Another rear main seal thread...

[Ngarover]

Help me Locate this leak!

I have a significant leak from the rear of the engine. Mostly if the truck is idling and seems to stop when truck is under power, but hard to tell. Does seem to go away/lessen after truck is hot. I replaced the valve cover gaskets last weekend, all but 3 bolts holding them down where so loose you could remove them by hand and the gaskets came out in multiple pieces... Did not however solve the leak.

So I'm guessing this is the rear main seal causing the issue.

This is on my 89 F350 7.3 Automatic. Is there an existing walk threw on how to replace this seal? I have done multiple searches and came up with various replies saying how to do it, but nothing with pictures etc... And yes, I have never done this before and have never even seen the back of the engine for that matter so a picture or 2 of the process would be a huge help.

I'm assuming I have to drop the transmission to do this job? If that's correct, is there a walk threw for that as well?

Thanks for any pointers.

 

[OLDBULL8]

Not a small job ahead of you. You have to drop the tranny, remove the torque converter, remove the flexplate/flywheel. If you get the rear seal with the installer you won't have to remove the plate that holds the seal. With a truck that old, you should buy the seal and wear ring as a set.

Pretty certain this will fit your 89, all 7.3 cranks are the same. It has the installer, which makes the job a lot easier.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/92-93-F250-...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item2ebbca3d9a

 

[Ngarover]

This leak pours down over the starter... is this normal for a rear main? seems like it would come out the bottom middle. I have a video of it here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_a3R-uJ3Qg

 

[OLDBULL8]

That is NOT the rear seal leaking. If the seal is leaking, oil will only come out the dust cover drain, the dust cover is the cover that covers the flexplate between the engine and transmission.

 

[icanfixall]

Thats not a rear main seal leak. The source is from the intake valley pan drain. Way back behind the intake air horn the valley pan has a drain hole that allows any fluids that get into the pan under the intake manifold to leak out and drip down on the starter. Thats the only direction the fluid flow can go. It can't run down the drivers side of the block because of a designflaw made into the rear of the engine. So I would be looking at any wet injector or maybe the injection pump advance plunger on the drivers side has a seal leak.

 

[Ngarover]

Thats not a rear main seal leak. The source is from the intake valley pan drain. Way back behind the intake air horn the valley pan has a drain hole that allows any fluids that get into the pan under the intake manifold to leak out and drip down on the starter. Thats the only direction the fluid flow can go. It can't run down the drivers side of the block because of a designflaw made into the rear of the engine. So I would be looking at any wet injector or maybe the injection pump advance plunger on the drivers side has a seal leak.

The problem I'm having seems odd, I have had others say something about the drain hole, valley pan, but its dry. Look at this video of it with the air cleaner off. All the injectors are dry, the pan itself is dry. The only thing I see with oil on it in that area of the engine is the part to the left (passenger) of the glow plug relay... But don't know what that is or if it could be the issue or just covered on oil from something else.

Unless I'm looking at the wrong area entirely. Anyone got a picture of the location of the weep hole, or a picture of the pump advance plunger and I'll go look again...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdOkm3fFm64

 

[Agnem]

If the rear seal is leaking, you should get oil running out of your inspection cover under the clutch or torque converter.

 

[Fordsandguns]

That switch is the oil sending unit. It could be leaking down the back of the engine. The rear of the valley pan is sealed with silicone and has a small area to seal to and could be the source also. Or like my spare engine it could be the rear passenger head gasket leaking.
If you get a bright flashlight and get back toward the rear of the trans you can look up and see the back of the passenger head to block seam. That's how I saw where mine was leaking. Mine had a 5 speed though so I don't know if the auto will be in the way or not. But it's worth a look.

 

[icanfixall]

That is the oil pressure switch. Its a $5.00 part but get the special socket to install it. Makes the job much easier. Run the engine and look at that switch again for leaks. The area looks wet enough for that to be the leak. Might just be the pipe fitting is loose under that switch too. But please run the engine and look again at the switch.

 

[Ngarover]

We may have a winner! I took a closer look at that oil pressure sender, took off the plastic top cap and it was full of oil. ran down and got a new one and put it on, so far not a drop under the truck. Will have to wait till it's cold again tomorrow to make sure as this seems to be when I have the main issue. Figures crossed.