Bad Turbo?

[65sixbanger]

Ok I am wondering if anybodys turbo seals have ever gone out. I still have a slow leak that drips down by the starter and am getting frustrated trying to find it. The grommet in the vallet pan is brand new.

If i cant get it in a few days I am going to, for the first time ever, take my truck to a friend (mechanic) because its sickening.

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

Are you absolutely certain that the drain fitting from the bottom of the CHRA is sealed? Are you also certain that the grommet is sealing properly? Those things can be a REAL PITA!

 

[flatlander]

I don't think that seals will cause a visible leak. If it's leaking oil internally, it should either go out the exhaust of get sucked into the intake and burned.

You could have a leak at the base of the turbo where the drain back tube bolts on.

 

[65sixbanger]

well I have put differnet gaskets on that plate that polts on and that leak leak is still there. This last time I tries it I couldn't even remove the drain because it was sealed so tight. I will check agin but I really doubt it.

But what I dont understand is that if either of those two leaked it would just fill the valley up with oil, I dont see how it runs down the backside of the bell housing.

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

That plug that goes through the middle of the valley pan, just back from the VP grommet, the 3/8 lug in it actually is a hole straight though and it drains onto the top of the bell housing flange and from there it almost always drains onto the starter, then the starter gets filled full of oil and guess what, its time for a new starter in no time.

 

[65sixbanger]

woah wait a minute now we are getting somewhere. So what youre saying is that oil could be getting in that plug?

I asked someone about that a while back and they said it goes in the valley. this is knida nice to know.

And I have been crossing my fingers about that starter cause its been getting oil on it, although I do crawl under there and wipe everything off everyday.

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

Thats a PITA to crawl under there all the time to clean it off.

About that plug, yes, the threaded plug that screws into the middle of the back of the valley pan is hollow. It allows the valley pan to drain back over the top of the bell housing flange. And also yes, if that plug does not seat correctly, or is not tight enough, it will leak from the inside of the valley of the engine. The way to tell if its an internal leak coming out, or a external leak draining though that plug is to run your hand over the top of the plug and valley pan back in that area. If you pick up allot of oil its an external leak that is draining down through the plug as it should. If you get nothing then its leaking out around the plug/pan seal area and running down the plug threads.

 

[65sixbanger]

So if it gets past the threads, then it will leak like mine does?

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

Yes it will. But the seal for the plug is not the threads, it is a copper inlay that the plug crushes against the block surface underneath. Did you remove that plug and or remove the valley pan and reuse it? That's a no no in my book. But I wouldn't think you would have allot of trouble with it if it was tightened back down if you simply removed the plug.

 

[65sixbanger]

You know what, I honestly cant remember. So what do you think I should do. Since I knda forgot about that plug and I am not looking at it right now, I have a hard time thinking of what to do. Is it a common part that I can get at the store?

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

The plug? I wouldn't think so. It's a special plug. Is the plug accessable at all with the turbo on there? All you need to do is get a 3/8 drive extension into the thing and make sure its tight. If its good and tight and you never messed with it I doubt its leaking from there. You have oil leaking from somewhere else and it's draining down through the plug as it should.

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

I have a couple engines sitting in my garage right now. I'll see if I can get a picture of that plug and how it drains so you know what I'm talking about.

 

[65sixbanger]

Wow thanks a bunch. I realy appreciate you helpin me.
-Lance

 

[icanfixall]

That plug is no longer available from from Ford.... About 3 years ago Ford had around 87 of them and I bought 10 of them. You know I like spares and this is a plug you can't do without. I know of one person that finished rebuilding their motor and lost this plug so... They didnt put anything back in the hole... Guess what... Lots-o-oil leaking all over he place... This is a very bad design running fuel, oil and anything else thats dripping in the valley pan. Its design is flow out and drain back down the starter side of the bell housing flange.. That makes such a mess. I use rtv on the threads and copper incert just to make sure nothing leaks. Its a tuff area to get at. Maybe you can reach it from behind with a 3/8th inch drive breaker bar. They are tiny and just maybe it will work. Make it as tight as one hand will make it. Probably 35 to 45 lbs of torque wl work. You don't need 100 killer lbs of torque...

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

Here ya go. I wish I could have got a picture of how it drains down over the back of the block but I couldn't with it sitting that close to the deep freeze, yea thats right deep freeze. lol

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You can see how the 3/8 lug in the plug is actually a hole all the way through it from the file I stuck in there. Btw, I had to move about 6 inches of earth to get to that plug. The dirt was level with the back of the intake manifold. lol I don't know where that came from the rest of the motor is very clean.