Taking a break from my Jeep Comanche to work on my Mom's '96 Ram 1500, 5.2, 4x4. She's dealing with a few issues right now, the worst of which is this oil leak. The truck runs excellent, but it's losing a massive amount of oil all over the engine bay. I've spent the past hour searching around, so I've got an idea of where it could be coming from, but I'd like your opinions just to reassure myself, so I can get started on fixing it before winter.

Here are some pictures of the engine bay and where the oil seems to be originating:







From underneath:




Could this be a plenum issue? Valve cover gaskets? I've not done a great deal with this engine. Thanks in advance, guys!

 

Best bet is to try and clean it first then start it and see if you can see where its leaking from. Also what is the highest piont that its leaking from?

 

I would replace the valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, and plenum pan gasket. On a truck of that age it's almost certain they are bad. I just did my plenum, and valve covers. Now it leak a little more from the oil pan.

 

I second that even if you only start with the valve cover gaskets then oil pan then the expensive one the plenum but if you have the funds do it all at once that's what I did and a tune up since I was all in there

 

Looks like most of the oil is coming out from valve covers. The lower intake manifold gasket or plenum gasket leak is internal and wouldn't result in oil spewed all over engine compartment.

 

Whats with the belt? Broke?

 

Also that is a massive fire hazard. Clean that up!

 

That doesn't look right. New belt time, me thinks.

 

I would wash the heck out of the engine bay, then change valve cover gaskets and PCV. Then remove Tb and look inside at plenum. I would bet it needs repaired. But the plenmu would not blow oil in engine bay, but is an internal oil leak,..

 

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. I honestly hadn't even looked at the belt until you mentioned it, definitely time for a new one.

Looks like I'll start which the valve cover gaskets and the PCV, scrub the bay clean, and go from there.