Oil Leak

[scap]

What are some of the most common locations of oil leaks? Ours has suddenly developed a strong burning oil smell. Not out of the exhaust but rather on the engine end of the business. I can smell it especially strong when parked at a stop sign/light after the engine/exhaust heats up and when I park it in the garage. It seems to be leaking onto either the header or exhaust pipe but not enough to drip onto the floor.

Anyone have any input before I start digging further?

[EllisonCal]

Re: Oil Leak

Without looking under the hood when the engine is running I would say Valve cover gaskets are the culprit. The covers may be tightened to slow the leakage, but chances are they will need to be replaced.

[scap]

Re: Oil Leak

Thanks. I'll start there, at least that's an easy one.

[ISSYRO]

Re: Oil Leak

Just curious. How many miles does your car have?

[Peterfurlan]

Re: Oil Leak

Do you actually have a oil leak or are you just smelling an odor that you think is oil
burning. Try taking the car out for a twenty mile drive and when you get back see if
you still have that odor.

[2Redbirds57/02]

Re: Oil Leak

I had the same smell on my 2002. Turned out to be fluid from the cooling fan hose leaking. Fluid was leaking from the hose while driving and blowing back and landing on the catalytic converter and every time I got out of the car I smelled the burning oil odor. Tighten the hose clamp and no more odor.

[scap]

Re: Oil Leak

97000

[scap]

Re: Oil Leak

Valve covers/ gaskets are dry.

The burning smell is independent of distance or time sitting still. Drove it hard for 150 miles Sunday. Still had the issue after.

No wet area anywhere visible from under the car or from the engine bay. No wet area anywhere on the exhaust either.

No signs of coolant anywhere either even though that smells slightly different.

Driving me nuts. I can't see any smoke anywhere either after I stop.

Maybe it's time to have the Ford guys look at it. Even though I don't trust them much.

[Rondor]

Re: Oil Leak

Go to an independent shop and put it pn a lift. Could me many things. but not all possibilities are major. Could be a transmission line loose for example, or pan gasket, or even drain plug or oil filter. At road speeds a drop or 2 blows every where and a drop on hot exhaust really smells.

[carnut]

Re: Oil Leak

I had a similar situation a few years ago. It was a small (very small) drip from valve cover onto the exhaust header on the back passenger side. Not very visible or obvious and the smell only when a drip would happen, not regularly.
Only real clue was a small discolouration on the header.
I did a writeup on this forum about changing the valve cover gasket.
I know you said the valve covers were dry but maybe do another quick check, especially at the back over the header.

[DavidA]

Re: Oil Leak

We had the hardest time finding the leak in my 2002. Finally found that the rubber gasket between the oil filter adapter and the block was leaking. Replaced it and no more leak.

[yelobird2002]

Re: Oil Leak

Years ago ours had the same symptoms and was indeed the Valve Cover Gaskets. Make sure oil has not run down into one or more of the Spark Plug wells.

[Brad]

Re: Oil Leak

A bad A/C evaporator will give you an awful smell in the cabin

[mad macs]

Newbie on here, 03 85k with oil leaks on both banks when hot passenger side on front, drivers side all over, will be taking the plug well covers off to check for oil in them. The videos seem to be pretty straight forward on this engine. Any real good tips on their removal? I am going to try and get her up on a lift before doing any replacement to check for the oil filter cooler or adapter leaks, but I dont think that would cause smoke off both sides of the engine. It was supposed to have been fixed at the Ford Dealership I bought it from, but apparently they just cleaned the leaks off and told me they fixed it. No warranty as the time has elasped, no miles have been put on but a couple 100 since I bought it so I know they screwed me. Just like the gap insurance they sold me and the ins co wont give it back, I had to get it as my insurance would not cover the gap untill they could get pictures of it, so I bought it so I did not get run over on the way home and cancelled it well within the 30 day limit, will be taking the Ford Dealer to Small Claims for that and may throw in the price for the valve cover gasket repair as well.

[007Cruiser]

Welcome Mike! I would suggest replacing the coils and plugs while you’re in there. No telling what’s left on them and you will be good to go for a long time. Sorry to hear about your dealer screwed you but what else is new.