Cannot find oil leak

RANGERSHANE

MEMBER
2002 FORD RANGER
4.0L
V6
4WD
MANUAL
180,000 MILES

Got tired of my oil leak so tore everything off my engine to source it. I have come to find that my entire valley was filled with oil and spilling out of the back of the engine down to the bottom of the transmission and onto the exhaust causing a burnt oil smell. I’ve been told that head gaskets won’t leak only oil and it would be a mixture of oil and coolant. My valve covers only have a possible class I leak on the drivers side. I have replaced both gaskets and the drivers side valve cover. No idea where the leak is coming from any help would be greatly appreciated.

8 Replies

RANGERSHANE

MEMBER
46 POSTS

My intake manifold had a good amount of oil in it as well. I cleaned all of the oil that was in the valley. Here is picture for reference. The residual oil goes all the way up to the thermostat.

Images (Click to make bigger)

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Saturday, April 25th, 2020 AT 7:45 AM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Good morning,

Thanks for the pictures but there is no sign of oil for me to give you an opinion.

If you left the oil and took a picture, it would have been better.

A common area is the intake manifold itself. It leaks from the corners and can accumulate oil in the valley.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-is-leaking-oil

I would remove the lower intake manifold as well and replace the gaskets. Also, the head gaskets can leak oil without leaking coolant. That is common. I attached a picture of the lower intake below.

Roy

Image (Click to make bigger)