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Oil on trailer a fluke? Please help!

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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 09:08 AM
  #1  
Roperteacher's Avatar
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From: Hemet, CA
Oil on trailer a fluke? Please help!

Hey there I am in Yuma AZ and drove about 275 miles last night to get here. Pulling my 3 horse gooseneck horse trailer. When I got up this morning I noticed I have what appears to be motor oil that was "Dusted" on the Passenger REAR side of the trailer. JUST the area around the wheel well on that side. NOTHING on the trailer closer to the truck, nothing on the FRONT of the trailer. Just around the passenger wheel well and inside the wheelwell a little. Nothing on the drivers side etc. I felt the tail pipe of the truck with my finger, DRY black exhaust . NOTHING on the bumper of the truck. Truck appears to be dry underneath but I will look at the back of the turbo a little later.

Oil level is about half quart low on the dip stick but I am not certain I am level and that is not totally out of the ordinary for my truck. My trailer is 37 feet long. Am I worrying over nothing? What else can I check? You would think the side of the trailer and bumper of the truck would just be SPLATTERED? Thanks for the help!
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 09:19 AM
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DaveB.inVa's Avatar
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From: Nickelsville, Va
I'd almost be inclined to think it didn't come from your truck.

Crawl under the drivers side where the vent tube comes down, if anything happens injector wise it'll come from there. Do your check at the turbo, check the transmission and transfer case plus the axles.
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 09:30 AM
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From: Orange County, Texas
If ya dont find much else on the truck,,, Id look At the inside seals on the trailer wheel bearings and check the bearings for too much play,,,, one of them may have let go,,, it may be a hassel,,, but Id rather deal with it in a controlled environment instead of on the side of the road,,, In the desert,,,,, no less,,,, BTW you at a Jackpot ropin or Rodeo??? Good Luck,,,,
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 09:53 AM
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From: Birmingham, Alabama
If it's just around the trailer wheels you've most likely had a seal start to fail. Pull the hub caps if so equipped and make sure the dust caps are still in place. Next, check the backing plates for signs of oil or grease. Next, jack up the trailer and check the wheel for free play. Don't take this lightly because a leaky seal can be a heads up to a rapidly failing bearing which will leave you stranded.
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 09:57 AM
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CD in NM's Avatar
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If all the truck stuff is clean, that would eliminate it having come from the truck. You could have run over something that blew up around the fenderwell, most trailer axles stick out a little further than the truck axles. From there I'm with RiverRat2, gotta be the wheel bearing/seals. That type of leak will start out like a mist and eventually get worse to the point of bearing failure. May be a blown seal. Look at the backside of the hub and see if you have a more concentrated amount of oil there. If you do, then your braking becomes comprimised as well because the internals in the brake hub could be saturated. I hope you carry a spare set of bearings/seals and a lube gun so you can fix it before you get moving/towing again. I carry a spare set for all 4 wheels just in case this kind of stuff happens when out and about with my trailers.

CD
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 10:50 AM
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From: Hemet, CA
Thanks all!!! I actually am relieved it's NOT from the truck! LOL Trailers I can deal with. I will write down and let you know!! Thanks again!
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 01:25 PM
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Update: Truck checked out and is dry. INSIDE of trailer wheels/hubs are dry. So the only explanation is that I ran over something! I will degrease and monitor
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 03:09 PM
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From: Claxton, GA
The old wonderful road grime..... Uuk. Semi's leave that stuff all over the place on the interstate and you will pick it up and sling it everywhere. Oh what fun to clean, but better than a busted truck..LOL
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 06:23 PM
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From: Southeast Texas
My truck was coated with it last week. Turned my "quick wash job" into a nightmare.
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Old Sep 20, 2009 | 04:43 PM
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From: Hemet, CA
I just got home from the Return trip. All appears to be fine!
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