Oil leak

linewarbr · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:25 am

Noticed this morning that I had an oil leak. I've owned the CRD since September, and this morning I moved it out of the garage to move my trash and recycle bins to the road, and lo and behold the CRD had marked it's territory. Not sure when exactly it started, or exactly where on the engine it's coming from, but it seemed to be from the rear area of the engine and it had about a quarter-sized area of fresh oil, plus more from older leakage. Can anyone identify anything in particular I should look for? Only 33,000 miles, so it is still under warranty.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:33 am

Mine had to have the oil pressure line to the turbo replaced. It started leaking returning from a cross country trip and by the time i made it home, it coated the trailer that I was towing. $68 part + 1.20 each for 2 washers for the bango bolt. I paid the $100 deductable so stealership has to take the blame if the turbo goes.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:37 am

3 things I remember
I had a Mopar oil filter - separate at the seam
we've had 1-2 reports of Turbo's leaking oil (don't know about the troubleshooting on those - but replaced under warranty )
someone had a rear main seal (but I think that was after 2 torque converter swaps - so it may have been to to previous work)

and with any engine - there are assorted oil seal that have a possibility of leaking -
best bet is try to keep the engine clean so you identify the source

and make sure the dealer understands diesels - that's been the biggest problem since day 1

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:43 am

You'll need to get under it and clean it off good then check :lol:

There have been two common places for them to leak. One is some kind of plug loose up on the right hand side (passenger side in the US) of the engine and the oil runs down. Sorry I can't help more on where it's at.
Second is the rear main seal. More then a couple have been replaced.
But don't overlook the charged air hoses. The crankcase breather dumps lots of oil vapor into them and causes the hoses to first get soft and swell then they seep oil and finally they split and you get lower power and smoke.
There's also a possibility the former owner had done the "elephant hose mod" and it's dripping from there

I hope it wasn't taken to a fast oil change place and they left off the washer on the drain plug :shock:

If so your looking at stripped threads on the oil pan. The plug may have already been replaced. The original drain plug requires a hex key to removed :cry:

linewarbr · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:43 am

I'll definitely take a look at the oil filter first, since I had it serviced at the dealer about 3000 miles ago. Now before you jump me about getting it serviced there, let me explain my logic: It was going to be my last service interval before going out of warranty, so I wanted to have the last one done at the dealer JUST IN CASE any problems came up before 36,000 miles. Now it looks like I may pay the price.

And just for kicks and giggles: The dealership, formerly Henderson Chrysler Jeep (now Brian Harris) in Baton Rouge, quoted me $300+ to change the fuel filter. How's that for hilarious?

linewarbr · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:53 am

I doubt that the "elephant hose" mod was done. (I'm acting like I know what that is. . . ??) The former owner was a little old lady in Covington, LA that put about 24,000 miles on it before trading it in for a custom minivan that could handle a wheelchair. Here's to hoping mine goes like widowmaker's and crosses the 100,000 mile mark with no major issues. . . .

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:54 am

linewarbr wrote:

And just for kicks and giggles: The dealership, formerly Henderson Chrysler Jeep (now Brian Harris) in Baton Rouge, quoted me $300+ to change the fuel filter. How's that for hilarious?

I got a fuel filter at NAPA for $20 something. Since the dealer did the last oil change see my post about the washer on the drain plug :roll:

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:57 am

linewarbr wrote:

I'll definitely take a look at the oil filter first, since I had it serviced at the dealer about 3000 miles ago.
And just for kicks and giggles: The dealership, formerly Henderson Chrysler Jeep (now Brian Harris) in Baton Rouge, quoted me $300+ to change the fuel filter. How's that for hilarious?

Since the dealer changed the oil last see my post about the washer on the drain plug

NAPA has fuel filters for twenty something dollars if your in a hurry or get one one line

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:02 pm

You might also want to check and see if the plug in the pan is tight, the washer is on it and the dealer service guy didn't strip the threads.

linewarbr · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:11 am

Drain plug. The stealership must have left off the washer on the plug. What the heck kind of socket is that on the plug? Does anyone know where I can find one, so I can make sure it gets done right next time? Hehhhhhhhhhhh

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:52 am

It takes a metric hex (allen) wrench :lol:

But you are on very thin ice here if the copper washer was left off :shock:

The stock drain plug has a tapered sholder that I think is to properly center the washer. Without the washer this shoulder damadges the first thread or two in the oil pan :shock:

This is really bad because there are only 4 or 5 threads total in the pan. Then when the plug is removed the threads are stripped.
Many here have gotten the Fomoto drain valve from Greg at Lubrication specialists. No more removing the drain plug. Also from my experience steel drain plugs get stuck in aluminum oil pans. I'm not sure why.

cerich · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:35 am

linewarbr wrote:

Drain plug. The stealership must have left off the washer on the plug. What the heck kind of socket is that on the plug? Does anyone know where I can find one, so I can make sure it gets done right next time? Hehhhhhhhhhhh

Don't even play around, get a fumuto. To many of us have had stripped oil pans(mine by dealer, they paid to fix but still a pain)

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:57 am

cerich wrote:

linewarbr wrote:

Drain plug. The stealership must have left off the washer on the plug. What the heck kind of socket is that on the plug? Does anyone know where I can find one, so I can make sure it gets done right next time? Hehhhhhhhhhhh

Don't even play around, get a fumoto. To many of us have had stripped oil pans(mine by dealer, they paid to fix but still a pain)

I fumoto mine and will never go back.

linewarbr · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:50 pm

Steel drain plugs might stick because steel and aluminum expand/ contract differently in response to heat and cold. Whatcha think?

Oil leak

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