So my 03 D2 (195,000miles)just started leaking like a sieve. Rotella 15-40

August 2015 with about 162,000 miles I had the timing cover and timing gears replaced. It seemed great until about two months ago, when I noticed the oil on the ground under the engine. I feel like it's mostly leaking when it's parked. It does have the slightest stutter on a cold start, but runs strong. Original head gasket. Power steering and brake fluid levels are normal.

Where are the places oil can leak from?

Oil pan
Timing Cover
Valve covers (I know these are leaking)

what else?

thank you

 

Rear main seal
Oil breathers, though usually when running
Oil filter, especially if it was over-tightened. Only needs to be hand tight.

 

On 03-04 D2's check the plugs on the timing cover for where the optional oil cooler lines would screw into. I've seen plenty of them leak from those.

 

are they on the side of the cover?

 

One is just above the oil filter housing on the right side. The other is just behind the harmonic balancer 7/8 plug/bolt. On the 03 I've been working on for a friend it was leaking pretty bad from the one just above the oil filter housing. After I got a 7/8 open end on it I found it not tightened down all the way.

I've also seen the older 99-01 oil sending unit sensor (mounted on the side of the timing cover above the filter housing & oil cooler connections) leak out the weep hole on the sensor. 02-04 use a fuel injector plug looking unit & the 99-01's use the older RRC/D90/110/D1 spade connector looking one. If it's leaking from the unit double check which one your D2 has before buying one.

 

thank you all for the input.

If I find that I need to replace the oil pan gasket, timing cover gasket, and valve cover gaskets, is it a good idea to do the head gasket while all that stuff is removed? Would that be like half the labor already? or not so much...

thanks again

 

Have your head gaskets been done before? If its the front cover then that gets you pretty close. If its the oil pan then no, you're still pretty far away.

 

just a thought...why not get some degreaser (I use scrubbing bubbles lemon scented) and clean up the engine real good. After that, run the truck for a little bit and go in and see if you can track down the oil leak instead of hunting and pecking for the leak.

 

I use some brake cleaner & spray the suspect area. It dries almost instantly allowing you to diagnose the leak pretty quick.

 

Good call out, either way I suggest some type of cleaning instead of hunting and pecking for an oil leak. In my experience, 9 out of 10 times, the oil is never coming from where I think it is.