wexman

I'm trying to trace a very small leak. Sometimes, when I park in my space in my condo development, I find a couple drops of oil (can't tell if it's engine oil, or brake fluid, etc) dripping right from the front passenger side, almost directly behind the bumper. It doesn't do it ALL the time - for instance, at work, where I park in the same space every day, it has been dry.

Went on a little run today, came home, and now there are a couple drops. I can see where it dripped off the front crossmember (??), but I can't see how it accumulated on that. Using a flashlight from above and below, everything looks dry as a bone.

Suggestions on where to look? Thanks.

AaronT

How about from a connection to, or from the power steering oil cooler?

wexman

OK, which part under there is the PS cooler? WHere do I look?

Thanks.

AaronT

In front of the radiator, there are 2 little coolers. Top is transmission oil cooler, bottom smaller one is the power steering oil cooler.

wexman

OK, it's probably one of them, because that's about where it's dripping.

converteddzlr

How timely, I just noticed a little drip coming from the drivers side just behind the bumper this morning!

Buzzer

The drivers side is probably the power steering cooler. The passenger side is the hoses which route to the tranny cooler.

wexman

I suspect this is my issue, but, for the life of me, I can't see where it's coming from, and it only does it every once in a while. It's maddening! I suspect the change in weather (pretty warm today) may have contributed - as the rubber hoses soften a bit in the warmer weather, maybe there is a very slight leak from a connection? Because it doesn't do it all the time.

Well, the truck is due to go in for service in about a month, I'll have them check it out.

Buzzer

Scott...are you sure its oil? The water pump is also on the passenger side and it could be weeping. Just a thought. That might account for the occassional drip????

wexman

You're close. I think I found it. It IS coolant seepage, coming from where the lower radiator hose goes into the radiator, around that plastic band clamp. That's where it's wet and sticky. Looks like as the weather heats up and cools down, the rubber probably leaks a little bit, and perhaps that is why it is ocassional. We went from BITTER cold, to unseasonably warm (in the 50s right now). The hose seems very tight, however.

I guess when it goes in for regular service next month, I'll have them replace it.

dssimecek

Took my 2002 3500 to dealer for LOF and noted I had an oil leak. Dealer found the oil breather bottle was full to overflowing, and that was where the oil was comming from. I have had truck about a month, and with only 10K miles on it was supprised the bottle was full.