Oil, Oil, EVERYWHERE
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Clemson, South Carolina
Oil, Oil, EVERYWHERE
Well, I went out this morning to change the oil in my Ranger. It's a 2002, 4.0, auto, 4x4, extended cab, 101,000 miles. I opened the door, pulled it up on some ramps, popped the hood, and crawled underneath. There was oil all over the place, and when I drained it, it appeared that there was less oil there than is normal (yeah, I should have checked the dipstick, but I didn't). Anyway, I'm going to drive it and keep an eye on things. I'm also going to clean it up some underneath to see if that will help me identify the source.
My question is where would the most likely place for the leak to be? I can't really see anything looking down on the engine, but it's very noticable looking up from underneath. This is frustrating to me, because it's been very good about not having leaks and things. I should note that I don't drive it as much as I used to. I bought a Toyota Corolla to cummute to work in, so the truck really just gets used on weekends. I make a point to take it and drive it around some. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
My question is where would the most likely place for the leak to be? I can't really see anything looking down on the engine, but it's very noticable looking up from underneath. This is frustrating to me, because it's been very good about not having leaks and things. I should note that I don't drive it as much as I used to. I bought a Toyota Corolla to cummute to work in, so the truck really just gets used on weekends. I make a point to take it and drive it around some. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2006
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It's possible that the drain plug was not tight, or the oil filter was not snug from the last change. Also sometimes when you go over road debris it can hit the oil pan and jar it loose around the gasket. Check some of those things for starters.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: suburban atlanta
Have you ever had the filter gasket stick to the bottom of the mount? Whoooweee that pump can flow some oil!!! !!!!!! !!!!! Get thee to the oilery for another set if it happens to you, cuz it will be All flowed out almost before you know it. Really a mess.
Front & rear crankshaft seal, cam seal, cam covers, PCV plugged(?), filter mount, cooler lines or cooler(if equipped). Or the old loose plug trick. Old Fords used to have the warning light sending unit made of bakelite. They broke now and again, and would rustproof your car at the most inopportune times...
tom
Front & rear crankshaft seal, cam seal, cam covers, PCV plugged(?), filter mount, cooler lines or cooler(if equipped). Or the old loose plug trick. Old Fords used to have the warning light sending unit made of bakelite. They broke now and again, and would rustproof your car at the most inopportune times...
tom
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Eastern WA
There's numerous places that oil could leak from and anything beyond the drain plug, filter + gasket, and oil pressure sender would be pure speculation. The way to determine where your leak is will be to clean the engine and undercarriage then drive it, stopping at times and looking for the leak source. This plan changes a bit in the event that it's puking out oil at a rate that's measured in fractions of a quart per minute; that one you should be able to find by visual inspection.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Clemson, South Carolina
Thanks for the thoughts. I'm certain its not the gasket around the oil filter, I've made that mistake before, and this leak is much smaller than that one. Sitting parked in the driveway, there is no oil dripping that I can see, and I'm certain my oil plug and filter are snug. The oil actually appears to be coming from forward of the pan, filter, plug. I'll check the gaskets as best I can, but I don't recall hitting anything that would have caused the gasket to break loose.
Edit: I'm thinking it might be the crankshaft seal. Hope not, I'm guessing that would be a big deal to replace.
I'll go ahead and clean it up, and keep an eye on it.
Thanks
Edit: I'm thinking it might be the crankshaft seal. Hope not, I'm guessing that would be a big deal to replace.
I'll go ahead and clean it up, and keep an eye on it.
Thanks
Last edited by stan_02ranger; Jul 3, 2006 at 02:56 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: SW Va
I like all the other suggestions.
But from your description of it seaming to be more from up front, kinda sounds like it's a seal problem up there, on the engine, but a 02 is kinda new for that to happen on.
I'd check that PCV valve as suggested & make sure that puppy hasn't stuck closed & causing high pessure build up in the crank case, thats pushing oil out past a cover gasket or crank seal.
Then maybe check the oil pan, front cam chain & valve cover fasteners for tightness & gaskets for the leak.
Would be nice it it's just a loose fastener or two, or a acting out PCV valve, causing a crankcase over pressure build up.
Sure hope it's not the front crankshaft seal that you suspect.
Keep us posted on what you find.
But from your description of it seaming to be more from up front, kinda sounds like it's a seal problem up there, on the engine, but a 02 is kinda new for that to happen on.
I'd check that PCV valve as suggested & make sure that puppy hasn't stuck closed & causing high pessure build up in the crank case, thats pushing oil out past a cover gasket or crank seal.
Then maybe check the oil pan, front cam chain & valve cover fasteners for tightness & gaskets for the leak.
Would be nice it it's just a loose fastener or two, or a acting out PCV valve, causing a crankcase over pressure build up.
Sure hope it's not the front crankshaft seal that you suspect.
Keep us posted on what you find.
