Engine Oil Leak...But from WHERE?

[SyberTiger]

I change my oil religiously...every 3000 miles on my 2002 4.6L. Just force of habit as I'm sure most of you change it at 5000 miles. Anyhow, I just changed the oil at 125K miles and was disappointed to notice the oil drain plug had an oil drop hanging on it. Closer inspection reveals that the back side of the oil pan extending all the way to the block was slightly wet. I guess I should feel lucky as it seems that pretty much every vehicle I every own started to show some oil leakage around 70K-90K miles. Usually around the valve cover.

My questions to you are:

1. Does you Explorer leak oil in this same area and what was your solution?
2. Is the problem likely the rear main seal where the oil is coming from and how to determine this?
3. Could I be so lucky as to re-torque the oil pan bolts in hope that that is the source of the leak?
4. I might be having my tranny rebuilt soon. Would this be a good time to fix the problem?

 

[swshawaii]

Oil Filter Adapter Gasket? Sounds fairly common. GL

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304331&highlight=oil+filter+adapter
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=374107&highlight=oil+filter+adapter

 

[SyberTiger]

Thanks for the links. The other threads I read concerning the oil filter adapter gasket all seemed to be for the V-6 not the V-8. At least that is what the Ford TSB on this issue described. Your links seem to indicate the V-8 has the same problem.

From my observation I did not see any oil leaking around the oil filter adapter but then again I wasn't looking at that hard in that area because I did not know about this type of problem. I'll have to take a close look. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope that is the problem. With my luck....probably NOT!

 

[HiImBrian]

If that's what it is then you lucked out. 2 hours, $12 for the gasket and A LOT of swearing and you can fix it yourself in your driveway. I replaced mine a few months back. It was a PITA but was much better than the $150 my mechanic wanted.

 

[SyberTiger]

If that's what it is then you lucked out. 2 hours, $12 for the gasket and A LOT of swearing and you can fix it yourself in your driveway. I replaced mine a few months back. It was a PITA but was much better than the $150 my mechanic wanted.

Curious to know what the symptoms were for you? Oil on the back of the oil pan?

 

[cross6]

Could be from the rear of the oil pan or rear main seal.

 

[balston]

oil leak normally is from ....

oil leak normally is from ....the aluminim cranck big cover gasket below the retainer of the crankshaft (that's the case of 4litres motors) is not easy to correct this so you have to remove the motor from the suv to repalace the gasket.......

 

[Exproblems]

4. I might be having my tranny rebuilt soon. Would this be a good time to fix the problem?

If the leak is coming from the rear main seal, yes. Need to remove the tranny to get at it and that would be a great time to have the seal replaced since "most" everything in the way will be removed for the tranny job. Kill 2 birds with one stone.