Oil leak on exhaust manifold bolt | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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Oil leak on exhaust manifold bolt

10pound

New Member
Joined
April 13, 2011
Messages
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City, State
San Diego CA
Year, Model & Trim Level
2001 Explorer
Hi everyone and thanks in advance for reading, I sincerely appreciate any insight you can offer into my problem.

My wife has a 2001 Explorer with the 4.0 v6. For the past few months, after driving it, one would smell that distinctive aroma of oil sizzling into vapor coming from the engine. Oil level never dropped and it wasn't that big of an issue at the time, so I didn't look that hard for a leak. Last night, I drove it to the 7-11 around the corner and when I returned, I noticed vapor/smoke coming from under the hood. This morning when I could actually see something, I hosed the motor down with degreaser and water, started it up and waited for the aroma and vapor to return. I didn't have to wait long. It appeared as though oil was dripping down onto the exhaust manifold on the driver's side. Closer inspection shows the oil emanating from the lower exhaust manifold bolt for cylinder 6 (the rearmost cylinder on driver's side). At first I thought that perhaps the PCV valve was leaking some oil down onto the bolt but I couldn't find anything other than dirt around the PCV valve. I cleaned it all off again, especially this exhaust manifold bolt, started it back up and got underneath the vehicle where I could watch this bolt. Sure enough, I watched it go from clean to oily within minutes. I could actually see as the oil began to well up to a point where it would then drip down onto the manifold right where it connects to the catalytic converter.
Here is an image showing the bolt/threads with a drop of oil welled up on the end of it:
PC0wcFa.png



Anyone have an idea of what I am facing here? I run synthetic 5w-30 through it and change it regularly. Any insight, assistance or opinions are much appreciated.

10Pound
 






Anyone have an idea of what I am facing here? I run synthetic 5w-30 through it and change it regularly. Any insight, assistance or opinions are much appreciated.

10Pound

How about the valve cover gaskets? I just installed new ones on my 96 4.0 tonight...sadly, mine were actually in like new condition after 7 years, and it wasn't till I had the car torn to pieces that I figured out it was the PCV valve leaking the whole time. :mad:
 






I've got the same leak on my 97.
Hopefully one of us finds the culprit!
 












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