Where did that go?

[BrianX128]

My 7.3 has always been the typical "IDI leaker" it never leaks enough to bother looking into but always would leave a drop of something in the parking lot, you learn to ignore it. (My 6.9 however leaks absolutely nothing somehow..) anyways, this morning I'm out in the garage looking it over because I was getting more than 1 drip of oil and was hoping it wasn't near the oil cooler as the truck got a new one of those right before I bought it and I don't want to go there this fall.

I cleaned the whole engine up somewhat good with some carb cleaner and paper towels underneath, it really wasn't that dirty except for some oil coming from the passenger side front of the engine. It looked like it was coming from above from somewhere and I wondered if it was fuel bringing stuff down the dirty engine, so I let it run for 10 minutes and nothing. Gave up and drove it to run some errands, and I get home and there's a drop. Where did it come from?

You must be registered for see images attach

If you look almost dead center in that image you'll see my timing cover is missing a bolt. It was wet in this area almost like it's coming out of the hole. You wouldn't think oil would come from there, but it isn't coming from above it that's for sure. Maybe the timing cover itself is dribbling because it's missing some pressure to hold it on even?

I googled this picture to make sure there is supposed to be a bolt there and there is..

You must be registered for see images attach

Any idea what length / pitch that bolt is? I'd like to pick one up today at the hardware store and see if I can go from 2 drips of oil to at least 1 again lol..

 

[Randy Bush]

If it just going into the flat plate of the timing cover, I believe they are 5/16 -18 UNC ,probably 3/4 to 1 " long. 14 lbs torque. If in doubt on length stick a wire in until bottoms out then a little shorter.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

I'm pretty sure that they're 1/4" -20. They are the same bolts as the oil pan uses if you want to pull one for comparison.

 

[Thewespaul]

Especially if it’s one of the four center bolts, pull out the opposite bolt from the pair and get the exact same length. If it’s too long even by a 1/4” it hits the IP gear and snaps the driveshaft.

 

[Randy Bush]

I'm pretty sure that they're 1/4" -20. They are the same bolts as the oil pan uses if you want to pull one for comparison.

Just went and pulled one from my dead 7.3. they are a 5/16 NC with a 7/16 head instead of 1/2 , 1/2 " long with the washer on

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Just went and pulled one from my dead 7.3. they are a 5/16 NC with a 7/16 head instead of 1/2 , 1/2 " long with the washer on

Thanks for correcting me on that.

 

[Randy Bush]

Thanks for correcting me on that.

Just trying to put out correct information for those asking. Correct me anytime too if need be.

 

[Macrobb]

Note that if you've got a new water pump on there(compared to an original, factory one), the bosses are lengthened so that all the (shorter) bolts are the same length, vs the middle four being even shorter.