Can someone please solve the mystery oil leak that gets everywhere under the front of my truck? I always heard "diesels just leak oil" but WHY? Is there somewhere to start looking? Is it as simple as replacing the pan gasket, or some other gasket that is easy to get to? Are there "usual suspect" placs to look for leaks on these engines?

Thanks

 

my guess, since you're being pretty vague (I would have expected a picture from the likes of you! ), would be the front crank seal. Mine's leaking from that, or in that area...

You could try checking the torque on the oil pan bolts. The PS pump has been known to develop a leak too.

P.S. You getting your '98 for a good price made me not let up when searching for mine.. so I owe you a big thanks...

 

You are welcome


I could get a pic, but I wasn't sure how much help an oilly blob would be


Your comment about the front main makes sense, seems to be pretty far up front as the tie rod is soaked, as well as the sway bar and sway bar bracket areas on the frame.

I will also check the oil pan bolts, and give it a good cleaning so I can try to nail down the source.

 

did you ever fix the killer dowel pin?

 

man this looks like a pirate thread, sucks i can't get on there anymore. this new blockings software is a pita.

 

First - PBB is down at the moment... why else do you think I am here today?


Second - no, I have not messed with the KDP. I thought I understood that the 98 12v trucks like mine were not problematic?

 

bs your truck is just as bad as the other 12v's. if the oil is coming out under the fan mount, guess what. you are in for a long weekend

 

My KDP fell out. Fixed that. Now ive got a leak that LOOKS like its coming from the main seal or front of the oil pan. Upon further investigation and a degreasing, its coming from the flange that mounts the PS pump to the gear case. Anybody got any tips on that repair?

 

a 98 with 294,000, holy ****, that makes me very happy to see

 

I'm with gunracer1. Get the engine washed off good and find where it's coming from. If it's coming from under the fan mount you might have a cracked timing case.

I used this for the repair on my 2000.

Vacuum pump leak repair

 

it could just be your seal around the timing case check that first. lets hope its not a cracked case that would suck and is very expensive to fix. i cant think of anything else that would leak oil around that part of the truck.

 

After re-reading your question, there is a gasket between the vacuum pump and the timing case. When I repaired my vacuum pump I replaced it.

 

I had a leak on mine and I just changed the valve cover gasket and it's gone.Just a idea.But it will be leaking all down the engine if its that.

 

Do you have to pull the timing cover in order to pull off the pump to get to the gasket?

 

No.
The instructions here are complete> http://dieselram.com/cgi-bin/ultimat...c;f=3;t=000360