Interesting Oil Leak

[BrianX128]

I've had a drip here and there from the old 7.3, I was initially expecting it to be valve cover on the passenger side or possibly oil pan seeping. Turns out, I don't know what it is.

First this random bolt isnt in if you look between the alternator and water pump. I had the entire front of this engine off 7 years ago. I'm half scared to put that bolt in further.

I'm also questioning if the IP front cover where you take the allen key bolts out has a gasket? I put a new pump on this 7 years ago and may have just put it back on. I'm gonna take it off and re-rtv it but with how much oil is on top of my water pump I think that's what is seeping [right above the water pump]

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[Old Goat]

The Bolt you are concerned about, looks like a Stud.
The Nut looks like it secures the tin bracket for the Cable
going to the Starter.
Under it looks like a second nut . It`s most likely threaded
in as far as it will go.
I would need to go look at my engine to refresh the gray matter.
Been a while since I had that apart.

The plate covering the IP Bolts is your leak.
Clean it up squeeky clean as well as it`s mating surface and
reseal it. Mine seeps oil there also. Something I need to get to
again.


Goat

 

[IDIBRONCO]

I can see the bolt in the top picture right behind the bracket that holds the top alternator bolt. It's a little blurry, but it looks like it should be one of the bolts that holds the front engine cover on. It also appears to not be the correct bolt. It should look like the ones that hold your oil pan on as shown in the second picture. You can also see one of the correct front cover bolts in that same picture that looks like it's right beside the stud on the battery ground. If this is not the correct bolt, it's possible that it's too long and won't tighten up. If you try to tighten it, don't turn it very hard so it won't break off.