Trying to solve this oil leak problem, its not alot, but im sure my driveway is gonna take a pounding and would like to stop it. If you look at the pictures, ( pic #1) there is that rectangle( with a point) style plate with 10mm bolts. Thats where it seems to always have a drip i see when i wipe things down. I snugged up all them bolts but it didnt do anything. Any ideas where i could look to solve this ? Ends up running or dripping down onto the stabilizer and coating the oil pan pretty bad.

 

Make sure it isn't coming from higher up and showing up at that point on the cover.

If not I guess I would pop that cover off and r/r the gasket with some rtv black and let it sit 24 hours before running it.

 

Does the leak get blown around by the fan a lot and makes a big mess? These pictures look like the leak I'm trying to solve as well!

 

Its coating the whole underneath of the truck, seems to all end up on the oil pan and sway bars

 

I know a while back when I first started noticing the leak I was doing some reasearch and found out the possible cause could be the puke bottle being full, and that the stock one does have holes in the top to release gasses, so when it gets full it's starts to leak, the pics you have up kinda looks like around the location of the puke bottle I think So maybe that's the cause? Just another thing to look into thought if let you know!

 

Locating oil leaks could be a real pain...What i would go,is a complete wash down of the motor...This will give you a good idea where the leak is located..

 

check the hose clamps on the turbo drain and the hose is on right too. the fan could be blowing it all over

 

It is probably the inner timing cover leaking, take a power spayer and clean it really good then let it dry...start the truck and let it idle..you will see it is the inner cover. The gaskets and front crank seal are cheap but the **** labor kills you. I was quoted 1k in labor!! But the Cummins diesels are noted for this...Doc

 

An old racer trick: Clean it really good, dust it with baby powder and leak will show up fantastically.

JMO, but it looks like its coming from the left side bolt right there in pic #1, which wouldn't make too much sense if the fan is on the right side of the frame.......meaning the oil is going upwind......

 

I just fixed mine. I have an 2002 and I have had a oil leak for quite some time now. Drove me nuts to try and find it. I finally ripped out the fan and rad shroud so I could see what the hell was going on. I decided to pull the front cover off where the cam gears and injector gears etc. are located. I replaced the seal that fits over the harmonic pulley. Its located on the cover itself. Mine was looking pretty ugly. It was causing some of the leaking. I cleaned the hell out of the cover and used some permatex high grade silicone to seal it up real good. I inspected the ring cover that mounts right to the engine block and it all looked good. I cleaned the hell out of everything and reassembled the fan and everything else. Fired up the truck and took it for a drive. Came back to my shop and there was oil everywhere again. I finally found the problem. Right behind the fan support bracket the ring case was puking oil out. I removed the fan support bracket and took a .008 feeler gauge and poked around between the ring case and the block. sure as **** there was a gap between the cover and the block for about 4-5". Looked like the original sealant have dried up and just disaapeared. I wasn't about to ripp everything apart again. I cleaned the oil and mess up and sprayed evrything down with brake cleaner and dried it all up and I gooped some Permatex along the gap took my feeler blade and pushed some sealant into the gap and then pushed a nice bead all along the ring cover in that area.. Leak is no longer there AT ALL!!!!! I guess this would be a quick fix. I feel that because the oil is just splashing around in there and is not under pressure it should hold up for a good long time.

 

That is exactly what I just had done and it cured it...it was quite a job but at least the floor is dry now. I also discovered at the time that my new water pump was leaking and replaced that as well..so no more coolant loss nor oil. Thank you for your excellent reply

 

No problem, always good to share findings. Now I need to address high speed vibration. I get a bad vibration at 70mph. Coming from the rear of truck. Did ujoints new yoke seal, new diff. oil. Still there. Gotta look at axle bearings now. Pain in the butt. Although I do have 500,000KM's on the old girl.

 

Ya wow tons of great Info! I still haven't pin pointed my leak! Definitely using this info thanks again! Is it a pretty tough job or is it pretty simple for the regular DIYer?

 

Well, you need to remove wiper washer tank, coolant tank, fan shroud. then remove belt, fan support housing with fan attached. I couldn't get the fan nut loose so I took it out in one piece. Upper rad hose needs to be removed also to get everything out. the inner 10mm bolt is the tough one. I ground a box end wrench so I could get it in the tight space and loosened it. I then removed the top 10mm bolt right above that one and put in a longer bolt to support the assembly. I then backed off the other 2 bolts and then worked on the lower bolt. Once that one was undone then I removed the rest of them. It's a bit of a struggle getting everything out but be patient and it will all come out without removing the rad. After that spray everything with degreaser and clean it well. Have a real good look at the gear case ring right below the water pump that is where my leak was. i missed it the first go around. I focused on the cover and seal. It still needed a new seal but the main leak was between the ring cover and the block. I went back in the next day and loosened off the fan support which gave me enough room to get in and seal it all without having to remove the ring cover. (That's a huge job) Hope this helps you.

 

I always say I don't have the proper tools...but it actually boils down to no guts..lol The description of the tear down is perfect...you saved yourself 650$ my good man