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Oil Leak?

Big T

Big T

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I was doing the battery post modification, this after doing close to 1,000 mile road trip this past weekend. Dropped a wrench and found the following oil leak on the driver's side (engine had been recently pressure washed to find source of a coolant leak):

DriversSideOilLeakI.jpg


DriversSideOilLeakII.jpg


Is this leak from the infamous oil cooler lines? If so, what are the recommendations?

Steve
 
Take off the skid plate and let the vehicle run after wiping everything down and see where its coming from.

Either Power Steering or oil cooler both right there.
 
Matt Bachand said:
Take off the skid plate and let the vehicle run after wiping everything down and see where its coming from.

Either Power Steering or oil cooler both right there.
Click to expand...

Thanks Matt. I was looking for diagnosis suggestions firts, parts second. I'll take a look during daylight tomorrow.

Steve
 
Well, a quick swipe of the finger revealed it to be amber liquid of relatively thin viscosity. I'm due for an oil change and the oil on the dip stick is black as usual.
 
It looks like the high pressure PS hose has a leak somewhere and is spraying all over the place, seen it on a few other trucks, messy, and hard to track down!
 
There's a small hole on the underside of the hydroboot unit right where it joins the master cylinder. Mine is leaking there, and it's not uncommon, MBN brakes sells a seal kit, I just haven't got 'round toit. DON'T over fill the PS pump; it leaks faster, IMO.
I literally have a rag tied around it, change it for a clean one for 3 weeks or so.
Great time to replace the PS rubber lines, too.
 
Alright, checked the power steering fluid and the level is fine, right at the cold level. Power steering pump and the lines going to the power steering unit show no signs of leakage:

IMG_0820.jpg


All the leakage looks like it's coming from a line that originates from the driver's side of the front differential and ends up plugged off and attached just below the driver's headlight (below my remote FSD mount):

IMG_0818.jpg


IMG_0820.jpg


Same hose at connection to differential:
IMG_0823.jpg


So the question is what is going on here? I did lose use of my 4wd actuator for the return portion of the trip, only to have it start working when I checked it upon turning down the street we live on. The 4wd lights were flickering but it clearly was in 4wd as I turned down my driveway. It did not work most of that day as I tested it on several dirt roads during the day.

Steve
 
that is very odd, as there is not (supposed to be) enough fluid in there for it to leak out that breather under any circumstances short of the truck being upside down. and its near impossible an oil that thick to get as much coverage outside the frame rail as you have... I would still look towards the power steering cooler behind the grill.
 
540s10 said:
that is very odd, as there is not (supposed to be) enough fluid in there for it to leak out that breather under any circumstances short of the truck being upside down. and its near impossible an oil that thick to get as much coverage outside the frame rail as you have... I would still look towards the power steering cooler behind the grill.
Click to expand...

I agree, odd.

I checked the differential and it was a couple pumps low on oil so I topped it up.

Where is this power steering cooler? Is this the cooler behind the grill on the driver's side end of the rad? I see two power steering lines going in that direction, one through the bottom of the sheet metal under the battery and below the headlight. Both those lines are soaked. I'll have to dismantle some sheet metal to get a closer look. I first need to get a filter to finish the engine oil change.

Steve
 
Last edited:
i seen that prob before, check the position of the plastic breather plug in the dr side differential,where the hose originates.
It has a baffle on the inside to keep the oil from splashing into the hose barb,if the plug came loose and is now turned up side down the baffle now acts like a trap and catches the oil,the rising press when the oil heats up will push the oil up and out the hose end.
 
That has to be it!

My wife is into Geocaching where you find hidden caches using a handheld GPS. It's like a treasure hunt. I oblige her in this activity on our road trips. I call her GCQ or Geocache Queen.

This geocaching has me frequently exiting the highway and going offroad. There was one instance where I forgot to pull it out of 4wd Hi after re-entering the highway. I discovered this oversight a couple miles later. Wouldn't be the first and won't be the last time this happens. The original post in the thread said the vent tube blows oil if he goes above 40 mph in 4wd. Well I was on the highway, so I know I exceeded that.

So I guess I need this plastic GM Part # 12479390. This on top of the new CDR, idler pulley, interior hood pull handle, etc. Never ends. Maybe once I get through all this stuff, I can finally get the Heath Cooling upgrade, then the ATT Turbo and Kojo Chip? Then I'll be styling.

Oh, the check engine light just came on in the Honda Accord. It says check the fuel tank cap, or take it in to the dealer as it's probably some emission equipment that failed at 52K miles. Just what I need as I'm in the middle of going through injectors on the boat diesel. Never ends.

Steve
 
My daughter has nicknamed my truck B.O.A.T. for Bust -Out-Another-Thousand! :icon_bs:

Forunately, for the most part, it's been upgrades.

Still, I'll be glad when she gets married and outa the house.

GeoCache sounds like a lot of fun. Hope you're able to solve the leak issue.

:cheers2:
 
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