I don't know how old your fan is, the one on my L is going on 17. I took it off last year to try an electric fan. All I did was put a big crescent wrench on that large nut and whack it a few times in the proper direction with a big heavy rubber mallet, and it came loose fairly quickly. The sparky fan caught fire the first time it came on, and the controller smoked itself t oblivion. So back on went the clutch fan. Took it off again earlier this year to work on the lower pulley. Came off even easier than the first time. Now, just for the heck of it, I put a wrench on it every now-and-then, and whack it, just to keep it loose.
Oh, I see, 2004. Same year as my L.
My 98 3.0 Ranger has a very small drip at the rear passenger side, cause by the damn gasket being pushed out a little at the corner. Last oil change, I replaced one quart of oil with some Lucas Engine Oil Stop Leak. It worked, changed the leak from a softball size spot to a half dollar, or less. If I park it facing downhill, it doesn't leak at all. Doesn't leak when running. I've started keeping the oil level a half quart low, and it practically stops the leak all together.