Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Oil leak

[WarrenE]

Folks, my beloved 'o1, 6spd, 4x4, 2500 Quad (387K-all mine) has a rivulet of engine oil coming from behind the IP or power steering pump! An hour and 45 minute drive to check on my octogenarian parents and mow their lawn, will cost me a half gallon of oil, making oil changes somewhat unnecessary. Any ideas? Got knowledge? Blumenthals, right here in town, has been good to me (clutch, transmission refresh,drive line repair-$2600), but if I think I'm capable, I do most of the work myself-1 IP, some lift pumps, u-joints, brake pads etc... Thanks in advance for your guidance-warren

 

[skillsaw]

Check the vent for the crank case right in the front of the engine. On my 99, it was made with just a hose to dump oil down the block and onto the chassis and driveways. I don't lose that much oil, but it definitely dumps at times. Worth a check - I made a catch can from some PVC and filter material along with some hoses, but I know Geno's has stuff for this known issue.
Hope it's easy Warren - Good Luck
Erik

 

[WarrenE]

Thanks, Skillsaw, but I routed the blow-by, by hose, back behind the starter years ago. It seems to be something on the block behind the IP, but I'm reluctant to tear it down before I have some idea of what I'm getting into.

 

[ABennin]

There is vacuum pump mounted between the power steering pump and the gear housing. It will leak oil when it goes bad. I know geno's garage offers a rebuild kit. Could also be the tappet cover. That fix is more involved, you will have to remove the IP and a few othere things to get to it. Generally the vacuum pumps leave drops on the ground when you park overnight. Not loosing as much as you have stated. That is why I am leaning toward the tappet cover gasket. I would clean up the area in question and run it and check again to see if you can pin point it. Good luck.

 

[WarrenE]

Thanks for the reply, ABennin, but this leak runs vertically down the block in a quarter inch wide stream, flows over the pan flange and runs onto the cross-member. Could be the tappet cover, but what I can see of it is pretty dry. Guess I'll start taking things off, but I don't want to do the IP by myself.

 

[lchamberlain]

I suggest adding some UV dye to the oil and use a UV light to trace it to it's source.

 

[ABennin]

I forgot to put in there that there is oil supply line that supplies engine oil to the vacuum pump. It attaches on the bottom of the pump. Something else to check.

 

[WarrenE]

I saw that oil line and it is dry. The leak is somewhere up and to the right of where the oil line connects to the block. I can't reach it or see it. Wish I had a tiny camera, but you're probably right, it's probably the tappet cover, although it's seems awfully concentrated to be a failing gasket. Could it be a loose bolt on the air box? I don't lack for power or response, but the stream is very steady and only happens when the engine is running.

 

[WarrenE]

Thanks for responding. I considered dye, but the stream is so steady-I'm sure I'd see the source if it was visible. Thanks, though.

 

[B.G. Smith]

There is a picture and write up on tappet cover gasket failure on an 01 in current issue of TDR Magazine. Got mine yesterday. bg

 

[Dieseldemon]

The tappet cover gasket is a rubber slipon and when it breaks it is an opening about 1/4" wide they get brittle and just let go I had one cust that his truck ran into a rock and stopped very suddenly and spilt the gasket. the IP is very easy to R&R as it has a Key to keep it in time just remove it with the key at the 12 oclock pos. to keep the key from falling out.