Photo Diagnosis please...

[Tim K]

Ok, in my seach for lost coolant I poked around under my truck. Here is what I found. I am not a mechanic and don't even know what some of these things are. All I know is liquids shouldn't be coming out of them! The first picture is of the Crankshaft. (according to the diagram of the serpentine belt at least) As you can see in the two images, there appears to be some type of seepage where the shaft meets the casing (pic 1) and ALSO where the casing is bolted together (pic 2).

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Then I noticed a little rainbow puddle under the truck so I moved further back where I found this leakage. Pic 3 is of "I don't know what". This object is located next to the front "pumpkin". You can see the drive shaft in the background. And it is in front of where the exhaust crosses beneath the truck (you can see the heat shield to the left in the last pic). Also, I noticed (not pictured) that oil is also seeping out of the edges of the oil pan and dripping off the bottom. The drips are also "blowing up" onto the support beam that crosses the frame behind the oil pan.

What are these things and why are they leaking?

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[leebo]

I'm not too sure on the top one...but the bottom one looks like the oil pan. You can see the drain plug on photo 3, and the leaks right by the gasket. Thats' where the problem is on that one.

What color are the fluids that are leaking out???

 

[kps36]

judging from I have experienced on my Chevy POS10. Looks like the seals are blown, actually both front and rear (definitly the rear). Hey don't feel bad they replaced my rear seal on the aforementioned POS-10 at ...ready...1.5K miles, yes, 1,500 miles, along with a clutch master, fuel pump.
Check your oil level frequently, like every morning. The pics sure look like oil to me.

 

[Paul Gagnon]

Photo Diagnosis

Your camera was not focussed very well.

LMAO... Sorry I just couldn't help it.

 

[sink]

Nice Pics. Someday, Ford will figure out how to make 6 cyl. main engine seals that last more than a few K. They haven't figured it between 94 and 97 , I guess. If you're looking for antifreeze, Do the taste test. Yep- stick your finger in the puddle and taste it-dont drink it. I do it all the time. I never missed whether it was coolant or not. Coolant is sweet. Oil is oily. Brake and steering fluid is nasty! Up front you have an oil pan gasket leak and also some front main seal leakage. I would snug up all your pan bolts envenly and lightly. Out back, I think your rear main is leaking into the space between eng & trans. No Surprise! If it were mine, I'd forget about these seal oil leaks. A few drops get blown around and go everywhere. Just watch your oil level (I dont expect these leaks would make a difference in 3000 miles). About your coolant disappearing- I'd try and resolve that one.


[Edited by sink on 02-08-2001 at 09:37 AM]

 

[Goober]

I have about the same types of leaks in mine(oil), but until something really goes, I'm not gonna tear my motor apart. I use about 3 quart between mt 5000 mile oil change. I asked a good mech about it once. He told me he was pretty sure it was the camshaft seals. Seems they get hard and don't seal the oil inside the cam housing (something like that)anymore and you get some seepage. There supposed to be an additive that softens the seals and lets it conform to the size again, but I forgot what he called it. I'll try and find out.

 

[sink]

Goober, I'd also love to know what the additive is, if you can. My 94 is pretty tight except the rear main. I keep cardboard on the garage floor for it. It would be great to stop it without pulling the enigne, or at least the pan and crank.

 

[Scott B.]

My '93 has had seepage since about '95. Oil out the rear (cam or main) - never enough to see on the dipstick. Actually, it almost never drips on the floor either. The front tranny (auto) seal leaks, too. Again, never enough to show up on the dipstick.

A friend of mine used to work at Ford - he says the 4.0 always leaks.

Just keep an eye on the fluid levels.

 

[Tim K]

All of the leaks seem to be the same color. Brown. In fact, it is the same color and consistancy as the oil when I pull the dipstick. Thus I assume it is oil. The pan leak I assume is just a seal and I am not too concerned. The leak in the front and rear are also very slow. Not more than a few drops here and there. I am more concerned with the coolant. I have searched high and low for the leak with no luck. Nothing cold, nothing running, nothing off but hot. No drips, puddles, smoke, nothing. Just a slight odor of coolant coming from the engine itself. I can only fear the worst....cracked head. I am seriously considering getting rid of "it" before it gets costly.

 

[Paul Gagnon]

It could be your heater core leaking. With the amount of sound deadener and other stuff under the carpet it could leak for quite some time before you notice it. Do you have a sticky film on the inside of your windshield?

 

[go off road]

Look at you exhaust manifold on the right side if it has a white stain then its your coolant control valve, hope this helps you.
Wade

 

[Tim K]

I'm not sure what or where the exhaust manifold is...but I don't recall seeing any stains. I'll look again tomorrow if someone can give me an idea of where to look.

No sticky window film either.

In fact, I have NO symptoms. I am just missing coolant. No odd exhaust, no coolant in the oil, no dripping, no puddles, no smoking, no perfomance issues at all.

Just plenty of frustration and a side order of concern.

 

[Ray Hutchinson]

Leaks

Tim,

Based on the pictures , I really wish my engine was that leak free! As some others have stated, 4.0 motors "seep" around the major seals. It's pretty normal. As for a cracked head.. not too likely, and unless your oil level goes up on the dipstick, no coolant is getting into the oil... a sure symptom of cracked head or blown head gasket.

As for the missing coolant... it could easily be a loose hose clamp or pinhiole in a radiator or heater hose. Often these will loosen and seep when the engine is warm and the pressure is up. the leak is so minor that as soon as the engine is off, the leak stops.

 

[mdrut]

Front seal leaking, yes not bad enough to worry about..But that leak in the rear, Could the drivers side valve cover be leaking and running down the block..Doesn't look like the pan is leaking..That would be my guess.Usually if a pan leaks, it runs down the sides, not to the back and then down..Something to remember with bad front seal, don't over fill it with oil, not even 1/2 a qt..It will make the leak worse..

 

[mdrut]

Just encase you don't know, the valve cover is about the size of a loaf of french bread, theres two of them, one on each side of the motor and they are on the top..

 

[IgotTwo]

I'm hopelessly visually oriented so I thought using pics was great!
We need a web cam next time someone pulls a tranny or pops a rear end.
Can you imagine everyone giving instructions (hopefully no confliciting) in real time?

I love America... I'm never going back!

 

[mdrut]

Hay, I looked at that top, 1st picture again..The oil sending unit is leaking..Finger sticking out from block with wire going to it..

 

[IgotTwo]

I think that I'm hearing you are loosing a fair amount of coolant but it's not coming out externally and a blown gasket may be the culprit?
Ever try the dipstick test? (I know.. it does sound dirty)

Pull out the oil dipstick and let a few drop of oil hit the hot exhaust mainfold.

If it "smoke away cleanly" there should only be oil in there
If it "smokes and bubbles"(like in a little fizzing before it completely burns off) it means you have coolant or other H2O nasties mixed in with the oil.
Never tried with snyth.

See my last post
Streaming video to follow (just kidding)
good luck

 

[Tim K]

Well, I do HAVE a webcam, so its not out of the question to stream live video...I would just need to buy a REALLY long phone cord to get the internet to a laptop in the truck...but that aside....I thought posting pics was the best way to get a diagnosis as I don't know what most of this stuff is called or what it does. Rather than explain it, I figured I'd just show you. Thanks for all your tips...keep 'em coming.

I have not tried the dipstick test, but I will tomorrow. As far as the leaks...there seems to be seepage everywhere. I didn't snap any pics of another bad leak..I have no idea what it is, but it is leaking all the way around. I will snap a couple more tomorrow.

As far as the valve covers go...nothing in the engine compartment seems out of the ordinary. The only leaks I can find are from below. Nothing visible from above. I tried to check the plugs for coolant but I'll be damned if I can get my hands in there....

Every day I think more and more about trading it in for a new 2001. (ahhh)

[Edited by Tim K on 02-08-2001 at 10:07 PM]

 

[shooter_1000]

On mine, I found my missing antifreeze weeping out of the timing chain cover. If you look, the water pump is bolted to the timing chain cover and the water passes through 2 water galleries. On mine, the gasket was crawling out on the drivers side right where the water gallery is.

If my symptoms were the same, the smell of antifreeze, no puddles, no obvious leaks anywhere.

The cover is designed in such a way, that if that gasket decides to leak, there is a groove on the sealing face to force the antifreeze to the outside of the block and not let it leak into the crankcase.

The fix, a new gasket and glue it to the cover, and at the same time you can put in a new front crank seal. The job took about 4 hours. I pulled the rad for room to work and did everything else without removing trhe oil pan or lifting the engine in any way. There are 4 bolts that go through the oil pan in the front from underneath that go into the timing chain cover. Remember to remove these. When re-assembling, some RTV silicone sealant is needed around the front of the pan gasket, just don't use too much, you wouldn't want any chunks of silicone breaking off and plugging the pickup for your oil pump.

Oh yeah, I just remembered, be careful when pulling the timing chain cover off, don't pull to hard or fast. Do it slowly and angle it forward, so you don't rip the oil pan gasket.....for if you do, then you will have to pull the pan to put in a new gasket there as well.
I hope this helps out

[Edited by shooter_1000 on 02-08-2001 at 11:12 PM]