Crawling under truck to look at a leak that has developed on the front diff. (cover needs to be resealed), I find this - very little oil and dirt on oil pressure regulator housing, but can see where oil has been flung out on back side of flywheel. Sitting around ain't so good for seals, eh?! But it must reseal as the motor spins up and LPOP pressure builds...??? Damn synthetic oil...

 

Yep, crank seal. Not hard to change; I've gotten quite good at it.

Doesn't anything rust in California?

 

Thanks Jack! What does "must change soon" look like? Explanation of visual would be fine...

Sally leaves Monday and it is looking like the truck and camper for this trip, and I'm already working on the camper, not even a hanging drip or drop on the ground... Figure a 200 mile or so trip with both legs...

 

If you just drive it 10-20 miles or so every other day, it may just resolve itself for a while ........

I'll pay for the shipping on the oil!

 

That's not a bad leak.

The seal is a double lipped seal. While it's against the LPOP, and there is flow from the gears to the seal, there is a pressure relieving port in the cover that goes to the oil pan area. So there is not the significant pressure as seen in the oil galleries.








It may have relaxed a little sitting.

 

Thanks guys - it has never been a daily driver... Seems like the recent less frequent use started when we built the RV building and on one side the trucks sit nose to nose - just going to have to not be lazy and move the other one out of the way! I know at least one winter (maybe 2) we left the camper on and just parked the truck in the shop at the barn... :-/

 

Jack you didn't see the rust on his crank pulley??? That's getting pretty bad....

 

Bare metal, they rust in the parking lot at the assembly plant. I was looking more at the oil pan screws.

 

You'll notice there was rust on some of the flats though - that pan has been off! Curious, I just must be missing the threads on the crankshaft seal being an issue, or why have you had to replace them, or rather "gotten good" at replacing them?

Mark: you've replaced yours X times? Don't have your flavor of oil, unfortunately, but since you have stockpiled... Wanna sell some???

And no, not much rust out here...

 

Haven't had to replace the one on my 6.0L yet.

Did the 7.3L not long ago. It started leaking quite a while ago and I slowed it down for a fairly long time by driving it more regularly.

I am seeing an axle seal leak on my 6.0L that I believe has been from just sitting (let it sit about a month due to fuel prices and a hernia surgery). Started driving it more recently and do not see the drip anymore. That said, maybe time for u joints.

 

I'm wondering, since both of us live in warmer climates... What about a 15W 40 full synthetic? I've still got regular dino in that flavor and could go back to a blend... That 5 weight when "cold" - maybe a little more vis and the seal is happy, even if it sits?

 

Might be worth a try.

 

My own mistake.

 

Well if your board when I get time to come down and visit Mom
I could bring the tool and we could tackle it. OR you can come up here.
Not that Washington State is that much better than what your getting down there.

 

Thanks Sean! I think it will be: drive it more and monitor - if it ends up getting worse I've got a decent mechanic that I'd take it to...