97 Ford Ranger 3.0 Seal Question

[Tractor Dan]

Ok. Took a gander under the truck today just to see how everything looked before it gets much colder. Everything looked good except for a seal i noticed. I believe it to be the front seal on the crankshaft i'm not sure though. Can anyone tell me for sure and if so tell me what i'm looking at to fix it? It probably will go to my mechanic. I have no where to work on it right now. Also if the engine has to be pulled would it be best to have a gasket job done on the whole engine?

Here are some pictures for yall to look at.

 

[rtg143]

Try loosening the pan bolts and press it back in, then retighten the pan. Check the PCV to make sure you're not building up crankcase pressure.

 

[adsm08]

That is not the front crank seal. That is the oil pan gasket. RTG is correct, you need to check the PCV operation to see if you are building crankcase pressure. That would be the most likely cause of the gasket pushing out like that.

 

[Tractor Dan]

Thanks guys. I happen to go to town and my mechanic said the same thing yall said. I figured i wouldn't get in there till next week. So anyways i'll give that a try on the pcv and pushing it back in. On the pcv how do you test that? I have heard either pull it and shake it or pull it and drive without it to see if the oil leak slows or stops?

Also my mechanic quoted me $375 for labor if he would replace the pan gasket. He priced it since it has around 150,000 miles on it. He said he could get it down between $300 or $350 probably. Does that labor sound about right? It's what their conmputer quoted and from what i have read sounds about right.

 

[adsm08]

$400 is a lot less than I would end up charging for that job.

Best test of the PCV, pop it out and put the clean end in your mouth. Try to breath through it, you should only be able to move air one way. In your case, it is probably blocked up and won't move either way.

 

[Tractor Dan]

Ok. Thanks. I'll take a look at it tomorrow. Thinking about it i know it has been atleast a year since i replaced it if not spring of 2010 so i'm tempted to just buy one for $3 and give it a go. I figure for a part that cheap it can't hurt. I forgot to replace it in september when i replaced the valve cover gaskets.

 

[Tractor Dan]

Well believe it's a bad PCV. I bought one tonight gonna try and get it in sunday and fix the gasket. I figure even if it ain't the PCV, for the $3 and 20 minutes it takes to change that and fix the gasket might as well do it. That and i might be having surgery soon so wanna make sure she is in good shape incase my parents need her. Thanks for the help yall.