I wuld not rule out diesel either. I know that if my fuel filter drain valve would start leaking the drippings would surely look like balck oil, since my 10 year old had ever been cleaned. But I think smell could rule that one in or out.
Terryallan wrote: Also Walmart is bad not to tighten things back up. I let them change my oil ONCE. when i got it home. It leaked from the oil filter. Never again.
this happened to me too
2000 f250 7.3 4x4 supercrew shortbed- k&n, hypertech programmer, stock exhaust minus baffles and muffler
equal-i-zer hitch
prodigy brake controler
2006 24z jayco octane- no mods, yet
Terryallan wrote: Also Walmart is bad not to tighten things back up. I let them change my oil ONCE. when i got it home. It leaked from the oil filter. Never again.
this happened to me too
OP here again...
They weren't able to get the cap off the differential (is that what it's called, in the rear?) either and no one's ever had a problem with that. I've only gone to Walmarts over the last two years so if a Walmart guy put it on, you'd think a Walmart guy could get it off.
It was leaking before I took it to them though.
The comment about backing up got me thinking. I stated at a private residence for 3 weeks when I first got to San Diego. I had to back up a steep drive into the spot. It was really hard on the truck, had to get a run at it. Didn't realize how much less "oomf" a truck had in reverse. I wonder if that had anything to do with it. But I don't think it was leaking there. It started out of the blue when I moved to the next place. It was parked on a slight incline, facing nose down a bit, in that space, and that's where it started.
I'll get under there with some paper towels and a flashlight and see if I can figure out where it's coming from today. I'll take a picture of it and post here as I don't know what anything is under there. My dad's coming to visit in two weeks and if it's just a question of tightening something, maybe he can do that. Or maybe even I can. Walmart didn't even try to find the source so maybe it is something simple.
Seems to me that if it was this seal thing, it would have started gradually. It really didn't. It's getting a little worse but it didn't start with a few drips a day. It started with six inch circles wherever it was parked, whenever it was left for even a few hours.
It's also worse when I'm doing a lot of jockying. Had a crazy driveway to get out of at that last place. Whenever it's pushed to do something hard, it drops a lot of oil pretty quickly (like a 10 inch circle over the course of ten minutes. I suppose it's hotter and the oil is thinner?
check and make sure your transmission hasn't been overfilled. Sounds like maybe hot trans fluid is being expelled from the vent. Might not be a bad idea to nstall a trans temp gauge to monitor this. Trans tempswill be hottest in stop and go tpe situations and backing trailer uphill, jockeying etc.
Have you noticed if the leak is producing red oil, ie, from the transmission?
My F250 will occasionally puke transmission oil when in reverse and in difficult backing situations. It is a known phenomenon with these transmissions, and unless overdone, it is usually self-correcting.
I have read that it occurs because of the temperatures and pressures created when the transmission is pushed hard in reverse, and the transmission seal is breached temporarily.
I've also seen it happen, but less frequently, in forward gears as well, when the transmission is pushed to the limit in low-speed maneuvering.
In my experience, it is relatively harmless unless taken to the extreme. However, I would make sure the transmission oil is changed according to manufacturers' recommended schedules.
The best way to diagnose an oil leak is to add dye to the oil that only shows up under a special light, drive the truck for a day or two, then retunr to the shop. The technician will then examine the underside of the truck with a special flashlight that makes the dye glow. This will make it easier to pinpoint the source of the leak. Unless it's blatently obvious where it is coming from, this is the best practice.
Even a slight oil leak gets oil everywhere when the vehicle travels down the highway due to the wind.
Krusty wrote: check and make sure your transmission hasn't been overfilled. Sounds like maybe hot trans fluid is being expelled from the vent. Might not be a bad idea to nstall a trans temp gauge to monitor this. Trans tempswill be hottest in stop and go tpe situations and backing trailer uphill, jockeying etc.
Mmmmm...yeah, it's not showing a line on the dipstick because it's all the way up and over the marked area. ? Seems it was worse a little? after I had the oil changed (and fluids topped off) at Walmart. Maybe that has something to do with it? It's definitely worse when jockeying and after I've been out driving and come home. Much worse when jockeying. That would be transmission then and not oil right? How do you tell the difference between transmission fluid and oil? Are they both next to impossible (trust me I know, I tried) to clean off of paving stones?
I do have an Edge chip with a tranny temp. It's on all the time.
* This post was
edited 10/10/09 05:52pm by cannesdo *
When looking from the front of the truck, the drip is almost dead center -- straight back from the center of the license plate if that means anything to anyone. I'm pretty sure it's oil, but no red that I've seen. Seems like it could be connected though, that hard backing up, followed by leaking for the first time ever. But no leaking for the three weeks I was there, after that hard back in, for some reason. I dunno. Have to get under there tonight and see where it's coming from.
* This post was
edited 10/10/09 05:54pm by cannesdo *
For what its worth .... About 3 years ago after a long hot drive, pulling a trailer, our 2001 Ford Diesel was leaking about a 1/2 dollar spot ever night. Toward the front of the engine almost dead center.
Took it to a Ford dealer and they tighten up some bolts, hasn't leaked since.
Another time had an oil filter that wasn't tight. That leak also started after a long hot drive.
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