oil leak help

kenz · 10-02-2007, 12:49 PM

Hey
Just wondering if anyone has any ideas as to my oil leak cause I dont really and Dad is at work so Im on my lonesome haha. I degreased the area yesterday and jacked it up today and got it to leak out again, any ideas? It seems to be around the top front drivers side of the sump...
Thanks
Luke

kenz · 10-02-2007, 01:40 PM

Ive been doing some searching and have some ideas. The oil leak only began after the last oil change 5k ago. This was the first oild change I did myself as my factory extended warranty ran out so I just did it myself. Ford used Valvoline Problend oil in it and I have never seen this at any shop so Im not sure what the thicknesses are. I put in Castrol GTX GAS which is 15W-40. Maybe the running thickness is thinner than the old oil Ford used hence causing the leak?

4dlvr · 10-02-2007, 02:21 PM

i used the same oil and never got any problems, tightn the bolts, it looks like its dripping out of them

kenz · 10-02-2007, 02:27 PM

Yeah I tried all the bolts in the area and they were already tight as

Tech Trainer · 10-02-2007, 02:49 PM

Luke,

Can you see the leak from "up top" in the engine bay?

At the moment you really need to do a real good clean up (top and bottom) and take your car for a small run (10 to 15km) as it looks like a fair heavy duty leak. Then have another look. You might even be able to see the leak with the engine just idling in your driveway.

In the general area you have the leak there are a number of gaskets and seals that can produce a leak.

If you need any help just give me a call.

Nigel.

**Mechan1k** · 10-02-2007, 03:09 PM

Ken ... I had an oil leak in the same spot ... it comes down the front drivers side of the engine from the top .. it actualy leaks from the chain tensioner (behind the power steering bracket). Well ... that's what I'd put my money on anyway.

Stav was the only one who diagnosed the issue for me.

I thought it was a sump gasket gone ... but it was theh cam chain tensioner tha was the culprit ... need a specialised tool to remove it as well ... best to get a new tensioner as it is spring-loaded and twists in place.

Apparently a common thing to go as well.

What made it difficult to diagnose was that the oil was hitting the pulleys and sprayng it everywhere ... I actually had the harmonic balancer seal replaced thinking it was that ... but I was wrong.

The oil seemed to accumulate around the sump area right behind the alternator on the front corner of the engine.

As mentioned .. clean the engine bay up ... and take it for a quick drive and then check behind the power steering bracket if you can .... it can be a pain to see ... need plenty of lights as the bracket pretty much covers the tensioner.

PS bracket needs to be reoved to get to the tensioner anyway.