Losing oil?

Over the last two oil changes I have noticed the outside of the filter has a light film of oil on it at change time. The same light film can be found on the front axle and steering components. I put 5qts in at change time, I recover 4.2qts plus whatever's still in the old filter. The filter isn't loose, I make sure it's good and tight. Is it possible it's just road grime from 3K miles of driving? Or am I deluding myself to avoid a repair bill?

Check to be sure there isn't an extra oil filter gasket stuck on there. Also, the oil pressure sensor is right above the filter so check it for a possible leak.

Just some thoughts.

Dave

If 4.2 quarts is just from the engine, plus what's in the filter, is probably right around 5 quarts. Do you do go water fording in the Louisiana coastal areas a lot?

^lol

Sounds like your oil pressure sending unit is leaking.

Psshhh. It isn't a sunroof, it is a...

Dave said:

Roof Escape Hatch

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:-s

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HoosierJeeper said:

Do you do go water fording in the Louisiana coastal areas a lot?

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Be sure the surface is clean before you put the neew filter on. Take some degreaser and clean all of the areas around the filter and the leak. Check frequently after this and you should be able to tell where the oil is comming from.

If you pulled that much oil out, then the leak doesn't seem to be very large.

ThunderbirdJunkie said:

Sounds like your oil pressure sending unit is leaking.

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This.

Just keep driving it with the oil light on then when you finally check the dipstick and it shows no oil, just go ahead and add 5 quarts without checking it.....

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depending on miles it may be normal
my '02 F250 with a 5.4 gas engine was burning 1 qt per 1K miles
and this was at 90K ,same at 140K when I got a new truck but I switched to
the High mile oil
FWIW we had 3 trucks doing the same thing

Just out of curiosity, what brand of oil filter are you using? I commonly see Fram and Pennzoil filter gaskets leak, even when the filter is tight.

TAHOE said:

Just keep driving it with the oil light on then when you finally check the dipstick and it shows no oil, just go ahead and add 5 quarts without checking it.....

poke.gifrollinglaugh.gifrollinglaugh.gif

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Oil light isn't on, dipstick always shows "safe" amount of oil in pan.

ephantmon said:

Oil light isn't on, dipstick always shows "safe" amount of oil in pan.

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...I was being sarcastic, pointing fun at someone else on the board.

TAHOE said:

...I was being sarcastic, pointing fun at someone else on the board.

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would that name begin with a "b" and end with a "udke"? lol

osufans said:

would that name begin with a "b" and end with a "udke"? lol

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Bwahaha!

Finally went to the dealership, little oil spots on driveway were making me nuts. Turns out it was a leaking crankshaft seal. $305 later, it's fixed. Essentially all labor cost too.

ephantmon said:

Finally went to the dealership, little oil spots on driveway were making me nuts. Turns out it was a leaking crankshaft seal. $305 later, it's fixed. Essentially all labor cost too.

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Are you sure it was the crank shaft seal? Wonder how they changed that for so cheap? Thought for sure the engine had to come out or the cradle had to come down. Could be wrong I suppose.