Oil leak on front of block.
 

I have developed an oil leak on the front of the block. Truck is the one in my sig. I have checked all the simple stuff first, trust me. Looks to be coming from where the gear case meets the block. I was looking through the manual and it appears as though the engine has to be pretty much stripped to perform this task. Looks like the VP has the be removed as well. I was just looking for some advise from those who have been there. Any tips or small tricks would be very much appreciated.

Terry

I would attempt to clean the area really well and try and patch the offending leak with some RTV before pulling the case to change that gasket. A lot of work to change that gasket. May as well put a cam and a p-pump in if you're gonna change that gasket.

like tate said clean the nuts off it 1st and make 100% you know where its coming from first. the last time my head gasket blew oil was coming out the front edge right onto the top of the gear case then running down. mind you mine was pretty catastrophic, but there an oil feed right there for the head, you might be leaking out the head gasket a tiny bit. or if that gear case gasket it leaking you're kind of hooped. you can also pull the cover and retorque all the case bolts with blue locktite. might have one loosened off and allowing a leak. better to check them anyways than have a bolt drop in the geartrain too.

Mine was leaking pretty bad like Tate and 153624. I checked my dowel pin when I pulled the cover. I also had the radiator out so it gave me more room. There are several torx bolts if I remember holding the gear case to the front of the block. I didn't pull them out and locktite them. I just tightend the ones I could get to. They were a little loose. I put a new crank seal and sleeve on when I put the cover back on. That solved my leaks. Another one I just remembered, I had a leak on the front and above the gearcase. Is the water pump there or an idler for the serpentine belt (don't remember). It is a tight place to get into. I cleaned that with brake cleaner and stuffed some RTV in there. Every so often I have to check the oil pan bolts as well.
Oh the beauty of these rattlin, vibrating, Cummins. But I still love em 460,000 kms (285,000 miles) and counting. I still get this (insert appropriate expletive) smile on my face when I'm driven. Still original VP.
Stan

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...n-t276346.html



Mine turned out to be the gasket between the backside of the gear case and the air compressor (vacuum pump on Dodge trucks). Replaced it just a week ago.

Just to be safe I did replace the gasket between the case and block but like the others have said, it's a real pain and my gasket there was ok.

I had trouble finding the correct gasket until I went to the Dodge dealer and they had the correct one the next day - it was $12.00.

Don't go overboard and do what I did - - might better to just install the gasket between your vacuum pump and gear case first and see if it takes care of the problem. If the leak is still present then perhaps the case to block gasket needs to be replaced.

Jake

Mine leaked between the rear of the gear case and block. had about a two inch piece of gasket missing, I cleaned it out and used a 3M epoxy to seal it up, hasnt leaked since.

Seems to be where mine is leaking too as far as I can tell. Looks like it is at the upper most part of the gear case that I can see just to the right of the idler tensioner bracket. Might have to try gooping it up, the worst that can happen is I would still have to tear it apart.
Thanks.

I have already rebuilt my vac pump and new gasket 1 1/2 years ago. I am sure it is coming from the front of the block at the gear case. Thanks though.

Hmmmm....I dunno, man. That gearcase gasket is a very major PITA to get to.

Just me talking but I'd do the easy thing first and check the vacuum pump gasket once more. It takes a ton of effort to R&R the cam and stuff and then the more you do, the more opportunity you have to screw up something else - that happens to me sometimes for sure.

Even if the vacuum pump gasket is not leaking all you have invested is the cost of the gasket and a little labor.

Just my thoughts.... Jake

I've patched quite a few of those here at work. Remove the fan and the pulley/adapter it mounts on. Brake clean, compressed air, and good bead of Mopar Gear Lube RTV (pn 82300234) along the seam. Sure beats the labor/parts expense of tearing the front of the engine down and so far I haven't had any comebacks doing it this way. It's certainly worth a try.

Thanks J BODY. That will probably be my plan of attack. I have been crazy busy around here lately with all kinds of family issues. Hopefully I can find time this week to do some maint.

Be sure and look for drips from the bottom of the vacuum pump shaft to the PS pump . It is most common and easiest to check with a flashlight from underneath when running.

That was rebuilt two years ago, it's not coming from there. Thanks for the tip though.