Iron City

I'm currently battling a few oil leaks on my truck, I degreased my engine in hopes of this helping me find where they are. If anyone has any thoughts on where they are from the pictures, or how to better diagnose, I'd love to hear them.

Looks like there's a small one at the bottom of my timing cover, but not sure if it's the timing cover or the front crank seal. Here's the pic looking up from the bottom, in the picture is the harmonic balancer, oil pan and bottom of the timing case:
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...icture_080.jpg



Another potential on the bottom passenger side of the timing case:
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...icture_076.jpg



Not sure about this one, kind of looks like there may be a leak around the pully down and right (as you're facing the engine) from the alternator pulley (not sure what this pulley is for...):
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...icture_075.jpg



I also see oil pooling on the bottoms of some of the bolts on the oil pan. Last weekend I tighted all of the bolts on the bottom of the oil pan about a quarter turn each. This seemed to help some but still get some pooling. Here's a picture of the oil pan before I degreased and after:
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...icture_071.jpg


https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...icture_081.jpg



I have more pictures in my gallery here:
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...0&ppuser=32754

Rrloren

I'm not an expert, and maybe others here will offer another idea, but I just recently had a similar leak and it was the gasket between the timing case and block. Had to have the entire front of engine removed including the bumper and the camshaft. Big job, and took a cummins mechanic 16 hours to complete. Parts of that gasket were missing altogether probably from the vibration which also loosened the bolts in the first place. He told me he has done several for this problem.Hope yours is an easier and cheaper fix.
Let us know what it turns out to be.

WideOpenThrottl

I had a pretty good leak on the front of my 97 when i switched to synthetic oils, it happened to be the front crank seal, so replaced it and fixed the kpd at the same time, now its dry as a bone up front, but i have a little oil leak from the vacuum pump somewhere, and a little at the rear main seal. Hope this helps Tim.

Lil Dog

The pulley run on the back side of the belt is the water pump. No oil there to come out only Glycol...

I think you may have the same leak I have with the front seal.. I have to do mine still and want to do as WOT did and kill the KDP at the same time.

Bobcat698

Timing seal, definately. Get the seal replaced and fix the KDP while you are at it.

Funny, I could almost swear that is a picture of MY alternator, it looked identical.

TxDiesel007

Very same things i had

It was crank seal, Changed it out when I killed KDP.. Easy Fix, i have a nice write up about it using the TST kit (if u aint killed ur KDP yet).

Tx

Iron City

thanks for the input guys. The PO said that he had the KDP killed by someone on this list who has done a lot of them apparently (lives in eastern PA I think), but I should still get in there and check to be sure. Have any of you ever had to change the oil pan gasket or had problems with it?

Geico266

The mighty CTD does NOT leak.......... it is just marking its territory.

infidel

Sure fire way to pinpoint a leak is to clean the area well then spray it down with aerosol athlete's foot powder then run the engine for a short time.
Oil will mark a trail though the powder straight to the leak.

fschiola

The likely suspect is Wannadiesel. Has many kills to his credit. Might want to get in touch with him. A while back he had some trouble with the bolts he installed leaking. He was very anxious to get a hold of anyone that could be having a problem with one of his repairs.