oil spraying onto back windshield

[navynmr]

i have a 2001 explorer sport. Yesterday i noticed my back windshield was covered with oil. I thought someone threw engine oil on my car. Got it washed.

Today I noticed there was some oil looked like engine oil not trans just did a trans oil change a while back so should be red. Oil on my spare tire at the bottom and a bar behind the rear diff. I thought it was nothing drove back from work 40 miles at 80 mph. Noticed my whole back windshield oily the bumper too my back wipers.

I made an appointment at the work shop tomorrow which is 40 miles away near work. Do you think my car will make it there safely? What do you think could be wrong, thank you. What could happen on the way to work tomorrow? thanks

 

[NHale623]

Did you check the oil level in your engine? Are you sure it's motor oil and not from the rear differential?

 

[navynmr]

i didnt check the engine oil, but I took a look at that engine oil level or pressure meter in the dash and it looks fine. How do I know if its gear or engine oil.

Ive never seen gear oil. The oil was thin, i assume gear oil is really thick?

 

[NHale623]

That oil pressure gauge in your instrument panel is not a gauge. The sensor is a switch, it is on or off. The "gauge" will not show what the pressure is, only if there is pressure or not.

Check the oil level in your engine.

 

[Turdle]

Check the level of your brake fluid also.

 

[JohnJ]

Any fluid leaking under the vehicle can be lifted to the back windshield so you really need to check all of your fluids. Experience has shown that tranny fluid is the most common followed (not very closely) by real axle lubricant and very distantly by coolant.

One way or another just check fluids until you find something noticeably low before you drive it again.

 

[trevell407]

Could some kind of oil gotten in your rear windshield fluid reservior ??

 

[JohnJ]

Could some kind of oil gotten in your rear windshield fluid reservior ??

Somebody owes me a beer for that simulpost.

 

[navynmr]

thanks thats great advice, ill check all fluids tomorrow. But theres no way to check the axle fluid without opening then plug right. I just hope its the axle fluid, shouldn't be too bad then.

and good one with the fluid in the rear windshield reservoir i actually thought of looking in there for a moment

 

[JohnJ]

Well, yeah you'd have to open the plug, but nothing should run out unless it's overfilled. If you wear gloves you can avoid the possibility of instantly becoming stinky.

 

[Texan01]

Mine had that happen, it was engine oil and Gyp Boys did the oil change on it right before I noticed it. Wound up being not only a loose filter, but the wrong one even! swapped the Brand Z special, (looked like it fit a Civic but managed to screw on and barely seal against the housing) for a gennie FL-1 and problem solved.

 

[skoal_mint]

No, you dont want it to be your diff fluid.. if it leaked that much you have bigger troubles then cleaning oil off your window.

Iv seen lots of people ask me "iv got little drips in my driveway", and I look under neath and the pnion bearing exploded or cracked the housing...wont need rust protection for awhile, lol

 

[BrooklynBay]

This once happened to me on the highway. My front transmission seal blew out on the highway, and transmission fluid got all over the rear windshield.

 

[Laserbait]

thanks thats great advice, ill check all fluids tomorrow. But theres no way to check the axle fluid without opening then plug right. I just hope its the axle fluid, shouldn't be too bad then.

and good one with the fluid in the rear windshield reservoir i actually thought of looking in there for a moment

My rear axle seal went Tango Uniform a couple of weeks ago - dumped all of it's fluid on the ground and my rear window/liftgate. The bearings went to hell in the process. $1000 later and its a happy camper now...