Hey guys ... I am chasing down an oil leak. I thought it was the crank seal and just replaced it this weekend, however it seems the leak is still occurring.

There are two streams/streaks of oil that run down the pan very lightly. I guessed they came directly from the crank seal however I just replaced that and they still seem to be occurring.

What else could be going on here? My only thoughts are the oil pan gasket from those locations or somehow the timing chain cover.

I was REALLY thinking it was the crank seal due to the nature of how the oil is coming out.

Engine is 2006 3.0 V6

 

You should be able to see the leak start right at the pan/block join , white talcum powder might help?

There is another source , but if you have looked/checked above the crank pulley on that flat spot on the timing cover you would have seen it already , > from the power steering pump and it dribbles down right at those spots too , if it is the ps pump its the rear end plate gasket normally . Good luck .

ps - there is some stuff in a spray can for crack detection , red or white , like a paint but one can rub it off , a powdery stuff .

 

Here is a video and some images of right before i replaced the front crank seal ... any further opinions?

 

Btw , i was not aware you were looking for a "opinion" .

My opinion is if you don't clean that area so so can eat your dinner off it your making a easy job real hard ! , how else are you going to see the start of a new leak .

 

whats the best way to clean it?

 

Take it to a Real Mechanic , they'll clean it for you as they know what they are doing .
ps - i'm outta here so don't bother responding .

 

Lol well thanks for ur initial advice. I’ll see if anyone else chimes in. Take care

 

Steam clean or airline with a degreaser gun. Agree you can't look for leaks on a dirty engine.

 

Ok I have an update.and it's pretty weird .. i put some UV dye in the oil and just checked it tonight .. this is after driving about 150 miles. The OIL is Greenish (in the video you will see some other greenish stuff but that's dry and not oil)

I found some oil on the AC Compressor ... and basically in the passenger rear corner of the oil pan. The front seal seemed good, the valve cover seemed good, nothing from the water pump area or the side of the engine above the front seal, and nothing near the oil filter.

Here are some pics .. i do think i might have a slow leak from the rear corner of the oil pan (so i will replace that) however the oil being on the AC Compressor is puzzling to me.

AC Compressor





Hose in front of AC Compressor


Plastic in front of AC Compressor



Rear passenger corner of oil pan 1




Rear passenger corner of oil pan 2



Rear passenger corner of oil pan 3 showing the RTV where i think it slowly seeps out




And Video (not the best .. skip to 20 secs)

 

I had / have a similar problem with oil on the sump etc. Had many gaskets changed to no avail. I later found the leak coming from the oil cooler which was running down the oil filter them blowing underneath when she was driven. Just a thought.