Leaking near starter
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Junior User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68
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From: Matthews, NC
Leaking near starter
My 01 excursion 4x4 7.3 developed a pretty serious leak tonight after some light towing. Not sure what the fluid is. It is coming from the area where the starter goes into the flywheel area where the shield is. The oil level is perfect. The trans fluid is low. I could not see a color in the fluid other than black. What could be leaking in that area? I did recently (last week) add the 6.o transmission cooler.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,089
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Front pump seal on the transmission if u are saying it is coming from the shield cover. It would explain the low tranny fluid too. Was new trans cooler new or used? If it cools down, and stops leaking, something is not right about new cooler if its leaking from the shield. That means your tranny got hot. Your seal could have gone out but if it stops when cold , i would not worry about the seal but doublecheck the new cooler. If its not in that area, nevermind.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,470
Likes: 3
From: Pea Ridge, AR
How serious of a leak? Almost all oil and fuel leaks will drain from the valley down the rear of the block and drip from the inspection cover hole. The other fluid that would leak there would be transmission fluid, but that definitely shouldn't be black, pull the dipstick to verify color though.
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Junior User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68
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From: Matthews, NC
Front pump seal on the transmission if u are saying it is coming from the shield cover. It would explain the low tranny fluid too. Was new trans cooler new or used? If it cools down, and stops leaking, something is not right about new cooler if its leaking from the shield. That means your tranny got hot. Your seal could have gone out but if it stops when cold , i would not worry about the seal but doublecheck the new cooler. If its not in that area, nevermind.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
First, establish what the fluid is. That is a common area to see leaks from the engine valley.
LOOK under the hood and see if you can establish an obvious spray pattern - using your best CSI skills.
If the valley has oil puddled in it or ya see oil all over the underside of hood, etc - you can fire it up and look around (be careful of moving parts!!) under the hood with a bright light and a mirror-on-a-stick. It will help narrow down WHERE to look if you clean/degrease the top-side of the engine.
Common leak points are the HPOP (under fuel filter) - there is a plug on the back of the pump and also one underneath that commonly leak. The HPO lines/fittings - these go from HPOP to heads. The turbo pedestal can leak at the EBPV actuator or at the turbo-to-pedestal or pedestal-to-engine as well.
I dunno about ATF leaks. I went to BTS so I wouldn't have to learn about auto trans...
LOOK under the hood and see if you can establish an obvious spray pattern - using your best CSI skills.
If the valley has oil puddled in it or ya see oil all over the underside of hood, etc - you can fire it up and look around (be careful of moving parts!!) under the hood with a bright light and a mirror-on-a-stick. It will help narrow down WHERE to look if you clean/degrease the top-side of the engine.Common leak points are the HPOP (under fuel filter) - there is a plug on the back of the pump and also one underneath that commonly leak. The HPO lines/fittings - these go from HPOP to heads. The turbo pedestal can leak at the EBPV actuator or at the turbo-to-pedestal or pedestal-to-engine as well.
I dunno about ATF leaks. I went to BTS so I wouldn't have to learn about auto trans...
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Junior User
Joined: May 2012
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From: Matthews, NC
I used a piece of cardboard with white paper taped to it. The leak is motor oil, not desiel, not trans fluid. I can see some wet areas behind and around the turbo. I will check closer tommorow. So the leak is either from that area or possibly the rear main seal. I am sort of guessing at this point. I would quantify the leak at about a teaspoon every 2 minutes or so with the engine running at idle. It seems to only leak while the engine is running. I checked the trans fluid cold and it was right on the level that it should be. When I figure out where the oil leak is coming from and what route to take to fix that I will get the transmission serviced as well.
I drove the truck about 10 miles tonight,some at interstate speed. The transcooler was warm when I got home so I have to assume that it is working as it should. Any advice is appreciated. I gotta get this beast straightened out next week. Got a WV run in about 12 days or so.
DT
I drove the truck about 10 miles tonight,some at interstate speed. The transcooler was warm when I got home so I have to assume that it is working as it should. Any advice is appreciated. I gotta get this beast straightened out next week. Got a WV run in about 12 days or so.
DT
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Arizona
If it's the turbo o rings or EBPV you'll have to pull the turbo. As long as you have to pull the turbo may as well do the up pipes and new boots while you're at it. Also with all that stuff out of the valley good time to replace the hpop lines and add an Frx. And clean the valley.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: N.GA Mountains
Get in there w/some degreaser and pressure washer until everything is squeaky-clean. Then after it dries, run the engine a few minutes and look for the wet spot. A BRIGHT light and a mirror are really helpful for looking around in there. 
I do agree the up-pipes will likely leak after pulling turbo - if they aren't already leaking. You can replace up-pipes and gaskets for ~$100. New boots are nice, but if the stock boots are in good condition and the truck is ALL stock (no chip) - there's no reason ya can't put them back on without any boost leaks. My HPOP lines have 360k miles on them and will prolly fail tomorow because I mentioned it - however, replacing o-rings everywhere is easy and cheap enough. (get the 'mechanics cabinet' from dieselorings.com) I think the FRx sounds good on paper, but has very limited benefits beyond having more stuff to put in your signature line... 
If it's the turbo o rings or EBPV you'll have to pull the turbo. As long as you have to pull the turbo may as well do the up pipes and new boots while you're at it. Also with all that stuff out of the valley good time to replace the hpop lines and add an Frx. And clean the valley.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 915
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From: Palatka, FL
Look from the passenger side toward the back side of the pedestal with a mirror while the engine is running. It is more than likely the EBPV Actuator leaking by in the pedestal. It will usually leak out of the hole that the rod comes out of. The same rod that attaches to the EBPV. The oil will puddle a little bit but there is a drain hole in the valley on the passenger side that is bigger than a dime but smaller than a nickel for fluid to drain to. It drains down the back side of the engine on to the oil pan and starter/inspection plate on the transmission. If it is signifigant then my money is on the EBPV actuator piston in the pedestal. I have just described in detail what you need to look at for this particular leak. It could also be the above mentioned items. All I have done is detailed what you need to do to help find exactly what it is.
Dwayne
Dwayne
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Junior User
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From: Matthews, NC
<STYLE>.ExternalClass .ecxhmmessage P{padding:0px;}.ExternalClass body.ecxhmmessage{font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma;}</STYLE>I have had no luck identifying the source of the oil leak. I ran the truck at idle for ~ 45 minutes tonight and I only had 3 drops. I drove it for a mile and that is when I got the drops. So I felt like I was chasing a ghost. Friday night I drove on the interstate for 10 minutes or so. When I got home the truck leaked quiet a bit, but it was not leaking the following morning. Maybe the engine has to get hot for this leak to get more noticable.
I do appreaciate the replies. It has given me a direction to go in.
Thanks,
Duane
I do appreaciate the replies. It has given me a direction to go in.
Thanks,
Duane
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
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From: N.GA Mountains
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