Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Oil Leak ?

[Smokin Dodge]

I have an oil leak at the front of my engine, I dont think its the KDP because it leaves a line of dripping oil under the front not just one puddle like the KDP does and the engine flan is blowwing it all over the engine. Any Suggestions. Thanks

 

[BillGotthelf]

Could it be coming from the breather tub which comes down over the front axle? If you clean off the front of engine theres not many places for oil to leak but around the timing cover case.

 

[onestackdram]

it could also be the front seal behind the harmonic balancer. I say that only because there is several of us here in the south KC area that have had or do have that same problem, with the same symptoms. just an idea

 

[WKener]

it could also be the front seal behind the harmonic balancer

I think you are talking about the crank seal, right? If so, I had mine go at 89,900 miles. Had a slow drip off the bottom, as well as some spray off the fan.

 

[Bandit1]

i jsut noticed a small leak on mine as well. sounds similar to smokin dodge's prob. doesnt leak much. how hard are the 2 seals to replace?

 

[DOWG]

I also just noticed a small oil leak from the front of the engine. The fan was blowing the drips down the front of the engine and oil pan; not enough oil loss to show up on the dipstick and nothing on the driveway. I had not dealt with the KDP yet so I took the truck to my mechanic (Andy Redmond). Andy pulled the fan and fan hub in order to take care of the KDP and we found about 1/2 of the timing gear cover bolts were either very loose (finger tight) or not to spec. Andy fixed the KDP (it had not moved) and that seems to have taken care of the leak.

 

[Ben Rumson]

Front Crank Seal

if it's coming from behind the vibration dampner.



The front crank shaft seal is much easier to replace if you remove the entire front timing cover and work the new seal into the cover while it's on a bench as opposed to trying to get at while the timing cover is on the truck.



IMO is worth the extra cost of a new timing cover gasket to replace the fron seal OFF the truck as opposed to ON the truck. But, it can be done. If you choose to replace the front seal with the timing cover ON, you can remove the old seal by drilling and inserting a screw into the old metal seal and then use the screws to pry the old seal out.



New seal goes in DRY.



Both the timing cover gasket and front crank seal will run you about $50. AND - You can tab your KDP while you have the timing cover off.



I have a fairly detailed instruction sheet for removing the timing cover with the part numbers for the seal and gasket. PM me and I'll e-mail them off to you tomorrow.

 

[Kalaehina]

Smokin Dodge, did you find out where the oil was coming from? I have the exact same type of leak on my truck, enough to spread along the bottom of the oil pan but not enough to show on the stick or make a puddle.

 

[Smokin Dodge]

oil leak

No I still dont know where it is coming from, but it is leaking quite a bit not so much if it just idles but if I drive it a lot I lose a good amont and get spaying oil all over the front. I thought maybe the vacuum pump or seal.

 

[KYOUNG]

oil leak

I had a bad oil leak on front of my motor , so I did the front cover gasket and crank seal. Still seemed to be leaking a lot so I climbed up on bumper and looked down on motor... . saw a lot of oil pooling between valve covers , so I adjusted valves and replaced valve cover gaskets and o-rings Saturday. I need to pull in garage and see if it is leaking like it was, but is awful cold out. . maybe in the next day or two.

 

[esommer2500]

Have you ruled out the seal betweent he vac pump and pwr steering pump? I had oil visible on the front diff and driver's side steering components. I got the seal from CPFF and yanked the pumps and put it back together. So far, problem solved. Might be worth looking into.



Eric

 

[KYOUNG]

oil leak

I have been watching the pumps for leaks, but no sign of the seal leaking between them, but the pump is oily where it bolts into back of gear case

 

[dennis Mcf.]

I also had a oil leak at the vac. pump, very hard to find until i cleaned off all the oil on lower driver side of engine. it turned out to be a bad gasket.