Engine Oil Leak

[WWalters]

I have a 2002 CTD with an auto transmission. The truck has slightly over 1,000 miles. Yesterday evening I was crawling around underneath when I noticed an oil accumulation on the bell housing cover. I could also see where oil had blown back onto the torque converter housing and even up onto the side of the transmission where the linkage is and the back of the transmission pan. It looks like the oil is coming from the seam around the inspection cover. I noticed there is a small plate on the converter housing or bell housing, I'm not sure which it is; anyway there's a few small screws holding this plate on. I was thinking about taking the plate off to see if I could see anything regarding the oil leak. Anyone have any idea as to what this plate covers?



I called the dealership earlier today and spoke with the service manager about the oil leak - I told him that I thought it was the rear crankshaft seal. The first thing he asked was what color the fluid was I told him that it was amber and felt like wesson oil. He told me to go ahead and bring the truck in and they would take a look at it. He did say that it was unusual for them to see any CDT's with rear crankshaft seal leaks. Does anyone have any other ideas? It's probably going to be a month before I get a day off to take it to the dealer.

 

[Randy J]

I know it's fairly common for these things to develop oil pan gasket leaks. It seems just a little less common for them to develop rear main leaks. My '98 has very slight seapage around both, and around the vacum pump. Since I'm over 100,000 miles, the dealership offered to comp me 1/2 of the cost of oil pan gasket and rear main, but the vacum pump would be my nickle as it's only covered under the 3/36000 warranty. The only way to get the seal for it, was buy the vacum pump, and it's pricey - $1100. I tightened the oil pan gaskets very carefully, and most of my seapage seems to have stopped. Some people are hesitant to let the dealer change the oil pan gasket as it's a big job, but with your low miles, I would have them do it - if it's the oil pan gasket. Anyway, it's most likely that, but could very well be rear main.

 

[RichB59]

I had the

oil leak at the rear off the pan. I tightend all the oil pan bolts and "no more leak". I do have a leak at the p. s. pump and from what I'm reading it's a bad o ring at the vacum pump. So a trip to the dealer is coming up. :--) LOL





RichB

 

[Dane]

Are you sure it's not just blow by from the catch bottle? The bottle does a real crappy job of catching the oil and blows oil all over the place and is often miss diagnosed as an oil leak...

 

[Pit Bull]

I agree, I bet it is the catch bottle from the blow by tube. Take it to the car wash and degrease the underside of the engine and transmission. Then watch it. I also thought mine was leaking and it was the blow by bottle.

 

[WWalters]

Thanks for the responses. I forgot to mention that I had already replaced the blow by bottle. I do have the hose connection tied off at the front stablilizer bar. I didn't think that enough oil would come out of the blowby hose and blow far enough back to collect around the bell housing cover - maybe I'm wrong. I don't see any oil accumulations on the front cross member which is directly in the path of any blow by seepage, I think. I also didn't mention that I checked the oil pan and could not find any seepage. The oil level on the dip stick has remined constant so far, apparently the leak isn't that bad at this point although I notice there is more oil accumulation the hotter the weather. If it is the rear main seal I don't realish the thought of a dealer mechanic removing the transmission and whatever else to do the repair. Maybe I'll get lucky and they will have a good diesel mechanic.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by WWalters



Maybe I'll get lucky and they will have a good diesel mechanic.

Just do a dye test before any major surgery.