Clear fluid leaking from driver side-2004 Excursion
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Clear fluid leaking from driver side-2004 Excursion
Hey everybody I've got a 2004 Excursion with the 6.0
Recently my truck has been leaking a clear fluid from the driver side back of the engine that seems to be above the front driveshaft because the fluid is leaking on to the front shaft almost to the u joint where it connects to the front diff.
The fluid is clear and at first it is oily but then it gets sticky.
My coolant is red so I doubt it's coolant.
Any info from you guys would be awesome!
Thanks
Recently my truck has been leaking a clear fluid from the driver side back of the engine that seems to be above the front driveshaft because the fluid is leaking on to the front shaft almost to the u joint where it connects to the front diff.
The fluid is clear and at first it is oily but then it gets sticky.
My coolant is red so I doubt it's coolant.
Any info from you guys would be awesome!
Thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
Clear but oily - then dries sticky? Hmmmm
Thoughts that come to mind.....
Front differential fluid but you said rear of engine right, rear up high? Not sure how it can be out rear of engine and also close to UJoint? You mean the front driveshaft U joint or the axle U joint?
Brake fluid - it's clear when new but I don't think it dries sticky. Might if it gets some other nasties mixed into it on it's way south.
Can you get us a picture of where it's leaking, puddling?
Or you can taste it!
I promise if it's gear oil you will know it, well probably brake fluid too.
Thoughts that come to mind.....
Front differential fluid but you said rear of engine right, rear up high? Not sure how it can be out rear of engine and also close to UJoint? You mean the front driveshaft U joint or the axle U joint?
Brake fluid - it's clear when new but I don't think it dries sticky. Might if it gets some other nasties mixed into it on it's way south.
Can you get us a picture of where it's leaking, puddling?
Or you can taste it!
I promise if it's gear oil you will know it, well probably brake fluid too.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Clear but oily - then dries sticky? Hmmmm
Thoughts that come to mind.....
Front differential fluid but you said rear of engine right, rear up high? Not sure how it can be out rear of engine and also close to UJoint? You mean the front driveshaft U joint or the axle U joint?
Brake fluid - it's clear when new but I don't think it dries sticky. Might if it gets some other nasties mixed into it on it's way south.
Can you get us a picture of where it's leaking, puddling?
Or you can taste it! I promise if it's gear oil you will know it, well probably brake fluid too.
Thoughts that come to mind.....
Front differential fluid but you said rear of engine right, rear up high? Not sure how it can be out rear of engine and also close to UJoint? You mean the front driveshaft U joint or the axle U joint?
Brake fluid - it's clear when new but I don't think it dries sticky. Might if it gets some other nasties mixed into it on it's way south.
Can you get us a picture of where it's leaking, puddling?
Or you can taste it!
I promise if it's gear oil you will know it, well probably brake fluid too.The fluid is puddling right where the front driveshaft u joint connects to front axle. I'm not sure to where it's leaking from as I haven't been able to lay down under there and see. When I visually checked my brake fluid level it looked full, and when I went down and touched the fluid In the puddle it was oily and didn't smell like anything, and was clear as well. I'll get a picture in the morning.
Thanks
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 96
Likes: 1
Hmm... sounds like differential leaking to me. Brake fluid isn't sticky though it can be clear but you'd notice a spongy/failing brake if that were the case.
If the oil has recently been changed it might not have developed any smell or might be from an overly enthusiastic oil change at a shop where the guy wasn't controlling the fill gun well and shot some down along the engine/diff area.
Not all gear oil is sickly smelling, especially on the front if you don't use the 4wd much to mash those gears good it may be relatively benign. In small amounts it would look clear if not abused. A seal on the case might be to blame.
In any case it is something that needs to be verified because leaks of any kind are not good. A leaking case could lead to dry gears tearing up. Leaking brakes... yeah we don't need those. Leaking oil... again, not good.
Pull the truck up on ramps or to a local garage and do a good inspection for the wet looking spots. Do the inspection yourself if you can.
If the oil has recently been changed it might not have developed any smell or might be from an overly enthusiastic oil change at a shop where the guy wasn't controlling the fill gun well and shot some down along the engine/diff area.
Not all gear oil is sickly smelling, especially on the front if you don't use the 4wd much to mash those gears good it may be relatively benign. In small amounts it would look clear if not abused. A seal on the case might be to blame.
In any case it is something that needs to be verified because leaks of any kind are not good. A leaking case could lead to dry gears tearing up. Leaking brakes... yeah we don't need those. Leaking oil... again, not good.
Pull the truck up on ramps or to a local garage and do a good inspection for the wet looking spots. Do the inspection yourself if you can.
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