How bad is this?

[Gse Brent]

It looks like i got an oil leak coming from where the trans meets the back of the block. I thought it might have been the oil pan or oil pan gasket but its not that. I'll most likely be taking this to a shop, either way i'm guessing i should just have the transmission rebuilt and the fluid changed. Any thoughts?

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Rear main seal on your engine, check the valve cover gaskets.

 

[XLT99]

Could be the rear main seal around the crank, or maybe even the back of the intake. On one of my trucks i had a bad rear main and switched to a thicker weight oil and ot didnt leak as much lol just a cheap temp fix
You mentioned rebuilding the trans, is the trans shot or are you just thinkin that cause of the fluid all over?

 

[Gse Brent]

Could be the rear main seal around the crank, or maybe even the back of the intake. On one of my trucks i had a bad rear main and switched to a thicker weight oil and ot didnt leak as much lol just a cheap temp fix
You mentioned rebuilding the trans, is the trans shot or are you just thinkin that cause of the fluid all over?

No the trans is fine, minor slipage on shifting. From what i know the trans fluid has never been changed and it has 128k on it. I was just thinking that since all that oil is leaking back there.

 

[Gse Brent]

Rear main seal on your engine, check the valve cover gaskets.

How hard is the rear main seal to change?

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Not sure on this engine, every motor is different. I haven't done one on these motors, done plenty on older v8's.

 

[XLT99]

Oh ok i thought you wanted to get the trans actually rebuilt cause of the fluid. Yeah a fluid change and new filter wouldnt hurt. And as far as the rear main goes... Thatll require droppin the trans and then possibly lifting the engine a bit to get clearance, or pullin the motor. Hence why i just used thicker weight oil that was some cheapo brand, it was gonna end up on the ground anyway lol and it was easier

 

[XLT99]

If you have the OHC motor it might be more difficult cause theres a set of timing chains thats in the back of the motor, but iv never had to do a main on one of these

 

[Markaprice73]

My ST has a engine oil drip or two in the exact place as yours. Well, not even a drip really. No spots in the driveway. Also, have seen a few drips on the bottom of the oil filter as well this past oil change. Though I just tightened it today. I will check how it is tomorrow. I started to notice this engine oil drip around the same mileage as yours. I have just lived with it the past year. I know its engine oil. As I just changed it and cleaned that area. The next day I saw fresh clean engine oil in that spot. Anyway, I thought for sure it was that steel gasket looking thing in between the motor and trans. Looked like a crazy big job to just cure a few drips of oil. Not even enough to show any lose in between oil changes. But, I recently looked with a flashlight in the engine bay and I can see quite a bit of old oil build up in between the RH and LH valve cover gaskets. Very difficult to see in there. So, I think this has been going on for some time. So, my plan is to switch to Conventional Mobil next change and see if that helps. I normally use Mobil 1 SYN and this last time was Mobil 1 High Mileage. I may try High Mileage one more time though. Anyway, I looked at the process to change the gaskets and this also looks pretty evolved. I haven't researched the rear main seal yet. I will change the gaskets if it gets any worse. Let us know what ya find. I will try and snap some pics tomorrow after work and post them up. Maybe it can help us both out. As mine is much cleaner in that area than yours and you can see exactly where my drip(s) is collecting.
Also, when I take a pocket screwdriver and pry gently on that steel gasket. It looks like it is coming from that. But, judging by the way the filth all over the valve gaskets, I am guessing this is my issue. I think it travels down to that point under the ST.

 

[Markaprice73]

actually your pics are VERY good! Mine will probably not come out as nice a I will be using my Crapberry phone. I don't mean anything by "mine is much cleaner". I just meant maybe it will help us on figuring this out as your leak looks like it has be going on for a bit longer. I have lived in Texas for the last 5 1/2 yrs so its a little cleaner under the St. East Coast before that though. Actually, I dont know where you live. If you want swing by and we can do the trans pan drop together. I'm doing mine again in the next few weeks. As soon as Oreilys restocks the Motorcraft MerconV

 

[Markaprice73]

side note..there are some great vids from 1AAUTO on youtube for our trucks on dropping the trans pan and also one for changing the valve body gaskets that cause certain trans slips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc1ZNXj8BgQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilYmZpgfXa8
IIRC this is an issue on th 01 st's. I believe my 03 came with updated valve body gaskets.
someone correct me If I am mistaken

 

[swshawaii]

Mark- Any remote chance of these leaks being the oil filter adapter o-ring?
Apparently it's fairly common on all engines. There's even a TSB for your ST.

http://www.revbase.com/BBBMotor/TSb/DownloadPdf?id=126048

(6L621) Gasket
http://www.worldpartsinfo.com/Ford/...1/31/2000To:+06/30/2005;+4.0L+V6+12V+SOHC+EFI
http://www.fordpartsgiant.com/partl...lorer-sport-trac-1587986-1954744-1595624.html

 

[Markaprice73]

Whoa. Never thought of that or seen that tsb. Excellent Research, Steve. Very well could be the case. I will just have to keep an eye on the drip from the filter. I have noticed the drip collecting from where Brent's is for quite some time. But, never noticed the drip from the filter until recently. I reached up there before and couldn't tell. I always inspect and wipe the round metal plate where the filter goes on before installing new one. I had no idea there was a gasket behind all that. I thought that maybe this last oil change I got a little fresh oil on the lip of the filter before installing and that was what is dripping. I always fill the oil filter up a little and wipe some on the gasket and threads. But, I've wiped the bottom twice now in the last week and gave it a little extra twist today. We'll see. Thanks! I think you're on to something here.

 

[Markaprice73]

If it ever drips on to the driveway. This seems the route I will take first. $67.23 for oil filler adapter $5.79 for gasket $1.18 for bolt seal/gasket. Not terrible. ANYTHING sounds better than rear main oil seal/ladder frame gasket/valve cover gaskets. ...though I just got the Official Ford 2003 Sport Trac Workshop Manual a few weeks ago. Been reading that sucker like it was The Bible. Family thinks I'm crazy. Not hoping for any major work. But, I'll be ready Thanks again

 

[Markaprice73]

idk why some are smaller. i suck at posting pics

 

[Markaprice73]

Looks to me we have the same isssue. I'm still not fully sure where this is originating. No oil dripping off filter today. But, a bit of oil by the oil adapter though. It may be the oil filter ADAPTER o ring. I cant see any visible oil on the side of the trans running down to the bottom where its collecting. It very well could be running down that ladder gasket thingy. So, I could try to crank on the bolt a bit. maybe its loose? I'm not sure I could get a wrench on it though. Looks as though you HAVE to remove the exhaust manifold. not sure. I will give it a shot. The exhaust is rusted up though. I read some may have gotten away with just replacing the o ring. But, if I were to do the TSB. I would get the oil filter adapter as well. I will keep my eyes on it and feel around a bit more. It was very hot under there when I took the pics. I'll clean up the area and keep checking.

 

[Gse Brent]

I'm gonna check out the small stuff first like the oil filter o-ring and at least look at the valve cover gaskets. I'm hoping it's nothing as bad as major motor work like the rear main seal, oil pan/gasket, or the transmission itself. I'll try and take some more pics. Its just where it's leaking from I cant see it being the oil filter o-ring but I hope I'm wrong. I cleaned all that stuff up as best as possible, waited a couple days and checked again. The leak is very minor like very few drips but definitely noticeable on the ground. When I rechecked it there was oil on the frame, trans pan, exhaust heat shields and the oil filter but it looks like the drips are coming from where the trans meets the block. Hope I'm wrong. However I don't understand how it's spread so vast like on the oil filter and on the trans pan, that's a good bit of distance ya know.

 

[Gse Brent]

Go through photo bucket to post up pics, just download the app on blackberry app world. I just had one now I switched to the samsung gs3 love it. But you can upload all your pics from your blackberry to photo bucket.

 

[Markaprice73]

ah thanks. I emailed them from my bb to my gmail. Then saved to my laptop. Then uploaded to photobucket. I just dont know why the first one came out sized nice and the rest came up smaller. Did they show up on the thread at all? I can see them. I'll try the bb app next. Thanks
Ya, idk man. Oil drips can end up all over the place. Driving around I presume. Maybe you/we could try that uv dye stuff? and let it run standing still for 20min and then check. I have no experience with that stuff though. I sure its safe to try. Anyone have experience with it? I guess you need a blacklight bulb?
..Its just so damn tight behind our engine bays! I'm still wondering if mine is coming from up top behind the engine.(valve cover gaskets maybe) All my fuel injectors are covered in black goo and in those areas.

Edit: I see you can get the dye/yellow glasses/uv flashlight fairily cheap at an auto parts store. Question: can I just get the dye and use my own led flashlight without glasses? I'm sure the glasses and "special" flashlight can help intensify the glow. But, I'm thinking in a dark garage I would be able to see a leak just fine. ????????

 

[john93rangerstx]

keep my truck from rotting out that the way I look at it