Hey y'all.

Over the weekend, the truck developed a big nasty oil leak. I was at a friends, idling in their driveway for about 5 minutes, and when I backed out, they stopped me and told me I had just left 2 puddles of oil, side by side, each about the size of an orange. I ran an errand to a store, and when I got out of the truck I looked at the cement under the truck, and sure enough, oil was dripping. I also saw a drip trail from where I drove in. Since the 7.3 is new to me, I have no idea what I'm looking for. It seems to be coming down the back of the engine. Also, it only seems to leak when the engine is running.

Any thoughts as to where this might be coming from? I'm handy with a wrench, and want to do this myself, but I have no idea where to look. I don't really have any mechanics around here I trust. My last resort would be to take it to the guys at the local dodge house. They've always been straight with me on my wife's car in the past.

HISTORY:
A few weeks back I did an oil change and replaced the oil filter, but I haven't done anything since.

The truck has always had a very small minor leak from the back of the turbo area (I think). After parking overnight, I might see a nickle sized drop on the ground. Nothing like this massive leak though.

 

look into the valley of the engine with the engine off and find out if it is wet up there. there is a hole near the back of the valley that allows fluid to flow down the back of the engine. This fluid may be oil or dirty fuel. If it is fuel then you most likely have a leak at the water removal valve on the fuel bowl. Some leaks out the small hose on the back of the fuel bowl and into the valley and some will flow down the tube to the front of the engine. It would be good to overhaul the fuel bowl and replace all of the o-rings. Here is where you can get parts and instructions. Welcome to guzzle's Powerstroke Fuel Bowl Rebuild Web Page

If it is oil, you will need to clean the valley area up and find out where the leak is coming from and come back and let us know and we will make suggestions on that. If it is leaking badly when running it should be easy to find after you have cleaned the area up. Don't get up into the engine area with the engine running. The valve cover gaskets are reusable if you take the valve covers off and re install when looking for leaks.

 

I'll try and find a link for you, but the answer to this "very small minor leak" is most likely from the crank case vent. 99-03s vented the crank case into the turbo. Gasses leaving the CCV would condense in the IC pipes causing oil to pool in the low point (the IC). There is a Mod that a lot of guys have done called the CCV Mod, it's pretty simple and inexpensive, and fixes that "very small minor leak" that stains the driveway/garage floor. Here's the link to guzzle:

Welcome to guzzle's CCV mod web page

I haven't done it yet, but plan to very soon... Going to replace my boots too when I do it because i've heard the factory boots don't perform well once saturated with oil.

With that said, is it possible the oil you are seeing is from a boot slipped off one of the IC pipes?

 

Great info. I'll get up in there and see if I can't locate the exact leak. I'll post back what I find.

 

There are several places that can leak oil on the top of these engines. Keep looking and we can help you eliminate the issue, be it fuel or engine oil.

 

"major oil leak" and "when running" makes me suspect an HPOP hose.

 

I am having this same problem with my 7.3L, and I am glad I located your post because this will solve my problems. I had made a new thread asking these same questions. I was asking if a guy could just replace the fuel drain valve o-rings, and it looks like you can do that. Do you know if it matters if you replace the entire fuel drain valve assembly, or is just cleaning it and replacing the o-rings good enough?? Thanks.

 

Generally you just need new orings. The drain valve can crack, but that is rare.

 

there is a possibility it could be the turbo pedistal

 

Those symptoms lead me to my HPOP plug, but as Trey said it could be any of the hoses too. Clean around all the hoses and plugs and stuff some clean paper towels around each hose/plug and run the engine for a minute, giving it a few revs and you'll find your leak in no time (or at least eliminate one major culprit.)


Here is a pic of the HPOP with the rectangular reservoir and fuel bowl removed

 

Could be bad oil rail plug orings. Much simpler and cheaper. Either way, the OP needs to find the leak before looking for how to fix it.

 

I blew an HPOP oil line early this spring while I was cruising down the highway. From the time it blew, until the time the engine died was about 30 seconds. Thank God that these engines die when there isn't enough oil in them to run the injectors. Had to get towed too, leaving a big puddle of oil on the side of the highway.

 

I was reading a thread yesterday about a common leak where the dipstick goes into the oil pan. Worth a look there, and if that's it guzzle has all the parts and tools you need.

 

Got home late last night and it was dark. Didn't get out there to look at it. This morning before work I checked the dipstick, and it is dry. It's definitely oil that is leaking. I'll post back when I can actually get my hands on it and try to find the leak. Hopefully tonight.

 

i would look around the turbo pedistal, the ebpv is a common prob, but i believe it only leaks when the ebpv is activated (around 32*F) but still worth a look, if it is the pedistal, then turbo oil starvation would be another concern and reason to fix it quick.