Oil Pan Leak??

[harriw]

Hey folks,

Just got a '94 4x4 ext. cab w/ 4.0 and 5spd. about a month ago. Was underneath to replace the fuel filter tonight, and noticed the oil pan was a mess. Looked like oil, but it felt a little bit too thin, and didn't really smell like hot oil does... Oil pressure is normal (per instrument cluster at least), and dipstick shows it's at the high mark (dealer did an oil change 1000 miles ago when I bought it).

Anything else that could be leaking in that general vicinity? Looks like the clutch fluid is where it should be on the reservoir. If it is the oil pan, how bad is it to drop the 4.0 oil pan on a 4x4 and replace the gasket? Can you maneuver it all around the front suspension, or do you have to drop axles and such? Maybe if I jack it up and support from the frame the suspension would sag enough?

It's fairly mess up at least the passenger side too, by the oil filter (though it doesn't look to be coming from the filter). I don't think it's a head gasket, because I had the dealer (my brother-in-law's dealership) run a compression test before I bought it, and it was fine, but maybe a valve cover?

Anyone seen something like this before? I'd appreciate any suggestions on things to look at/for.

Thanks a lot.

-Bill

 

[JoeCanada]

If it is the oil pan, how bad is it to drop the 4.0 oil pan on a 4x4 and replace the gasket?

Only way to do it on a 4x4 is to pull the engine. It would probably be just as much, if not more work trying to do it with the engine in the truck.

 

[calypso93]

I would do a dye test before going after anything. This should help in narrowing the vicinity of the leak. Oil has a tendency to migrate. Mine had a slick on the bottom that was from a worn out rear main seal.

 

[harriw]

That might be it... "Slick on the bottom" is exactly how I'd describe it. The front end of the tranny is pretty messy too... How bad is the rear main to replace? That means pulling the tranny I imagine, huh...? I'm still not convinced it's oil though - it's awfully thin, and doesn't smell like oil... Definitely the right color though. I'll definitely have the dealer take a look and run a dye test before doing anything. Just wondering what I might be going up against (or paying for the dealer to do) next.

Thanks guys.

-Bill

 

[calypso93]

You could also take a clean piece of paper towel, let some of the unknown soak into it and go from there. We call it the "Chicago test", after someone's Hazmat unit field work.

 

[HRTKD]

I have the same oil slick on the bottom of the oil pan. When I was under there replacing the starter I tightened the oil pan bolts. I doubt it's going to solve the problem because I think it's leaking from the rear main but I figure it was worth a try.