name that part

[chicago96ranger]

I have a leak that I'm trying to pinpoint it's origins. I'm assuming it is oil. Is this the drain pan and drain plug? The substance is collecting at the drain plug and at first I thought it was the plug or gasket but could be something higher up as there is black gunk on the engine by the transmission dipstick, actually pretty wet gunky in that whole area

 

[doorgunner]

I think that I smell coolant, also!

 

[chicago96ranger]

I'm not low on coolant. It's a greasy oily substance. just had an oil change today to see if it would continue to leak and that didn't fix it. A couple weeks ago a trans shop changed the trans fluid and filter, wondering if they messed something up. But I couldn't verify because I wasdn't on top of this stuff or paying attention to the engine bay. It leaks when just sitting there.

 

[kcm1582]

I think that I smell coolant, also!

Looks watery, check your fluids and see if anything is low. Also reach under there and touch it, whats the consistency?

 

[chicago96ranger]

is that the oil pan and drain plug though? the consistency is like vegetable oil

 

[GoodOld85BlueBalls]

Thats just ranger blood or possibly it is blinker fluid!





But I would also check all your levels. Especialy the power steering fluid. That always looks prety light when it gets sprayed around the engine.

 

[chicago96ranger]

ok I will check all the fluid levels but could someone please tell me what the first picture is, is that the oil pan and oil drain plug?

 

[kcm1582]

Yes it is.

 

[chicago96ranger]

thank you!

 

[colby450xc]

Take it to the car wash and power wash as much of the engine as possible. Even the the bottom side, take a jack if you need to for getting under the motor. After that check it after running the truck and see where it is coming from. Other than that, I usually smell whatever fluid it is leaking, they all smell a bit different, or look different wiped on a sheet of white paper.

 

[Jason]

Take it to the car wash and power wash as much of the engine as possible. Even the the bottom side, take a jack if you need to for getting under the motor. After that check it after running the truck and see where it is coming from. Other than that, I usually smell whatever fluid it is leaking, they all smell a bit different, or look different wiped on a sheet of white paper.

Buy cheap dye from your auto parts store and a blacklight bulb. It makes this stuff easy as pie.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

First thing is replace the PCV valve and spray some goop on everything let it sit for a bit then blast it with the hose. Up top like that is the classic symptom of blowby and it just drips as it sits. Once you clean it good take the wiring connectors apart and clean them also with elect cleaner and use some dielectric grease to put them back together. The oil pan looks pretty bad but dont mean it is leaking, give the drain plug a tug and put a new seal/washer on the drain plug next oil change. Taste it if it is sweet antifreeze in in there also just dont swallow. It looks like oil to me. Change the PCV and breather filter if applicable.

 

[adsm08]

Looks almost like someone spilled some oil when they changed it.

And possibly a power steering leak since everything else has been sprayed.

 

[chicago96ranger]

Thanks for the advice!

Today I crawled under the truck (no jack stands) and pinpointed the leak! Sorry all you paper towels. It is oil coming out of a very small nail-head sized area of the oil pan. It looks almost slightly indented. What are my options besides replacing oil p[an. Drain oil, let it dry, degrease, sand down surface rust and apply some epoxy? Is it possible to do this without draining all the new oil? It's a constant drip so i imagine it needs to be oil free area.Just a general question. Do oil pans rust from the inside out? Do oil pans become porous as they get old. I'm just wondering if I fix this leak another will spring up.

As far as the mess in the engine, I will degrease and see better whats going on. Thanks to all

 

[chicago96ranger]

Looks almost like someone spilled some oil when they changed it.

And possibly a power steering leak since everything else has been sprayed.

yes there was a power steering leak at one point spraying everywhere and the pump or whatever was replaced. I wasn't around the truck at this time as I left the truck in the burbs with my mom as I lived in chicago for several years.