Source of Oil Leak - Help Me Guess

**sparkydog** · 11-18-2019

2 weeks ago I replaced my steering rack and while doing that I noticed I had a lot of oil on and around the oil pressure sensor just above the oil filter. The sensor, the connector, the area below the sensor and the area above the sensor were coated with oil. Given that information, I decided that it was either the sensor leaking and then air currents spraying the leak all over everything, or - it was a leak up above the sensor coming down the side of the block. But it is very hard to access this area or see into that area. I felt the rear valve cover seal all along the back and it is dry (or as dry as it gets). I'm pretty sure I upgraded the valve cover gaskets a few years ago. The car has about 160k miles.

So at the time I chose to hope that it was the sensor leaking and I replaced the sensor, cleaned off the excess oil as best I could and finished my steering rack job.

After driving for a few days I've still got oil leaking so I must assume it is coming from above the sensor area. I think that means either the head gasket or the valve cover gasket, right??

Any other ideas where it could be coming from? Thanks!

**sparkydog** · 11-18-2019

PS I used thread sealer (goo not tape) on the sensor threads when I replaced it.

**Scottydoggs** · 11-18-2019

id put money on the new oil pressure sensor failed and is leaking. if the plug is wet its leaking. its always a good idea to keep a close eye on these pos sensors, they tend to fail pretty fast, i went through 3 of em in a week or so one time till i got a good one, then it started to leak so i bought a brass NPT plug and just plugged it off. no you wont get a cel or warning from leaving it unplugged. damn things about worthless anyway. it dont set off till its got like 5 psi and well its way to late already.

**CHI2000GTP** · 11-18-2019

Front Cover Gasket.... from what I've read on here anyway.

Above the sensor, don't know where it's coming from, (I'm assuming it's not the oil pan gasket)..... then must be front cover gasket.

**daviddawg** · 11-18-2019

Just went through exact same thing had to bite bullet and go to a garage timing cover gasket 700 bucks later no more oil leak

**FordMan77** · 11-19-2019

Clean it all off, throw it on jackstands and let it run for a bit. Crawl under it while idling and see where it's leaking from as it'll likely show up pretty easily. Had to do this on my GT and it was the stupid pressure sensor again. Also check the timing cover as mentioned.

If its the pressure sender I fixed that by installing an actual electronic gauge to my pillar and no leaks since plus have an actual reading on the pressure instead of the 5psi change engine light. Went though 3 OEM style pressure sending units before I called it quits. The last one damn near cost me an engine with as fast as it was leaking. Or you could plug it off as Scotty suggested and not worry about it. Just check your oil level every 2.5K miles and call it a day.

**bandook** · 11-20-2019

I got a code unplugging mine. Clean it real well like fordman said, and look for new evidence.

**sparkydog** · 11-21-2019

Thanks for the ideas gentlemen. I'm hoping to get it up in the air this weekend, remove sensor, clean off as best I can, goop up a plug fitting and install - then run and see what happens.

**Scottydoggs** · 11-21-2019

dont drive the plug into far, just go snug.

i jack up the pass side, take the front wheel off and reach in to remove it. channel locks work great to unscrew/screw in. getting a socket on it is not a easy task.

**GYSOT1** · 11-22-2019

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

id put money on the new oil pressure sensor failed and is leaking. if the plug is wet its leaking. its always a good idea to keep a close eye on these pos sensors, they tend to fail pretty fast, i went through 3 of em in a week or so one time till i got a good one, then it started to leak so i bought a brass NPT plug and just plugged it off. no you wont get a cel or warning from leaving it unplugged. damn things about worthless anyway. it dont set off till its got like 5 psi and well its way to late already.

Do you recall the size of the NPT plug? I think I'm having the same issue. The whole area around the oil filter is flooded with oil.

**Scottydoggs** · 11-22-2019

it leaks from the where the plug gets put on, so if the plug is dry its ok. and when they leak they just pour oil right out it, when driving its on the back side so the wind takes the oil to the back of the car.

it is possible the oil filter housing gasket or the rear valve cover is leaking. or even a crank seal behind the balancer. best to clean the engine up then watch for the new trail of oil to form.

**bandook** · 11-22-2019

Originally Posted by GYSOT1

Do you recall the size of the NPT plug? I think I'm having the same issue. The whole area around the oil filter is flooded with oil.

1/4-18npt

**GYSOT1** · 11-23-2019

I'll have to clean it up real good and watch again. It's def not flying out and coating the underside of the car. It's contained to the oil filter housing area and completely covering the axle where it goes into the trans, but it isn't a broken boot.

**sparkydog** · 11-25-2019

Replacing my sensor must of stopped the leak and the oil I saw after that must have just been left over coating the surrounding area - because when I went back in there things had dried up and there wasn't any fresh oil on my garage floor. But at least now I have a plug ready if it ever does come back.

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