Things were finally going good last year (first time in 2 years I could park in the driveway without worrying about collecting spots underneath). Then I started burning 1 quart of oil every 100 miles or so. Lived with that for a couple of months and then started my injector/cup adventure for 9 months.

Finally got the truck back up this past March and have three leaks: Coolant (at the degas bottle hose and the lower hose connections), power steering, and occassionally fuel (around the Racor I just installed). Been living with those by topping off occassionally and parking on the street until I dive back into things.

I'm not sure if my coolant is getting pressurized (I did do all 8 cups with the injectors) or if my clamps are getting tired (I've replaced the hoses but not the clamps over the years). My lower hose connection looks pretty rusty so I'm going to replace that and the clamps (if I can find where to buy them individually) when I can.

Power steering looks like the gear is leaking. I replaced the pressure hoses when I did the injectors and I've had my A1 Cardone unit for a number of years. It's been covered in fresh ATF for some time and was hoping it was my hoses/fittings as usual but that doesn't look like the case. Every few days it burps a small puddle under the truck and the other days it's a few drops. The frame rail is definitely corrosion resistant around the steering gearbox.

My fuel leak appears every now and then. I haven't been able to jump under there to pinpoint the source but I have seen the Racor bowl coated in fuel (using an inspection mirror) when this has happened. It always seems to happen at work and I'm in slacks and a collared shirt so I can't just dive under there with a flashlight in my nice clothes in the company parking lot.

This morning was the clincher. I pulled into the gas station to add some fuel to get me to work and back. Got out and was about to swipe my card and noticed something shiny underneath the truck. Crouched down and saw a puddle forming rather rapidly under the flexplate housing . Knowing it was probably NOT my rear main seal I pulled forward, popped the hood, and jumped up there (in my nice work clothes) to look around. I immediately noticed a leak at the forward HPOP fitting. I watched oil stream out of the fitting connection, down into the valley, and pool on the ground.

I have no problem driving something that's weeping or a small leak but when I can watch a steady stream of oil run off the back of the engine at idle is not something I'm going to risk, no matter how tough the engine is.

Got it back home, left the truck to think about what it's done (with a huge piece of cardboard under it so it would feel ashamed), borrowed my wife's Jeep (with the "Career Mom" license plate), and headed off to work.

I didn't have time (or skinny enough fingers) to do any other troubleshooting to see if any other part of my T-500 is leaking. Luckily the overnight shipping cost more than doubles the cost of parts but I get them tomorrow.

The stream coming out of the fitting was pretty good and I'm hoping that's all there is to fix. The truck ran fine. You wouldn't know it was hemmoraghing oil unless you saw the puddle underneath (or the truck shut down when sump got low enough).

It would seem a low possibility that I would have two failures simultaneously (although it is possible and happened to me before). It was coming out of the valley at a good stream so I am crossing my fingers that the oil pooled up before the weep hole and that my fitting is the only issue.

I can't afford any down time and my wallet has still not recovered from the recent beating from my injector escapade.

In the last 3 years I haven't been able to enjoy the truck for more than a month or so without having to fix something leaking. I've spent a dump truck of cash on this thing in that amount of time and have too much invested to consider leaving the 7.3L fold. Not to mention my traction bars, rear leaf springs, and Detroit locker sitting in the garage that I haven't even installed yet.

My kids named the truck "Moose" when I bought it 10+ years ago. Last year it was renamed "The Money Pit". I'm afraid that my wife is about to rename it again, this time "For Sale".

I feel the same as afmedic's thread "Always something, but I love her anyways." I still love this truck...but dang the truck's making it hard!!!

Sorry for the rant. Sometimes you just need to vent and this was one of those times and this is the only place that would "get me".

 

Hopefully it is just a fitting and not the T500 itself.

Just remember to get the threads extremely clean and use the proper loctite.

 

Almost told my wife last week.... as she hates my truck and the $$$$ it eats in repairs.... that its been like 9 months since I've had a truck problem. The valley is dry, no leaks ... nothing spotting under the truck.

Now that I said that.... I'll surely BLOW a hose or something in the next week !

 

I think the fact that it's paid for is about the only reason she hasn't sold it for $1 behind my back. Looking at what a newer truck costs I would be buying another used one and inherit whatever problems it has. The only difference is that, for the most part, I know this truck inside and out. I can also do the work on it since it's mostly mechanical.

It seems like these newer ones you plug in a laptop, read the code, then replace one of the 63 computers or an overpriced sensor. The markup is enough for a 15 year old diesel parts, I can only imagine the markup for newer trucks and OEM technology replacement costs.

 

Every time mine breaks I think about the same thing, but knowing that the payment on a new truck is way more than I spend in repairs keeps me happy. I'm currently sidelined with a broken rear leaf spring, so I know the feeling!

 

Hopefully it's just the hose and fitting. You got tomorrow to figure it out.

 

 

Did the fitting came on the T500 when you received it or did you install the fittings onto the pump before installing it?

As for no cell service due to secure facility. That has been one of the best perks of being a civilian for me. I can carry my phone with me when and where I want. Even more so now since retiring.

 

Fitting or o-rings. That's what I would think. But the hose isn't out of the question. Just got home from the American Legion and was talking about mine. Never changed radiator hoses or hpop hoses in over 200K. Only the belt. I guess it's time. Then another person with 2003 CC LB and a stick was telling me how the cab had to come off to change up pipes. I told him who are you talking to? Oh it's a friend that works at Ford. He was told it wasn't any extra, I told him Ford, you paid for it. He only has 80K on a 2003. Man, I told him you must not drive much.

 

I wanted the non-check ball fittings but couldn't get them in time before sending the pump off. When I got the pump back I pulled the original fittings off and put the "high flow" ones one (properly cleaning the threads and letting the Loctite cure). That was a couple of years ago so I don't know if I didn't clean them well enough or there's another issue. I can see part of the o-ring sticking out.

Yeah, there's no way they are going to lift the cab without charging labor. That's like the first 2 years of oil changes are "free". No they're not, they are in the price somewhere else so that it can be $0 for routine service fees.

 

I feel your pain.

I finally fixed my fuel leak this weekend and for the first time since I bought the truck after 12k miles and a lot of $$, my valley is dry.

There is hope!

 

Dry valleys are really good things, but it sure seems they don't stay that way for long. Lots of the thoughts already mentioned by afmedic and brian42 frequently run through my head as well, especially after a long quiet road trip in my wife's Lexus hybrid (this past weekend, for example).

 

The T500 gets rid of the check valves when he builds it. At least that's what i've been told. I have one of his first T500 I believe. No plate on mine. But if you see an O-ring, that's probably your problem. I have a fuel drip I see every so often also. Haven't been able to locate it yet. I did order some fuel related sleeves and gaskets from Riffraff should get them tomorrow. Time to drop my tank and see what's leaking. When it's full and sets I get a drip. Thinking it's a vent line. We'll see.

 

I sent mine in for "upgrading" and came back with the same fittings I sent with it.

Parts should be at my front door by now and will see what it looks like when I get in there this afternoon. Hopefully it's just this fitting. If not it's back to the drawing board.

 

I believe it's just a spring and something they take out of there for the check valve. I exchanged mine when I bought it.