Rear Main Seal or Oil Pan Gasket Leak?

Tiny
SAM MUSSELMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 FORD F-450
  • 6.8L
  • V10
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 219,100 MILES
I noticed some oil on some of the bolts for the oil pan. There is some oil on the front of the transmission but very little. The oil is not in a wide area or blowing all over the place when driving. The oil pan bolts seem more wet than anywhere else. Is this the rear main seal or the oil pan gasket?
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Saturday, July 22nd, 2023 AT 3:05 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
MATHGEN
  • MECHANIC
  • 128 POSTS
This is more of a seep than a leak and hard to say what could be causing it from the photo. Is it wet higher up on the block? It looks like you just replaced the starter, was there any residue on the drive gear? If there is a main seal leak, the flexplate can sling some oil out. But if it's not staining your driveway it doesn't appear bad enough to worry about at this time. Just keep an eye on it.
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Sunday, July 23rd, 2023 AT 4:18 AM
Tiny
SAM MUSSELMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 36 POSTS
Thanks for the reply. No, it’s not dripping anywhere at all. There is no oil higher up on the block and no drops on the ground just kind of staying where it’s at. No leakage where the new starter was put in, in that area either. I’m guessing then just an oil pan gasket. Hopefully so.
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Sunday, July 23rd, 2023 AT 8:38 AM
Tiny
MATHGEN
  • MECHANIC
  • 128 POSTS
You can always wash it off and add UV dye to the oil. Then if and when you see oil you can trace it with a black light.
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Sunday, July 23rd, 2023 AT 6:56 PM

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