Need help/tips/advice on oil leak

[--weezl--]

it doesn't sound like a gasket, especially being it just randomly went from no leak to massive... that sounds like mechanical damage to something, or a line melting or something... not sure what's on the drivers side though...

best bet, shampoo the engine, let it dry (without starting it) then get underneath (with it on a hoist, or you in a pit) and start it, watch for the leak to start

 

[Airmaster]

Yeah I didnt have time to degrease it after work today but I will definitely do so tomorrow. Then I'll start it up and wait. I don't have a pit nor do I have a hoist so under the truck I'll be lol...

I may check the oil filter for that but again I can't understand why the leak would gradually get worse if it was the filter being the problem. I'm not going to rule it out by any means, sometimes crazy things happen.

Another update to come tomorrow, thanks again guys.

 

[--weezl--]

get it up as high as possible, via jackstands, or ramps or something then, so you're not nose to oilpan, with a hot, running engine

 

[Airmaster]

Sounds like a very good tip, may take till friday to be able to use some jackstands, but I think I'll wait for em... gets pretty hot next to that pre cat pretty quick.

 

[--weezl--]

with all the burning hot exhaust, and moving parts, i would even say it would be worth it to pay for a lift for an hour... we've got a couple you wrench places here, you pull up, drive in, and they charge by the hour, there's a base charge of like 10$ per hour, which includes shop space, and hand tools, then there's a lift fee, if you want to use a lift, which is like $4 an hour, then power and air tools are per tool i believe...

for $14, i would see if there is one near you...

 

[Buddy53]

I'm also very interested in this because I've got a 96 3.0 that's just developed the same thing. I've looked and looked but can't find the origin. The best I can figure is just above where the starter is mounted. I just noticed mine and now it can drop a quart in 15 minutes of idling. It gets worse the longer it runs. And there appears to be some small air bubbles in the oil as it drips down the front of the transmission.

 

[--weezl--]

rear main seal

 

[Buddy53]

It was indeed a rear main seal. $442 and back on the road!

 

[gi728]

If you have a torque wrench handy I would look up the torque specs for your pan and give the bolts-nuts a once over. I know my 2.9 gets torqued to 4-7 inch pounds. Just an idea. Other wise, pull the tranny, repalce slave cyclinder, clutch, throw out baring, and check your rear main. I would pretty much move everything out of my way till i found it. IMO, I pulled my motor out to replace freeze plugs, glad I did, LEARNED ALOT, you can look the pictures up here, http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92663