1998 mountaineer leak

[rck2drums]

ok, i am not sure which one to post this in but here goes:

I am driving a 1998 mountaineer auto. The previous owner said that his mechanic told him that the oil pan gasket leaks a little, which causes smoke and leakage when the engine is running. Now I haven't looked at it yet, but from what I hear you have to take off many parts just to get the the pan. A pricey fix. Is this true? Or is it easier than that? I hope the latter. Please help asap. Thanks
Ryan (new member, first post)

 

[NHale623]

What engine?

 

[Dan Whitaker]

It is a 5.0 as this is the onle engine '97-01 Mountaineers came with.

 

[dynamite196]

you should be able to just loosen the engine mounts and jack up the engine from underneath or hoist the engine up from above to get to the pan without disconnecting much.

 

[NHale623]

My Haynes manual says you have to pull the engine to drop the oil pan. I don't know what the interference is, the front drivetrain or the crossmember.

 

[410Fortune]

My $$$ is on your oil filter mount leaking, not the oil pan.
the 5.0L in the Explorer uses a water cooled manifold to re-locate the oil filter off the block. They have been known to leak.

For an oil pan leak I would just put a bit of torque on all the bolts you can get too, oil pans do leak but usually not enough to leave a puddle or drip on the exhaust while running.

I suggest you first pin point the leak.
You will never get the oil pan off and a new gasket in place without removing the engine.

 

[Turdle]

The above post is good stuff.
Also, check the oil sending unit-on the front cover. Valve covers also make this kind of leak.
Could it be trans fluid leaking from front trans seal-dripping through the inspection plug on bottom of bellhousing?

I would go to a car wash with a jack. get it up high and spray the grease all off from underneath. Driving home should reveal a clean oil leak.

 

[rck2drums]

I was just told that I would have to yank out the engine to change the out filter mount.

 

[Turdle]

I seriously don't believe you do--
It is tricky getting it all lined up--but it is doable with engine in
It is probably the mount to adapter O-ring which is leaking

 

[KLW]

Older 5.0's were notorious for oil pan gaskets leaking onto the exhausts. They used a rubber gasket that would split and all of a sudden dump lots of oil. I have replaced dozens of these gaskets on pickups without removing the pan. I would think that the later 5.0's would use a steel lines rubber gasket which could seap but not dump all of a sudden. I have replaced one of these for leakage in the bellhousing area. If one could get the oil pan down about an inch you could replace one of these gaskets without removing the pan or engine. I'm with the others about the oil filter adaptor or oil sender leaking. Inspection is needed.