A friend of mine has a 2001 F350 CC SRW 7.3. He was asking me last night about how difficult it was to change the oil pan seal. It is leaking around the front and rear main seal. I have never done this on my F350, but it looks like there isn't enough room between the oil pan and the cross member to be able to drop the pan. Do you have to pull the engine to change it? What kind of cost are we talking about?

 

Yes you have to pull the engine to change the pan seal. But, that is more than likely not the problem. Have him get a flash light and look on top of the engine, in the valley, for a pool of oil. It is either coming out of the turbo pedestal or from the HPOP in front of the fuel bowl. Is he sure it is oil? Because fuel will look like oil if leaking down the valley and down to the oil pan.

After he does this and finds oil in the valley, have him clean the valley with simple green and water hose. Then he can run the truck to find the leak.

Then get back to us and we can tell you how to fix the leak.

Good luck.

 

[QUOTE=miller_feed]Yes you have to pull the engine to change the pan seal. But, that is more than likely not the problem. Have him get a flash light and look on top of the engine, in the valley, for a pool of oil. It is either coming out of the turbo pedestal or from the HPOP in front of the fuel bowl. Is he sure it is oil? Because fuel will look like oil if leaking down the valley and down to the oil pan. [QUOTE]

He said that just sitting, it wouldn't do it, but after he drives it around for a while then parks it, it will leave a small (4 to 6 inch) puddle of oil. He said he checked it, and it was oil, but I haven't looked at it. I will tell him to try what you said, then I'll get back with you.

Now I'm just curious. Why is it likely not the problem? I'm not trying to be sarcastic or argumentative, I just want to learn what I can. I'm used to working on gassers. My truck has a very minor oil leak in the front. It starts right at the seal/gasket line, and the engine is bone dry above it. This info I know first hand. What about that situation?

Thanks for the input!

 

There has been so few of the engins leaking at the main seal or oil pan. But there has been so many people ask this same question and it always turns out to be something on the top of the engine. 99% of the time it is not the pan.

The oil leaks from the valley down the back of the engine and uaually drips from the pan or the shield. I went through the same thing, as many here has.

 

Some people say that you can cut out the crossmember etc and get the pan out, it's not a HARD job to pull the engine. Plus to do it right the engine has to be upside down to let the sealant cure without oil running down the inside of the block and compromising it. So therefore unless you want to flip the truck over, pull the engine. Duh.

 

Hey, Kris, you mean I should have changed that seal while my truck was upside down after I rolled it?