my 97 started leaking fuel..i think. yesterday i went and parked at post office on a very sharp hill..maybe 35 or 40 degree angle..for about 5 mins. i left and ever since then it's been leaking a rather large amount. it is leaking by the passenger side by the starter in that area i believe..(as i see it on the ground). and it is a good amound..size of softball or so. i believe it is fuel because it'snot thick like oil..i checked all high press oil plugs...their ok!? i checked fuel rail plugs by firewall..their ok?! connectors from fuel pump to back of cylinder head are not leaking? i've got.."liquid" (fuel or oil..who knows) in my valley. but i know other people wifh these trucks who have the same issues. i tried soaking some of it up at work todya and thought i got it all..couldn't tell because it was dark. then i got home; 5 minute drive, and i looked again..not leakign yet on ground! but there was liquid in the valley again, not sure if it was there all the time because i couldnt see the first time..but i noticed it when i got home with a flashlight. now, truck still runs as normal and everythign seems ok..starts up right away too. fuel milage SEEMS to be allright--but can't verify because this problem happened yesterday. possibly all the "junk" leaking out of the valley onto the ground from the drain hole in rear of block? i thought that, but after a day still leaking? anyways, i placed a pan underneath the area that it leaks and will see what is on there tomorrow morning or what not. all i can think of at this point is fuel hoses in the valey?! anybody every pulled the fuel filter housing on an older engine like this?(97) how hard of a job is it? or is it a cake walk?

thanks for any help

 

IF you're not smelling diesel It must be oil? I had the same thing happen to mine. It was an oring on the HPOP. The filter isn't too bad to remove. It had to come off for my leak IIRC, I've had my filter out a couple times.

Get new fuel hoses if you take it out.

Fuel Hose, BLUE (Aeroquip FC498-06)
(Ford) F4TZ-9324-CA, 3" Long lift pump to filter inlet
(Ford) F4TZ-9324-DA Shorter than above, Filter outlet to High Pressure (piston) pump inlet

 

ur's was leakign down by the passenger side near the starter?! i think it' fuel because it's just not thick like oil should be. maybe it's like all the water/oil/fuel that was sitting in the valley draining out still from that time i parked on the hill...i'm not sure. but if a fuel pump was leaking wouldn't it crank longer? and the filter. just two bolts to hold it town right? and then remove all the lines/hoses. what leak IIRC?

thanks for your help!

 

If you have an oil leak it will be dark or black color. If it is fuel it will look new. The fuel pump has a small, maybe 1/16th hole in the side near the bottom on the passenger side where it leaks. It will still start and run if it is leaking. Mine leaked for a few weeks before I found out what was wrong. Yes two bolts on the filter.

There are 3 hoses to replace and 2 banjo bolt gaskets or washers. And you might want to replace the 2 seals on the end of the fuel lines where they go into the heads, if you replace the pump.

 

Parking on a hill made the leak you already had show up sooner IMO. The engine valley should be dry, if not there's a leak. A leaky fuel pump doesn't affect the starting and running of the engine if it's coming from the weep hole.

Stick your finger in the puddle and smell it.

My fuel pump leak ran down the back of the block. The HPOP hose leak ran down the side of the engine.

This is a pita but needs to be done to see the leak: Take of the decorative filter cover & Clean out the valley. Dry it completely. Get a mirror(s) and light(s) and start the engine. Look for leaks.