98 Explorer Oil Leak After Fix

[atwalker]

I took my 98 explorer V6 4.0 (173000K) into the shop two weeks ago to get a check engine light problem repaired and they said I needed to replace the lower intake manifold gasket and while they were at it also replace the value cover gaskets ($1000). All was well until I got home and noticed oil under car. My explorer has NEVER leaked oil. I took it back up to the shop and they are trying to blame the oil filter or the O ring where the oil filter assembly attaches to the engine.

I am having a hard time buying their story because to oil is dropping to the floor from where the engine attaches to the transmission not from the oil filter.

My question is how can I determine or rule out the lower intake has the problem? I can see oil higher up from under the car which I suppect is running down the back of the engine but the shop says the oil up there is from the repair? Please help!!

 

[reserved50]

use engine degreaser and clean up all the oil and re-check, if you see oil from higher up call them idiots and say its from the area you guys monkyed around and there was no oil leak before. Tell them they were there to fix the oil leak and you should not have to pay twice for labor just parts because of something that was overlooked.

 

[bp1506]

they might have screwed up the valve cover gaskets if its leaking from higher up. just have to clean it up and take a look after a short drive. if you cant see behind some components when you are looking a good idea is to take a small digital camera and snap as shot to get a better view. Thats what i did on my camaro when i couldnt tell where my leak was coming from.

 

[atwalker]

Update: I took my explorer to a friend's shop and they said the problem was the rear main seal. I had them replace it and while they were changing it they found that something called a "main cap" was leaking also. Does anyone know what a "main cap" is? They said they had to drop the oil pan to replace it. I went ahead and had them replace that also hoping this would be the fix. I have had the car back for one day and the oil is still leaking but at a lower rate. About two drops an hour. Anyone have any other idea what this could be? It is dripping between where the engine and the transmission meet.