Please share your wisdom. Oil leak is kicking our butts.

[Heatherin951]

Hi there thanks for reading!

2000 expy with 5.4. Purchased at auction.

LOTS of old oil and dirt around filter. Very slight oil leak...couple drops a day.

Changed oil and filter, cleaned off years of built up dirt and oil from around the filter, and replaced Oil Pressure Sending Unit at same time.

Discovered that the oil filter housing (that bolts to the block) had a small crack above the oil pressure sending unit. Found one at Pic-A Part and replaced it. (...omg did he get dirty and beat up doing that!)

The dang thing is still leaking oil! Allot of oil. Right through the sending unit.

What the heck!? Please can you guys tell what you know or may have experienced in regard to this issue. My poor boyfriend has been under my expy for days and has had oil from head to toe every time.

Thank You very much!

 

[stamp11127]

New sending unit or old from the junkyard? Did he clean the threads and apply sealant when he installed the newer sender?

 

[Heatherin951]

He has put three brand new sending units in. He kept thinking there was something wrong with them. He used white thread tape on all of them. In exasperation he put the old one back in all cleaned up. With same results.

 

[stamp11127]

Possible that filter housing is bad or all three sending units are bad (doubt it).
I use a liquid thread sealant instead of the tape and coat all the threads.

 

[Heatherin951]

I will tell him that! Maybe the liquid sealant is the key. He plans to have it towed to a local (trusted) shop after work today. He is afraid he is missing something that he might be able to see with it up on a lift.
Can you please tell me the name of the sealant? I am encouraged by this suggestion. Thank you so much.

 

[stamp11127]

Permatex thread sealant or Permatex gasket maker #2. The sealer would be the first choice, #2 if I ran out of the thread sealant.
The #2 isn't designed to be a thread sealant but it will work in a pinch.

 

[Heatherin951]

Thank you! Boyfriend asking if sealant should be added on top off tape that comes on the sending unit or take tape off?

 

[Heatherin951]

Also he wants to know if when tightening the sending unit, ( the spec is 10ft pounds, ) should there be threads still visible? He is afraid of putting a crack in the new housing.
We are at the parts store. He is buying the sealant and one more new sending unit.

 

[Heatherin951]

He dropped me back at work and is headed to my house to get back under there with Permatex sealant and a new sending unit.
My fingers are crossed.

 

[stamp11127]

Don't worry how many threads are showing. The torque spec isn't based on that, it is basically how much force is required to turn the bolt, fastener etc. Ten foot pounds is hardly anything. In this case "good and tight - but not over tight" will work. Tighten it with a socket by hand then just a little more without really laying into it.
Remove the tape and apply the thread sealant to the threads of the sender. The threaded hole should be clean where it will thread into.

 

[Heatherin951]

Got it!
I will know soon what the outcome is.
He is picking me up from work in about an hour and a half.
Thank You Mr. Stamp!

 

[stamp11127]

Your welcome. Should it still leak post some closeup pics. It is also important to follow the directions for letting the sealant cure before applying pressure to it. I usually wait 30 to 60 minutes for it to setup.

 

[Heatherin951]

Still leaked. But the sealant was not allowed to cure.
Had it towed to the shop just before they closed. They will figure out tomorrow.
Boyfriend still gets an A for effort.
Thank you so much for your help.
I will let you know what they say.

 

[Heatherin951]

Sooo...it's fixed! The oil filter housing from the junkyard was bad. ...or it got cracked. Doesn't matter. The sending unit that was the 4th new one (!) was also bad. ...or became bad. Also doesn't matter.
Lesson learned that sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet and let it go to the shop. The boyfriend can only do so much while laying on the dirt under the truck...without a torque wrench.
Only bad...tow truck driver ripped my brand New steering wheel cover, and scratched my truck in a couple different places. They are chain marks. Bummer. But am going to complain to AAA tomorrow.
Thank you Mr. Stamp.