LOL, well sounds pretty general to me because pretty much everything likes from time to time at different places on different trucks, LOL.

But yes, as stated, best to clean it up and back track it, find the source so we can inform you with more detailed advice.

 

If you have a large accumulation of leaking oil on driver side below the exhaust manifold it could be the oil cooler.

The only illustration of the oil cooler I have, but as you can see it is forward of and connects to the oil filter mount.

After you get it all cleaned up look at both ends of the oil cooler.

 

You are all great -- really helping me think this through. Thanks.

I am hoping to get to a wash today, but I took off the inside engine cover to also check some clicking noises I am hearing and found that there is definitely some oil collection up top that could be draining down and spreading... another place to clean real well I guess.

The pics aren't that great but sorta show under the turbo and along the right side of the top it looks as though a gasket is leaking -- we'll see.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/K8Gf81BBS0r2mt066roE5Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_CeOZErpnF6w/TLtAOTa6TlI/AAAAAAAAXWs/UW-jkMtLOgg/s144/2010-10-17%2018%3A27%3A56%20GMT.jpg" height="107" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ndlee1/E350?feat=embedwebsite">E-350</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Tppmr8SRHg5BdL14zoRNMQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_CeOZErpnF6w/TLtAR8fUPmI/AAAAAAAAXW4/bIs4Pfat4QY/s144/2010-10-17%2018%3A28%3A07%20GMT.jpg" height="144" width="107" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ndlee1/E350?feat=embedwebsite">E-350</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AzOGMbP5xr_q8yOfpLBuKA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_CeOZErpnF6w/TLtAUhYMoDI/AAAAAAAAXXA/XKZKzy6DfcI/s144/2010-10-17%2018%3A28%3A20%20GMT.jpg" height="144" width="107" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ndlee1/E350?feat=embedwebsite">E-350</a></td></tr></table>

 

I'm not used to seeing pics of the 7.3 from those angles. But you could have a turbo o-ring or EBPV (Exhaust Back Pressure Valve) actuator leak.

There are 2 o-rings between the turbo pedestal and block, and 2 o-rings between the turbo pedestal and turbo.

The EBPV actuator is located in the bottom front of the turbo pedestal. The EBPV actuator is electrically controlled and hydraulically operated by the low pressure engine lube oil.

 

My guess is the LPOP. The bottom of my motor looks very similar to that. Oil build up all over the steering components, axle and radiator hoses.

 

natedlee, can you shoot a video of everything you see under the truck so we can get a better picture as to what is going on and also around the turbo pedestal?

 

So it turns out the Crank Seal is the culprit. My new diesel genious friend tells me it's completely worth fixing and he'll help me in his own garage. Awesome. I guess in the van I've gotta remove the radiator to get his puller in there, but should be a fun project... I think.

So, in the end, the crank seal's leaking and the fan is blowing it all over everything. Makes sense.

 

nice, wonder how hard that is to fix.