Oil leak

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Feb 6, 2003 | 09:12 AM

msclford

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Joined: Feb 2003

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From: New Haven, IN

Oil leak

I have a 1990 F250 2WD w/ 5.8, and it leaks oil pretty badly. It tends to get a lot worse the faster I go. I can't really take it on the interstate, because it will smoke like crazy when I get off. Has anybody else had this problem? My dad thought it was the rear main seal, and a mechanic friend of his told him that SB Ford motors tend to go through intake gaskets (or end seals) pretty easily. I've also heard that it could be the oil sending unit, but that was from my boss, who is a Dodge guy. Let me know if there is anything that I should really look for. I have the front end completely torn down right now since I wrecked it pretty bad, so it's a good time to do repairs. I also noticed some oil around the valve covers. Sorry this was so long, and any help is greatly appreciated!

Feb 6, 2003 | 12:07 PM

Racerdave

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From: Seattle/Tacoma Washington U.S.A.

Oil leak

When you took the valve cover gasket off did you see any cracks or any worn spots? If you have a bad valve cover gasket that will spit oil all over your headers (causeing it to smoke), also I would check the head gasket. and make sure the oil pan gasket and change the oil and replace the filter. You said it smokes? Where is the smoke comeing from ? If its smoking out the Exhaust, I would think it is your valve stem seals, pull all of your plugs and see any of them are oily. Other than that, if it is smokeing from the engine compartment (oil is being sprayed/leaking on the hot block) then I would replace gaskets. Good luck with your leak search. Hope you find it soon, and sorry to hear you wiped out

how did you manage that?

Feb 6, 2003 | 05:22 PM

Border3899

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Joined: Dec 2002

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From: Minneapolis USA

Oil leak

Could possibly just be a bad PCV valve, I had this go bad on my 91 and the oil would only leak when i was driving, other than what would drip off the engine after i stopped. Like racerdave said where is it smoking from?

Feb 6, 2003 | 08:58 PM

Sycostang67

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Joined: Dec 2002

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From: Kuna ID

Oil leak

It could be your oil pressure sending unit. The one on my old 83 F-100 300/4spd leaked real bad. I had to buy a case of oil a week, to make it to work. When I replaced the sending unit, I was down to using 1 quart per day. I was still losing oil from the rear main, and the breather was blowing oil everywhere too. I ran a hose from the breather to the underside of the frame to stop it from blowing on the engine though.

Feb 6, 2003 | 09:24 PM

msclford

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Joined: Feb 2003

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From: New Haven, IN

Oil leak

I was under the truck tonight, and the oil leak has sprayed oil way back on the exhaust and tranny. The smoke was coming from the engine compartment or under the truck, not from the exhaust pipes. The oil isn't getting into the combustion chamber, just external stuff, I think. I haven't taken anything apart yet, I just wanted some ideas on what other people have experienced. I'm going to take the upper intake off and then the valve covers and see if the valve cover gaskets are bad. Where is the oil pressure sending unit located? How do I know if the leak is from the rear main seal?

Feb 6, 2003 | 09:35 PM

Sycostang67

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From: Kuna ID

Oil leak

I have a 69 351W, but Idon't imagine the castings are too different. My sending unit is on the right side of the block(as if you are standing in front of the vehicle) up front, down where the fuel pump is. It should look like a silver bell with a small bolt sticking out the top for a wire to attach to. I believe the oil leaks out the top, where the little disc is held on by the bolt. They are pretty cheap to replace, about $12-$20 usually. It may be on some kind of extension as well to get it away from the block. As for the rear main, I think you just have to look real close and see. If your pan gasket doesn't leak any where else, it probably is the rear main. Some shops have dye you can put in your oil to help trace a leak. Good luck

Feb 6, 2003 | 09:35 PM

msclford

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From: New Haven, IN

Oil leak

Oh yeah ... the wreck. I was driving down the road and when I tried to get into the turn lane and stop, I just slid on the ice right into the guy in front of me - he was driving a Chevy SUV of some sort, and he ran into his wife in front of him in a Lexus SUV. It was a real bummer. I was on my way back from a Thanksgiving family get-together with my girlfriend. The bad part is that it's still my parents' truck, and I didn't really know till then that it only had partial coverage, so I'm paying out of pocket to fix it. I'm still in high school, but I work in a body shop, so I can do mostly all of the work myself.