- Cherokees are a great used car bargain, and since the drivetrains are rock solid to 300k miles and beyond even with half-decent care, its even better.
Using Maxlife is a good choice. Slow leakage from the rear main seal is common on the 4.0, and it won't get worse quickly or turn to a gusher... it just kinda dribbles. Also the valve cover gasket is probably contributing at that mileage, and the oil filter right-angle adaptor O-ring might be as well. The valve cover gasket is easy, the filter adaptor a little harder (you have to get a big honkin Torx socket after it), but doesn't require engine removal. I run Rotella T6 in both my daughter's and mine, and they both turn in great UOAs, and don't consume measurable amounts of oil over 6000-mile change intervals.
You've either got an NP231 transfer case (part time, shift pattern2-4hi-N-4Low on the shifter) or an NP242 (full-time Shift pattern: 2WD - 4parttime - 4fulltime - N - 4LO). Both of them use plain automatic transmission fluid-Dexron III or ATF+4- same as the Asin AW-4 automatic its got. (edit- I can see from your photos that you have the NP242- leave it in 4Fulltime in icy/snowy conditions and you'll be good. 4Parttime locks the center differential and is better for mud or hard offroading, but on snow/ice it will make it hard to turn corners and is damaging to use on dry or simply wet pavement)
The only thing I would encourage is that you NOT use such a nice and capable vehicle up as a "winter beater" (although it will serve well in winter, especially if it has the NP242 case). I'd sacrifice the Civic to the rust gods if it were my choice ;-)
