Mysterious Oil Leak

[Wires]

While sweeping the garage, I found a small puddle of oil where the MM sets. It is not round, but if it were, it would be a drop the size of a quarter, maybe a little smaller. There is no trail, and it looks like the oblong shape is from my garage floor being out of level.

I thought, well, I have to take it back to Team Ford to get something fixed. I also figured that I had better do some preliminary diagnostic work, so they'd know where to look.

I crawled under my car with the trouble light and looked around. I see no evidence of anything leaking oil at all. I looked at the oil filter (dry) around the oil pan and front seal, the dipstick tube, the plastic air dam, cross member, etc. etc. No oil at all.

If it were a pressurized leak, I'd expect a trail would be left as I backed into or drove out of the garage - but there is none.

It's too far forward to be transmission fluid, and it's not the right color or smell anyway. If it were a drip from the rear end, I'd see a larger puddle at the back - but there is none.

Does anyone have any ideas about what else I should check or what I should be looking for? It's as if someone has crawled under my car with an oil can and squirted a drop of oil just to drive me crazy.

[merc6]

if it's like maybe 1-3 drips, is it possible to be a drip from each time you pull dip stick?

[SID210SA]

Does anyone else have access to your spot? maybe another vehicle

[FordNut]

Feel of the ledge on the crossmember, under the filter. Also the steering rack. Classic oil catchers. Get some brake cleaner and spray it off if you find anything.

[MM2004]

Feel of the ledge on the crossmember, under the filter. Also the steering rack. Classic oil catchers. Get some brake cleaner and spray it off if you find anything.

What ^^^ he ^^^ said.

Do you have an oil deflector?

Mike.

[MERCMAN]

Check to make sure it is oil. Look at your brake fluid reservoir and see if there is fluid around it. There have been reports of some small amount of leakage from it.

[gonzo50]

Possible Power Steering Pump, there has been a few members with hair line cracks on housing, check lines too.:confused:

[JMan]

If it favors one side or another, check the bottom of the shocks. I have two oil stains under my car and both are from the stinkin' Tokico shocks. :mad2: Just another suggestion for checking.

J

[carfixer]

If it favors one side or another, check the bottom of the shocks. I have two oil stains under my car and both are from the stinkin' Tokico shocks. :mad2: Just another suggestion for checking.

J
Agree, check the bottom of your shocks.

[Mad1]

Possible Power Steering Pump, there has been a few members with hair line cracks on housing, check lines too.:confused:

That might explain the slow leak I've noticed in my power steering system. It got down low enough that it would stall out at idle speeds while turning sharply, like pulling into the garage, driveway or parking space.

I haven't spotted any obvious signs of leakage where I park, but a hairline that spurts under pressure would make sense to me. (Time to dig out the extended warranty paperwork and take her in for a little work.)

Jeremy
Mad1

[Warpath]

My hydroboost leaked power steering fluid. By the time it dripped down everything and hit the ground, it collected enough dirt and grime to turn black. I kept looking for an engine oil leak as a result until one day I looked up at the hydroboost and saw the leak itself. Just something to keep in mind.

[gdmjoe]

Wires
Do you have UD (Under Drive) pulleys) ?

If so, inspect your harmonic balancer.

Sometimes the put a dab of silcone in the keyway install instruction is overlooked -or- it just got squeezed-out during the install.

:twocents:

[Wires]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and or help.

No, I don't have underdrive pulleys, so that's not a problem.

I will have look again at the shocks and power steering components - I didn't see anything drippping from the hoses, but I'll have to check with the engine running.

I looked at the cross member from the bottom, and remove the air intake hose to get a look from the top - I didn't see anything. I'll give it another check. I don't have an oil deflector, I never could get the darn thing installed! (how embarassing.)

No other car parks there.

It may be from checking the oil - if my towel or rag doesn't absorb the oil, it's got to fall somewhere, right? That would be embarassing if that were it. It IS about the amount that would stick to the stick. (that sounds weird.) Maybe I need to put some paper under the car and try to check the oil as I have been, and see. It will be hard to do, without thinking about it so much that I do it differently.


My father in law's opinion on leaks is wait until it's large enough to see what it is. He still won't fix it, but then he'll know. He just adds oil. I personally hate leaks, but I think mine isn't serious.

[JACook]

If the leak isn't obvious, and it sounds like it isn't, best to just clean your garage floor and wait for it to drip again.
Once the car has been moved, it can be pretty difficult to pinpoint a small leak. Inspect your garage floor every
time before you take your MM out, and when you see the drip, just go straight up from there. You might still
have to follow a trail, but you'll at least have a good starting point.

[sweetair]

When was the last time you changed the oil? When I do mine in the garage there is a spot under it for a day or two. Good luck.

[Wires]

I keep my floor clean, and I inspect it regularly for just this sort of thing.

Now that I think about it, it did only appear after checking my oil...... It would sure be embarassing if that were it, but I'm still not convinced. I don't think if I tried I could pull the dipstick out and wipe it and get the drip to fall through and not hit anything.

I haven't had the oil changed lately, but I have a special piece of cardboard just for that - this leak is further toward the right of the car than that.

I haven't noticed it lately, but I'll keep checking and let everyone know if I find anything.

I appreciate eveyone's help.