Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Odd oil leak

[Joe Mc]

Today I noticed a small spot of oil on the ground under the right front (= passenger side) about 1' back from the bumper. Upon a lay-down / look up inspection I saw an oil droplet on the bottom right just above the oil pan. More inspection from up top revealed a damp spot just below and to the right of the water pump, follow it down along between the alternator and it leads right to the area I noticed it from below, between the A/C compressor and the block. My guess is its coming from the timing gear case. However, it may be the cover is a bit loose???



Seems odd that this would just pop up after being leak free for 180k.



I'm wondering if the timing cover breather / puke tube extension (3/4" heater hose) that I installed years ago, which dumps out just beyond the transfer case shield has expanded and restricted? Or, KDP?



I hope to get a closer look tomorrow, but it the mean time any ideas will be appreciated.

 

[FourBarR]

Could be the dowel pin has put a hole or crack in the case.

 

[DFerverda]

I would pull it apart,(the timing cover) check the kdp and tab it. There are a bunch of bolts inside the case and they were loose on mine. Pull them out and clean them with brake cleaner and the holes and locktite and torque them to spec. Be careful and don't over tighten them as that can cause a leak also. Rtv the case cover, you can get a gasket from cummins, but the rtv works good if applied right.
Do a search on KDP and several posts tell you how many bolts inside, i am thinkin 13. Cummins shop Part# 3958017 Is the kdp tab, costs a couple bucks.
Good luck

 

[Joe Mc]

Sweet - just what I needed to hear. So you take the good with the bad - time to roll up the sleeves and get "dowel pin tabbin" I guess?



Also, it's probably best not to drive until I get at it - Yes? And, I probably can't see if the dowel pin is still there by looking with a mirror through the timing cover vent/puke tube hole - Yes?



Perfect :{ :-laf:-laf

 

[Joe Mc]

Pulled her apart. Dowel Pin in place, hasn't budged. Going to tab it anyway, now that it's all torn down. As for the oil leak, I got about 1/2 turn on the inside bolts. I cleaned the gear case to block area up and applied a bead of silicon as a fail-safe after I snugged the bolts. I just can justify all the work involved to replace the gear case gasket, drop pan and pick-up, remove cam, etc. , ect. So, if it leaks, it'll leak.



Found an interesting thing out since I couldn't remove the fan to get at the cover bolts behind the fan support (didn't have big enough wrench) I removed the radiator and flushed the inside and cleaned the outside. When tipping the rad up after filling with water curved chunks of rubber hose came out. So, I'll be replacing the upper and lower hoses. Better to find out this way than end up on the side of the road puking green fluid. . .

 

[DFerverda]

Sounds good. Mine was leaking on the front of the case, cover but also had some seeping from the block to case. Tightening the inside bolts fixed the seep, if i had not overtightened the bolts on the oil pump gear, i would not have had to replace it after i snapped off a tab... ... ... ... ... ... . That was a $200 dollar lesson, but with 200k on the clock at that time, OK, live and learn.
Hope all goes your way.
Dirk

 

[hsmith]

Check your t-stat to make sure that is not where the rubber is coming from.

 

[Jeff Knight]

My truck is in the shop right now to have the gear case gasket changed. It's really spendy to have that done. Hopefully my leak will be fixed... . Jeff

 

[Joe Mc]

Check your t-stat to make sure that is not where the rubber is coming from.

The rubber chunks are definitely from the upper hose and not from the stat. I replaced the stat when I did the water pump a few months back and the chunks are molded just like the upper hose. It's coming apart from the inside. I'll slice the old hose down the middle and take some pictures when the new ones arrive.



Thanks.