So my trucks leaking oil. I know this is severely common especially in older trucks. It leaks every night and a decent amount. It seems like it is coming from the left side of the engine. By the tire. It might just be running down there and thats where it falls. What can be wrong? Or should i just deal with it.

 

Time to get dirty. Crawl on your back, take a flash light and trace it. Its all I can tell you.

 

it wouldn't be the axle seal would it ?

if engine, check valve cover gaskets. the bolts are probably loose and snugging them up tight might help.

 

Crawled under there today and i was right. It is dripping down right by the tire. Off the axel i believe.
I cant get importing pictures to work because i took them from my phone. But heres a pic from google. Looks like maybe my axel seal is broken. But it feels like motor oil when it drips. Is gear oil and motor oil similar?


Its oily by that yellow arrow and under it. dripping down

Any ideas on how to fix?

Thanks i dont know anything about this crap

 

Need to put the full path in the image tags.

 

axle seal.

http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech-article-3.html

http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech-article-5.html


warning - this is a fairly hard job. you have to disassemble the entire @#@-damn *&#$-ing front end, including pulling the axles and front differential. you risk destroying the two $180 bearings, and have to buy or make a seal puller to seat the new ones. you'll need impact wrench, jacks, jack stands, pull bars. while you're in there that deep, its a good time to replace brakes, bushings, u-joints, etc, which makes it take longer. i did all this recently and it took me a couple of days. that's why it costs so much to pay a shop to do it.

 

Gear/Diff oil is a little thicker than motor oil, but stinks something awful.

 

If you really want to trace ut use some UV dye. Yjay stuff is amazing at finding leaks.

 

for a temperory fix, before i go to the shop, cant i just refill some of the gear oil. WHere can i fill it? Pics would be nice

 

Rubber plug on the Diff cover. Pull it and fill with gear oil up to the plug hole. Fill it on a level surface.