Back when I purchased the truck 1 1/2 years ago(I am the 3rd owner), I noticed an oil leak coming from I believe in between the oil pan and the T.C. housing. When the previous owner pulled up to my driveway for the pre-inspection before sale (flat area), not a drop. I always park it right up on my garage apron which has a slight rise for water drainage and that's when the leak shows up. I've since then backed the truck onto the same spot, now causing the front end of the truck to pitch downwards, and the leaks go away. What's up? I know someone else with this same 1st Gen. truck with the same problem....is this normal? Please advise. Carmyne

 

Most likely a rear main seal on the engine. Mine was bad. Would drip 1/4 cup oil everytime I stopped. The guy I bought mine from was a tech at Cummins Rocky Mountain, so he agreed to fix it 2 months after I bought it. (Nice guy, huh?) It only took him about 2 hours. On the 2wd trucks it's just a matter of disconnecting the transmission and TQ, sliding it back, take the flexplate off, then replacing the seal. I think about $75 in parts. Sure wish I would have had him put in a new TQ at the time!!

 

I would agree rear main seal, its a slow leak now, give it another couple weeks, it'll run out of there. Seal kit from car quest was about $60, and the trans, has to at least be moved back, if not removed.

 

Is this something a person armed with a '93 CTD shop manual and better than average shop skills can tackle? Look at the time factor/specialty tools involved before answering this question... doing it yourself is not about savin' money when you have kids and a to do list at home. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy doin' this stuff, but I dislike havin' to run around looking for the "right" tool for the job, ff'n somethin' up, you all know what I mean. Please advise. Carmyne

 

I did my rear main when I had the trans out for the swap, the seal is easy imo, either pull the old one out of the housing or take the housing off and push it out.
The new seal came with an installation ring and installation tool and a little paper explaining how to install it.

The problem you might have is getting the transmission out or slide back far enough to get in there and work. Without a trans jack I would not want to do it.

Mike

 

Biggest thing is removing the trans, normal tools needed, once the trans is removed maybe 1/2 an hour to actually do the seal. The seal I got came with an installation ring also.