major oil leak?!?!?!?

[jeremyh]

major Fluid Leak?!?!?!?

this just started about 10 minutes ago, I was driving then all of a sudden blue smoke and the smell of burning oil...I took some pics of where it was leaking, any hhelp as to what it is and a possible cure/fix. it almost looks like it is the exhaust?!?! the leak is obviously right above the puddle...I am going to try to go get better pics now..

 

[jeremyh]

more pics...last one is the amount of oil in about 10minutes

 

[jeremyh]

I am thinking that it might have been the powersteering pump blowing....anyone have anythoughts on that?? the engine runs smooth, but now it squeaks really bad when you turn the wheels....I don't know what happened but I want to scream

 

[SonicRiot]

No offense, man, but those pics are useless. Follow the trail of oil up. Oil obviously does not come pouring from the exhaust like that, so that's ruled out. I could be wrong, but the oil is pretty dark and PS fluid is generally redish brown and flammable (read: flames).

I'd say it's engine oil. I can see it all over the subframe and the MTX case halves, and it looks like this has been leaking longer than 10 minutes. Maybe it got a lot worse suddenly, but I'd say you have had a leak for a while.

Check the valve cover gaskets, front, and rear main seals. Check the oil pan. If you can't find the leak, clean it with brake clean really well, fire it up, and look for a leak. If you still can't find it, get a leak detection kit with florescent dye.

Have you done any work lately on the car? I remeber removing an idler pulley from my SHO when I did the 60K and put a bolt in place, but never snugged it. I also never put thread sealer on it. The vibration jiggled the bolt loose to the point where oil was gushing out. The bolt went directly into an oil galley.

Good luck.

P.S: if you are unsure if it's engine oil, pull the dipstick and look at the engine oil level. Your "check oil" light would turn on at about 1.5-2 QTS low while the car is running, as well.

 

[jeremyh]

it is PS fluid....the resevoir is all but dry now....the underside was a little wet to in the pics because I was coming home from the car wash....

 

[Ishodu]

If it is power steering fluid all you can really do is look over all the lines and the rack along with the pump and reservoir. Not much else there to leak, it shouldn't be to hard to track down.

 

[sdpatt]

If it is oil, check the oil pressure sender up under the number 3 cylinder on the firewall side of the block. If it is the source, it is a very inexpensive sender.

And your exhaust donut gasket is shot. That'll be another $6 (Fel-Pro 60641).

 

[Sho-N-Go]

I would check the PS lines above the rack. Also the boots on the actual rack is there fluid coming from there? along with the doughnut you will need a couple bolts and nuts to bolt it back up. I definatly wouldnt drive it much as it is probably flamable.

 

[SonicRiot]

hate to sound ignorant... exhaust donut??

Must be a Ford thing... Can someone fill me in?

 

[SHOslyter485]

Its the gasket that goes between the y-pipe and the catback system before the resonator. You can see the donut where the two exhuast pieces meet with the two 15mm (??) bolts

 

[SonicRiot]

Huh. Didn't know there was even a gasket there. Thought something was missing when I took down the Y-pipe.

 

[jeremyh]

I blew the steering rack AND the PS pump.....$725 later including labor, I get her back on Friday....

 

[Slo-Sho]

$725 later including labor

How much of that is parts?

 

[jeremyh]

~$400