I have had my 2001 F250 for four months now and have learned a lot from this forum so far. Had to put a starter on last weekend and noticed a oil leak coming down off the rear of the passenger head/valve cover area. Looked on top an the valley seems wetter towards the rear. Passenger side intake looks very wet and caked with oil, intake boots from spider caked with oil and a hard line running around the back of the passenger valve cover area looks wet with oil. All these seem to have been seeping a while .... Not fresh oil. Looked under the turbo and it seems to be dry. Also noticed the IPR is wet but the hoop lines seem to be ok as we'll as underneath the hpop. curios what would cause the oil to cake on to of the intake.

 

first step is to degrease with simple green and wash out with a garden hose
after that it will be much easier to find the leak
some places to look are the pedestal o rings and the ebpv solenoid

 

That was my other question. No problems with using water on the top end of these motors? Anything to avoid getting wet or cover?

 

No problems with low pressure water. It is best to avoid useing a pressure washer.
Oil can actually seep through intake boots from the crank case vent vapors and cause some of the greasey mess you describe.

 

Prob what I'm seeing on the boots but I definitely have a small drip running rown on top of starter. Going to verify its oil and not fuel in the morning. The hard line I described runs under gpr and over to a fitting on front of drivers side head. What is that?

 

Be sure to put a bag over the top of the power steering resevoir to cover the hole in the cap and also the alternator . Other than that , you should be able to simple green it a few times to get all tha crud off the motor . You might have to do the simple green a few times .

 

Got it thanks. The leak is not real bad. I'm just OCD about leaks

Been reading about the leaking ebpv's. will check that as well tomorrow

 

That would be the fuel line for that head. From where you see the drip, if it's fuel it would most likely be from the seals on that line. If it is oil look at the EBPV rod where it comes out of the turbo pedestal.

 

The fuel line on the passengers spider head is known to rub thru also

 

What Jim said.
There is a clamp on the passenger side fuel line about half way back near the spider. That clamp can wear a hole in the line. A leak there will usually run down the back of the engine and drip from the bell housing.
If it is a seal on that line, take the line completely out. Replace the seals on both ends and put some thin rubber hose (vaccuum line) on the line where the clamp is. That will prevent the clamp from rubbing a hole in the line. Then reinstall. You can manuver the line out without removing anything else. Disconnecting the passenger side intercooler pipe helps make room to get to the back fitting. Ford has a seal kit for about $25. Be sure to follow the instructions included in the kit for tightening the fittings.

 

See this THREAD for possible leaks on the fuel lines that run from the fuel bowl to each head.

 

Before I wash my engine compartment I always put a bag over my Alternator just to be safe. Then spay on some GoGreen and let it sit. Then rinse with my garden hose. After drips stop I run motor to dry it off.

 

Before I wash my engine compartment I always put a bag over my power steering res and Alternator just to be safe. Then spay on some GoGreen and let it sit. Then rinse with my garden hose. After drips stop I run motor to dry it off.