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Small leak - not sure where its coming from....

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Old 03-08-2010 | 09:47 PM
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Small leak - not sure where its coming from....

This question is about the truck in my signature - I have noticed over the past couple of weeks a leak that has been on the right side of the engine compartment....I believe it is fuel, but when I wipe up the floor there never is a puddle - it actually has an oily residue feel to it, a bit tacky, smells like fuel.
When I've crawled under the truck to see where its coming from there is always an accumulation on the steering stabilizer shock, in fact 2 yrs ago I thought the residue was that shocks oil. But the problem has come back.
Seems like when it doesnt get driven, then maybe gets taken for a few mile drive and parked (always parked in the same place in the garage) then the residue appears on the floor. When its taken for a longer run, at least to operating temp and ran for an hr or so, no residue.
Old 03-08-2010 | 10:12 PM
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Do you have a clamp on your overflow return line to the radiator? Our trucks are known for leaking there, and if it is running dowin inside the engine compartment, it will pick up some oil.
Old 03-08-2010 | 10:18 PM
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Only other thing that comes to mind is maybe the water drain for the fuel filter? probably a long shot but....

Michael
Old 03-08-2010 | 10:39 PM
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alright, so its not the overflow or the water drain on the fuel filter - the steering box is soaked in fluid....somehow the fluid is making its way to the stabilizer shock and dripping from there - unless I have 2 leaks.
Other than the steering box, there doesnt appear to be any fluids leaking anywhere else. I havent had the steering recall done, only because there hasnt been any work done to the front end aside from the pucks and alignment. Will that recall replace a bad box?
Old 03-09-2010 | 08:28 AM
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It could be your CP3, especially if you park the truck outside at night. Cold weather and these things leaking fuel are very common and it looks like steering box, hoses, etc. It may clear up as soon as it warms up a bit. I just washed mine down looking for the leak, and it appears to have quit. (Been a little warmer here in Colorado)
Old 03-09-2010 | 08:44 AM
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My vote is for the cp3 also.If you lay under the truck & reach up below the injector pump there is a sensor connector below the pump. Feel & see if it is wet like something has been dripping on it & it smells like fuel & is sticky. If so it's the cp3 pump. Mine does it in the winter & leaves a wet spot on my shop floor about the size of a quarter.
Old 03-09-2010 | 09:14 AM
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the truck spends 99.9% of its parked time in a garage. I will check the CP3 tonight then.....the spot is about 12" in diameter - I had the CP3 replaced under warranty when the truck was 6 months old.
I was looking for accumulation on the steering box - its just soaked. The steering stabilizer shock does get an accumulation drip and the fluid is green (fuel).
It is so intermittent, unless there is a potential hazard, I will just wait till it gets worse.
Old 04-16-2010 | 10:06 PM
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have been noticing a fuel smell in the cab too when the vents are on....could this be a related problem?
Old 04-16-2010 | 10:10 PM
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im guessing you meant the left side Drivers side, check your lines that go to the FF housing, mine leaked until i had it fixed twice.
Old 04-17-2010 | 08:32 AM
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yes, drivers side....sorry.
Old 04-19-2010 | 09:51 AM
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just checked the filter canister - dry as a bone...
Old 05-14-2010 | 01:49 PM
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Figured out the leak was actually coming from the stabilizer shock, not just running down to it and dripping there.
Last night the lift pump went out just as I got to our camp spot, had to get 2 tow trucks to bring us home this morning - need to figure out which pump/filter set up to get and quickly, as I need the truck to soccer/t-ball runs during the week.
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