Huge oil leak 7.3idi

[ISPKI]

Hey guys, got my 94 7.3idi fired up and running today after months of being down. Runs really strong but as I pulled out of the driveway, I noticed a trail of oil so I pulled it back in and parked it. Looks like a steady leak coming from somewhere on the driver side up above the filter, not sure where but it looks like it leaks down the side of the motor past the oil filter.

 

[laserjock]

Are you turbo or non? Kinda sounds like where the turbo oil feed is.

 

[ISPKI]

It is N/A Laserjock. It is hard to see where its coming from, we were guessing maybe the oil cooler?

 

[laserjock]

Could be. If it's running down over the oil filter it could be an o-ring I guess. Maybe a cracked header or bad gasket.

 

[no mufflers]

could you take a picture? it sounds like the oil cooler.

 

[ISPKI]

could you take a picture? it sounds like the oil cooler.

I will try and get some pictures, cant see much though, that oil cooler is hidden well! If I remove the plastic in the wheel well, do you think I would be able to see it better?

 

[no mufflers]

I will try and get some pictures, cant see much though, that oil cooler is hidden well! If I remove the plastic in the wheel well, do you think I would be able to see it better?

a bright light will help, if you take the plastic liner out you could get a better view.

 

[Shawn MacAnanny]

Sounds like an oil cooler o-ring, mine went up front and poured out on the i beam. No oil in coolant at all, or coolant in oil, just an external oil leak from a bad cooler bundle o-ring. Mine went all of a sudden too. When i removed the o-rings i had to cut them off with a razor, they were hardended like vynil.

 

[ISPKI]

Sounds like an oil cooler o-ring, mine went up front and poured out on the i beam. No oil in coolant at all, or coolant in oil, just an external oil leak from a bad cooler bundle o-ring. Mine went all of a sudden too. When i removed the o-rings i had to cut them off with a razor, they were hardended like vynil.

Been at work all day but that seems to be the consensus. Guys have any pointers for replacing the orings, ive heard they are a pita.

 

[Shawn MacAnanny]

I replaced mine without unbolting the engine. I unbolted the steering shaft, ratchet strapped it out of the way and had to move a brake line but got it out whole. I used boss 820 silicon based lube for the orings and I was able to push the headers on with 1 hand against the ground, no need for clamping or press if you use a good oring lube.

 

[79jasper]

Here. http://www.dieselhub.com/maintenance/idi-oil-cooler.html

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[Runningaford]

I second what S M stated; once the steering shaft is moved, it shouldn't be a problem.... iirc, I also removed/moved the power steering pump out of the way. When you put it back in, make sure the block surface is really clean, sand it a little once the old material is removed. Also, get all the bolts started before tightening any of them; I figured one lines up, the others will, but it wasn't the case for me.