I've been working on finding and fixing an oil leak for the past few days since I noticed a pool under the truck last week when I got her home. It was a "heavy dripping" from around the starter and I immediately thought rear main until I checked here and utube vids that say this is where the valley drains, phew! I checked the valley and found a significant amount of oil and debris in there, so went about removing everything in order to clean it all out and laid some paper towels in there to see if the source was front or rear. I immediately noticed a pretty rapid dripping from the front so went about removing the hpop. I had some problems getting it but finally replaced the hpop with one I had on another truck I intend to use for an engine build/ swap. SO, here's where I may have screwed up big time..... I removed the serp belt for better access for my big mitts, but didn't think to put it back before tightening the front gear bolt in the pump so think I turned the (is that the) crank? Anyway, whatever it is, is that bad, like in a gasser with timing, or shouldn't it matter since we're just firing electronically via computer >>sorry if I am being dense here but I am NOT a mechanic<<. Anyway, if that wasn't bad enough the batteries seemed flat and the slow turnover came along with a whine or squeal that scared me and as soon as the motor turned, oil again pissed out from the bellhousing/ starter area, much more this time. I checked some towels I'd left in the valley and saw no oil, even near the turbo pedestal, so is this REALLY bad news for my truck??
I am now desperate and freaking out a little so as always ANY input/ shared knowledge is very much appreciated.

 

Well lets start with the good news. Tightening the HPOP drive gear didn't do any harm. The cam and crank are connected by gears so you didn't get anything out of time.

For your oil leak at the bell housing, was it just dumping the remaining oil from the old leak or is this a new leak?

 

No problem the timing did not change.

 

Pretty sure there is another leak, but I am very pleased I didn't screw anything up there. I just read about the HP oil galley plugs, in or near the back of the heads. Could well be one of those since there's no new signs of oil in the valley, correct? Also, want to double check; if the pedestal or ebpv was leaking it would run into the valley first, or just right down the back of the engine?
Please, ANYTHING but having to pull the motor, lol.

 

You really need to get some light in there to see where the oil is coming from. Is it possible to leave a video camera in there, like your cell phone while you crank it? You don't need it to start, just crank.

 

What a great idea Rich. I will have a helper tomorrow and will get him to hold my Go Pro back there, see if we can figure out where it's spewing.
Back behind the heads most likely now right? What about the pedestal, or ebpv, would they dump into the valley first or straight down back?
Thanks much.

 

The pedestal and EBPV will go into the valley. Here is a pic for the HP rail plugs at the rear of the heads.

 

Thanks Scotty, that is a beautiful looking engine you have there. So, being busy with other Monday work (I have a construction business and am a part time single dad) I spent time on and off the truck again today. Being that I don't do wrenching for fun, only when necessary I consider myself below average in this group but capable of following *explicit* instructions on the diy scale. It only occurred to me after I listened to the screech a few more times that there might not be any oil in the new hpop I installed, so I watched a couple more utube vids and remedied that. Also, realized I'd left one of the front engine sensors unplugged, charged the batteries then tried again. She fired up and spewed oil. I noticed one of the HP lines had come off the hpop (embarrassed to admit it but it's the truth) so reinstalled that and tried again. She fired up this time but I quickly noticed burning, smoke from the front of the motor. Anyway, long story short the belt was burning up and the center pulley is locked up. Does that mean my water pump just happened to take a **** at the time I was doing this other work or have I done something dumb?
Is there anything from the hpop gear in the crankcase that attaches to the water pump or is this just coincidence?
Really getting tired of this crap, but don't trust anyone here to do it any better. Please offer what you can as I have to get her back on the road asap.
Thanks all, and good night.

 

I wish I could claim this motor but it's not mine. I just took the pic, it belongs to a buddy.

 

As embarrassing as you think these moments are, it brings respect when you "fess up". It shows you're just as human as the rest of us.

Center pulley seized? I think you are describing the water pump, as you mentioned.

 

LOL, more human than most here when it comes to not knowing what I'm doing Rich, but thanks. Here's an update on my level of retardedness today...... I pulled the coolant reservoir and the fan and housing to get to the water pump. Removerd the pulley and out falls one of the bolts from the front cover plate on the hpop gear. The pump turns just fine, was just jammed tight with a tiny bolt I thought had fallen out and gotten lost in the grass. DUH!
Anyway, thanks again, really do appreciate the responses. My last post will hopefully be later today, telling you everything went back together and ran fine.

 

Is it possible there was oil in the bellhousing that would only come out after you crank it? It seemed a lot of oil came out again after the hpop change and so I didn't keep cranking her. Then noticed after adding Rotella that there seems to be no more dripping and wondering if it was just purging whatever was left in the drain hole and bellhousing??
Thank you guys.

 

Right, I'll be expecting EXTRA dipsh1t points for this one. The last big oil spurt after the hpop change was from the forward hpop line as it was never connected correctly . Anyway, once I figured that out I pulled the coolant tank, fan, shroud and water pump pulley only to find a bolt from the hpop gear cover plate which I thought had fallen to the ground, jamming up the pulley and smoking the belt. Once I removed the pulley, heard the bolt drop out and spun the water pump like it was brand new I got it all back together and she is running like a champ. A few spots under her but going to pull the case with the little vent home at the bottom of the flywheel as I'm sure it has some of the gravel and crap from the valley in there.
Thank you to everyone who commented, it is comforting to know you guys are there as I am so isolated for parts, knowledge and advice.
I shall be reading more and posting more as and when I can. I fully intend to pull my 99.5 motor from the parts truck now and start a fun build which will eventually replace this engine. Cheers!

 

no oil leak, no bad water pump, a little frustration but it's running. all in all a great outcome.