rear main replacement

[dashhho]

I have a constant leak somewhere. So far it seems like I am losing approx a quart every 2-3ish weeks. I have not got it into the garage to check where it is coming from but the drip is from around the oil pan drain plug. I am guessing it is the rear main at worst case.

Has anyone replaced the rear main themselves? I have never dropped the auto trans on these trucks so I am not sure if I want to tackle this myself. I may just pay a shop but just wanting some words of quizdome.

4.0L SOHC with the auto trans and 4x4 is what I am packing.

 

[franklin2]

Don't start contemplating the worst. It's usually not the rear main, but something else above or up front blowing back. Oil leaks can be very hard to find sometimes. Go buy a couple cans of brake cleaner and some rags, and clean the engine up as good as possible. Run it in the driveway, not down the road to avoid air blowing the oil around. Then get under there with a good flashlight and see if you have any new oil running down.

A bad oil leak will be very clean and shiny. A very slow oil leak will have dirt all over it and usually you do not have worry about those.

 

[mikkelstuff]

My 2002 4WD Ranger XLT 3.0L, inherited from my Dad, 110,000 miles leaked oil everywhere - valve covers and engine oil pan gasket. Maybe the 4.0L oil pan gasket is better but I doubt it. Sadly the transmission has to come out to remove the oil pan but at least it was easy to change out the rear main seal while the automatic transmission was out.