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Oil leak on the front of the engine

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Old 01-02-2010 | 01:52 PM
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Free89W350's Avatar
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From: Pen Argyl Pennsylvania
Unhappy Oil leak on the front of the engine

Well I took a load of firewood over to my father in laws and on the way home the truck got hot (need a new rad.). I got home and noticed a oil smell opened the hood and the whole front of the engine was coated along with the battery, under hood insulation and well you get the point, I shut the hood and walked away. After leaving it alone for a week I decided to take a look at it and I found it is leaking from the front of the head right above the water pump. My question is do you think I might be able to get away with a re torque on the head bolts (new head and gasket about 2k mi. ago) or will I have to pull the head and put a new gasket on it. If I have to pull the head I am going to strip the whole thing down and start on the Crew Cab project a bit early.
Old 01-02-2010 | 01:59 PM
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Aw, that sucks!

A retorque might stop it, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Old 01-02-2010 | 04:33 PM
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The thing that bothers me with your description is there's no oil passages in the front of the head above the water-pump. The closest one would be the cylinder #1 rocker-arm pedestal and head, bolt passage.

- There is however the engine oil cooler/heater between the oil filter and block . . .. perhaps the oil is coming from there?

The scary part is it sounds like the KDP has struck! Look to the right of the water-pump and see if there's damage to the gearcase.

EDIT: Looking at your Sig, I'm assuming you've taken care of the KDP issue.
Old 01-02-2010 | 04:51 PM
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From: Stephenville / Harlingen Texas
Originally Posted by BC847

The scary part is it sounds like the KDP has struck! Look to the right of the water-pump and see if there's damage to the gearcase.

EDIT: Looking at your Sig, I'm assuming you've taken care of the KDP issue.

That much oil makes it sound like a KDP...or a timing case bolt?

If it was the head gasket, wouldn't there be a bit of antifreeze in the mixture as well?

Just a thought to throw out there.
Old 01-02-2010 | 05:56 PM
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From: Belvidere, NJ
Originally Posted by Free89W350
After leaving it alone for a week I decided to take a look at it and I found it is leaking from the front of the head right above the water pump. My question is do you think I might be able to get away with a re torque on the head bolts (new head and gasket about 2k mi. ago) or will I have to pull the head and put a new gasket on it. If I have to pull the head I am going to strip the whole thing down and start on the Crew Cab project a bit early.
Ryan,

This sounds almost the same thing my 24 valve did to me last winter, started as a small oil leak and just kept getting worse and worse. Cleaned the mess off and found it was coming from the front of the head. Pulled the #1 rocker arm off and I found parts of the HG sealing trace in there and knew there was nothing I could do to stop it, it would just get worse as the pressured oil pushed its way out. Still don't know why it did it, but some compression got past the #1 fire ring on an o-ringed studded head and took out the sealing trace. Doesn't matter to me now, 53 block cracked a few weeks ago, so I'm in the process of redoing a 12 valve to take its place.

Originally Posted by GasganoFJ60
That much oil makes it sound like a KDP...or a timing case bolt?

If it was the head gasket, wouldn't there be a bit of antifreeze in the mixture as well?

Just a thought to throw out there.
Not always the case, I've blown them both ways and didn't mix any oil/coolants. The oil can work its way out of the gasket in funny ways, depending on where its damaged.
Old 01-02-2010 | 10:34 PM
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It is defiantly coming from between the block and the head. I cleaned it real good and had the wife start it and once the oil pressure started to rise is pushed oil right out where the head gasket sits.
Old 01-05-2010 | 02:49 PM
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I tried to re-torque the head and broke one of the "long" bolts . Just called the insurance co and dropped the insurance now I guess the crew cab project will start.
Old 01-05-2010 | 06:28 PM
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Awww.
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