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Possible transmission/oil pan gasket leak

Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD TAURUS
  • 3.0L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,565 MILES
I have been leaking oil from under my car for quite some time now, close to a year. After inspecting plenty of times, I have had both valve cover gaskets replaced and also the intake manifold gasket, however there is still a leak. I have suspected that it is the oil pan gasket, but I also think it is the transmission pan gasket, I cannot really say for sure because the starter, which is right next to the body of the oil pan, is slightly covered in oil, and the seams around the transmission pan are too, there seems to be oil around a wide area. I posted a video.
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Thursday, August 2nd, 2018 AT 10:00 PM

35 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Good morning.

I see two things off the bat with the video.

The oil drain plug. You cannot use sealer on the plug. You need to remove the plug and install the correct washer for the plug. You can see it leaking in the video and that will spray all over the pan when moving.

The bottom of the bell housing shows a good bit of oil. That could be a bad rear main oil seal leaking. When that leaks, it will throw oil all over the place.

Check the PCV valve and make sure it is working. If it is not, it could cause the rear main to leak.

Roy
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 5:31 AM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
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Yeah, the oil drain plug seems to be clearly leaking, but I do not know who added that sealant to it, I only ever take it to Walmart for oil changes every 3,000 miles. That “bell housing” you mentioned, what is that? Also “bad rear main”. I will check the PCV valve but I replaced that with a new part close to a year ago so I doubt it is that. But thanks for the tips.
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:19 AM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
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Do I check the PCV valve by simply disconnecting from the intake and seeing if there is strong suction?
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:21 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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A year is a long time. Do not assume it is okay until it is checked.

The bell housing is where the engine meets the transmission.

Roy
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:22 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Yes, remove it while the engine is running and see if you have good vacuum.

Roy
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:23 AM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
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I will check the PCV right now and about that bell housing, if there were a leak coming from that, how is that fixed? Is there a gasket for that or what?
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:29 AM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
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So I went ahead and checked the PCV, as soon I removed it from the intake, the engine quit running.
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:33 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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If there is oil leaking out the bell housing, it is the rear main oil seal. The transmission has to be removed, flywheel removed and then you have access to the seal.

Sounds like you have good vacuum. The engine should not stall. It may be open too much. I would replace it anyway.

Roy
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:35 AM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
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But as I was pulling it off, I had to muscle it to get it off, the air was was seemingly pulling it against the intake, so I am assuming the suction is good?
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:35 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Read my last response.

Roy
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:36 AM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
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So replace the valve and hose?
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:37 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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I would start there, yes.

That is not the cause of the oil leak.

Roy
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:39 AM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
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So by looking at the video, you do not think either the transmission pan gasket or oil pan gasket are leaking?
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:40 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Transmission, no.

The oil pan is soaked from oil. You need to have the drain plug gasket replaced, the entire area cleaned off and then watch the oil under the car for a leak.

Right now, you cannot tell exactly where the oil is leaking from.

Roy

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-is-leaking-oil
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Friday, August 3rd, 2018 AT 6:45 AM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
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I was looking around again, this time from the top of the engine, and it seems that it is leaking oil from around the top of the transmission, around the corner under the intake manifold, right behind the thermostat. There is a bolt it seems, looks like it is seeping oil from there. What do you think this is?
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Monday, August 13th, 2018 AT 5:48 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
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Here is another video, it is hard to get a shot of it since it is under and behind so much crap.
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Monday, August 13th, 2018 AT 5:49 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Good shots. From that video, it looks like the intake manifold is leaking.

I would do that first.

Will you be doing this repair yourself?

Roy
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Tuesday, August 14th, 2018 AT 2:35 AM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
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I probably will not, I had my mechanic change the valve cover gaskets a few months ago and he said he cleaned the surface of the intake manifold but the gasket set I gave him did not have the intake manifold gasket included so it was never changed. So start there?
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Tuesday, August 14th, 2018 AT 7:02 AM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
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I looked around once again from the top of the engine, I am pretty certain it is not the intake manifold gasket, the surface is clean and there is no oil build or stains around it, this is the part that I believe is the culprit of the leak. I have no idea the name of it, but I took a screenshot of a video on the same engine, it is a head gasket replacement walk through but I circled in red the part I am talking about, and I took my pictures of my own engine, along with close ups (as best as I could get them) of that part, do you know what this is? There is a connector going into it, and oil is just sitting at the bottom of the part I am talking about.
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Tuesday, August 14th, 2018 AT 5:22 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
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.
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Tuesday, August 14th, 2018 AT 5:24 PM

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