Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) help identifying a drivers side oil leak location

[trudydog]

hello all,



slight oil leak sighting on the drivers side engine at the back. Leaves a 50 cent size driveway reminder. The engine mount on the drivers side is where I am seeing it collect the most. The valve covers are dry and the cover seals are new. What is the most likely culprit for a subtle leak in this area. . vent tube? Sending unit?



thanks for any input before i start taking stuff off;-)

 

[mwilson]

hello all,



slight oil leak sighting on the drivers side engine at the back. Leaves a 50 cent size driveway reminder. The engine mount on the drivers side is where I am seeing it collect the most. The valve covers are dry and the cover seals are new. What is the most likely culprit for a subtle leak in this area. . vent tube? Sending unit?



thanks for any input before i start taking stuff off;-)

Maybe the vacuum pump oil feed line. Small braided line, you will have to look up from under the truck to see it.



Mike.

 

[trudydog]

thanks Mike,

I did change that seal bout 6 months ago and it remains dry today thank goodness!

visualize an imaginary vertical line just forward of the fuel filter and a horizontal line below the fuel s/o solenoid. The oil sighting is in this imaginary quadrant with the bulk of the oil collecting on the drivers side motor mount.

 

[mwilson]

thanks Mike,



I did change that seal bout 6 months ago and it remains dry today thank goodness!



visualize an imaginary vertical line just forward of the fuel filter and a horizontal line below the fuel s/o solenoid. The oil sighting is in this imaginary quadrant with the bulk of the oil collecting on the drivers side motor mount.

I was too far forward.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

I found it, it took me a few minutes... ...



Maybe this will help.



Mike.

 

[trudydog]

Yep, I have the factory manual with this pic as well. too me it seems as if the engine vent tube is the logical culprit. . I have yet to physically check it though. Nothing else in that quadrant that would be an "oil" leaker that I can see which is why I am reaching out to the experienced ones;-)
I am not overly concerned as the oil level and temps remain normal but it is a leak and I hate to not take care of it.

 

[mwilson]

If it is pooling up in the motor mount is it possible that the oil sender is leaking a bit???



My '97 is a little busy in the vent tube department and that tends to collect on the front driveshaft.



Mike.

 

[trudydog]

will check it.

If it is pooling up in the motor mount is it possible that the oil sender is leaking a bit???



My '97 is a little busy in the vent tube department and that tends to collect on the front driveshaft.



Mike.

Yeah I think this may be the culprit...



With regard to you oil collection on the front drive shaft: I avoided this by slipping a larger diameter thick wall tubing used for koi ponds and pressure returns etc. over the OEM tube. I then cut the end on a 45 and curled it for airstream effect just alongside the front diff away fro the u-joints which are now clean and dry all the time. cost me 2 bucks in tubing. just an idea;-)

 

[ShannonHicks]

Anyone find a solution to the air vent 'oil slick'? I have heard several suggestions in the past.

1. A canister of some sort to catch the oil. My brother's 98. 5 has a very crude small steel box.

2. A valve of some sort to relieve the pressure.

 

[NIsaacs]

You might check the governor housing at the back of the injection pump, they have been known to leak. Pull the front tire off and with a flash light you can see that area pretty good.



Nick

 

[Partyat33]

Tappet cover ?

 

[radixr]

Trudydog,eak(s).

Trudydog,



I tried for years to stop persistant oil leaks without success. I attached a small bottle to the crankcase breather tube to catch small drips. That did trap the drips, but I still had oil spots on the garage floor. Finally, I saw a comment in the magazine that someone had wrapped an old sock on the breather tube. I did just that (covering the bottle and the end of the tube) and lo and behold, I haven't had a single drop on the floor in months. Oo. Oo.



I can't gaurantee that this will work for you, but it will eliminate the breather tube as the source of your leak.