Oil leak driving me nuts... Help!

[Razorbed]

My newly built engine (2013 GT500 oil pump, motorcraft gaskets and oil filter)
startet to leak oil after the first let`s say 100 miles.
Just a few drops after parking it while cooling down but with time the wind while driving spreads it all over the underside and it starts to smell typically.

The area where it`s dripping is somewhere below the oil filter. It accumulates on the steering line and some other places, thus the multiple dripping spots.
This is the third time we changed the oil filter, re-tightened front cover and oil pan bolts and the last time we changed the oil filter adapter too.
When I`m searching for the leak I see a big puddle right on top of the oil filter adapter. Above this area nothing is wet, below of pretty much everything because of the wind. I think the front corners of my oil pan look suspicious too from the top, but this could be just spreaded oil.
See the center area of these pictures for what I`m describing.

My mechanic checked it while idling on the lift for 30min but I think it only shows after driving under load.

Please help, this is driving me nuts.

Happy easter btw

 

[CJ-]

Damn that's a tough one to guess there, Your going to have to spray brake clean all over the place to clean it up while its at the shop, then drive it lightly around the block and THEN put it back on the lift to check for the origin of the leak. Without doing that, we'd all just be guessing.

The reason I suggest doing all this while at the shop is because you do not want turbulence splattering oil all over the place while your driving it from your home to the shop, which would make it hard to pin point the location of the leak.

 

[hammeron]

before the timing cover was installed during engine assembly, was rtv placed where the heads meet the block?

 

[pics06gtstang]

as stated by CJ clean her up .
for the leak @ the balancer or oil pump as ya say , pull the bolt and fill the
the area around the crank w/ good black atv , re install balancer bolt w/ rtv on bolt (ARP i hope )
then pray its not your front seal but that would be much more then whats leaking .
oil filter could be the oil sensor unit .or they went slack on the RTV on the covers /
points that require sealer .

 

[deebo05]

maybe my eyes playing tricks.....in the first pic looks like oil pooling on the head buy that valve cover bolt.

if it is oil check see if rtv was put on during the build or check the rubber grommet below the bolt.

 

[sportinawoody]

it is more than likely the balancer/crank bolt. remove it and put silicone around OUTTER edge of underside of the washer and under the shoulder of the actual bolt. no need to get carried away it doesn't take much but it will leak like a son of a bitch if this step is not performed correctly. seen it 100 times on mod motors. the belt slings oil to circulate it upwards. no need to pull the belt and accessories, just back the bolt out do this and then clean oil off and reaccess

 

[1bad99]

i had the same issues and got pissed off and use ultra gray silicone all around the front cover problem solved

 

[sportinawoody]

i had the same issues and got pissed off and use ultra gray silicone all around the front cover problem solved

only reason to do that is if you're using a different 4.6 block with a 3v timing cover or unless there is damage to the mating surface, if using a 3l block (which is factory for 05-10 mustang) then all that silicone is a total waste of time and parts on the cover. I however built upon a 1l mach1 block which forced me to have to use silicone so I am speaking from experience here

 

[1bad99]

my factory 07 block built twice and never leaked first time second time leaked put silicone and no leaks.... so i am also speaking from experience not my first rodeo (dont take offense)

 

[Razorbed]

Thanks to everyone for their Input.
My mechanic thinks the front cover is leaking on the drivers side right above the oil filter adapter, that`s why it makes a puddle there. Probably not done correctly by him while building the engine.
He will renew the gaskets and the rtv silicone on the front cover at no cost.
Hope it brings the desired results.

 

[Razorbed]

For anyone interested: the oil leak was between the driver`s side head and the block, appearantly the head was shifted slightly to the front, so the timing cover gasked could not seal properly. All good now.

 

[86GT351]

For anyone interested: the oil leak was between the driver`s side head and the block, appearantly the head was shifted slightly to the front, so the timing cover gasked could not seal properly. All good now.

Not quite understanding this. The heads can not shift as they are torqued in a specific location.

Glad you got it fixed though

 

[05stroker]

Not quite understanding this. The heads can not shift as they are torqued in a specific location.

Glad you got it fixed though

^^^This, the heads sit on dowls, or at least it better be, it can't be shifted forward. More then likely he just did not use the RTV at that location that is required.

 

[Wes06]

Rev?
Rtv maybe?

 

[05stroker]

Rev?
Rtv maybe?

Yes, lol. Fixed it.

 

[Wes06]

Yea I gave all those connection points a healthy dose of rtv when assembling my motor

 

[Razorbed]

^^^This, the heads sit on dowls, or at least it better be, it can't be shifted forward. More then likely he just did not use the RTV at that location that is required.

^This

There was a Little missmatch between block and head and the RTV was not applied in a sufficient ammount...

 

[Wraith]

On my fresh motor I had issues during break in that were improved / eliminated by hooking up the PCV until the rings seated. After that I vented it and problems were not present. Mine was pushing out via oil pan gasket and front gasket we think due to blow by during break in.

 

[o2sys]

I have a similar issue but my a/c compressor gets coated with oil.

Think problem did start happening after I installed my IW balancer.

I did coat the keyway with RTV but not the bolt and washer.

Didn't know you were supposed too?

 

[RocketcarX]

I have a similar issue but my a/c compressor gets coated with oil.

Think problem did start happening after I installed my IW balancer.

I did coat the keyway with RTV but not the bolt and washer.

Didn't know you were supposed too?

Normally a little assembly lube, grease or anti-sieze on the crank to prevent galling or micro welding. I do this on anything I press together. RTV would serve no purpose there.