My E99 has oil accumulating in the valley. I've looked and felt around, but can't find an obvious leak.

What's known to leak oil into the valley? I'm thinking it's got to be the turbo....

 

Here's a good place to start
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...he-valley.html

 

Is it in the front, middle, or rear of the valley?

 

Front middle and rear.

 

Going to have to get it cleaned up and start fresh. It usually doesn't migrate forward so most likely the HPOP or lines or IPR. Only guessing until cleaned up and rechecked. The link I provided has excellent instructions on cleaning and finding the leak.

 

Simple Green and low pressure water. Avoid electrical components with both. Then put some rags under each of the areas that AllaboutMPG noted and wrap the HPOP fittings with a paper towel if you can. Then crank it up, see what happens. If nothing, then drive it for a short distance and check again.

 

One other thought, are you positive it's oil? The fuel bowls on these motors are known to leak and that fuel mixed with the crud in the valley can look like oil at first glance. Watch the very back and bottom of the fuel bowl with the motor running and make sure you don't have a drip there. Get a whiff of the stuff in the valley and see if you smell diesel.

 

Yes it is oil. Definitely not fuel. I will clean it up and watch closely where it starts again.

 

I have the same issue. I'm just waiting for the weather to warm up to clean it and make sure where the leak is. Have you found where yours was?

 

Click the Oil In Valley link in my Sig. It will help you walk through finding your leak.

 

So it is only in the front. So I believe it must be the IPR. Right? It's not leaking bad, just a drip.

Replacement is the only solution?

 

Not necessarily the IPR. My e99 had a leak as you described, and it was the plug in the back of the HPOP. I also found out that your typical o-rings will not hold up. (didn't last a week) I ordered mine from Guzzle (diesel-o-rings).

 

Actually, I twisted my arm down in there and I only feel a drip on the bottom of the IPR. Everything else is dry.

Best place to get one?

 

Here's a link to Guzzle's Diesel o-Rings.
High Pressure Oil Pump Repair Parts

Here's a link to Riffraff Diesel
Ford - 99-03 Super Duty 7.3L - O-rings - High Pressure Oil Pump - Riffraff Diesel Performance

Both companies are great to deal with. First things first though, have you determined where the leak is coming from?

 

Okay so I fixed the oil rail plug leak. Removed it and put a new oring on it, reinstalled, got the truck started after some cranking. But now even after running a couple times, it still takes excessive cranking to start. This thing usually starts right up.

Could The IPR valve have gone bad suddenly like that?

I'm thinking maybe I just need to take it out and drive it like I stole it to get the air out of it. Maybe?