I've got a 97 7.3 that has a pretty bad leak near (below) the turbo. The oil is running down the valley and down the back of the motor. Amount of leaking seems to be a little different every time I drive it (sometimes a lot, sometimes a little). There is also quite a bit of blowby, however I think it's unrelated. The trucks got 154k and it still has tons of power. Any ideas. The leak is hard to get to because of the turbo. Thanks

 

first of all welcome to DB, and is it coming from the turbo or engine. if its coming from the turbo its probably the oil return line from the turbo, and if its coming from the engine it could be the same thing just where the line comes back into the crankcase. if its none of them you might have bigger problems, some ford guys should see this post and give you some more advice

 

sounds like your turbo pedistal O-rings may be shot... its going to require taking the turbo and pedistal off (if its leaking at the turbo)

if the leak is comming from the front of your engine and filling up the valley and draining off teh back of the engine, then it could be your HPOP O-rings that need changing...

Just need to get in there and clean all the oil out -- then start her up and see where it all is comming from - then you'll know which direction to head

 

Thanks guys, I know it's not the HPOP, so I'm gonna check the pedestal. Looks like I get to take off a turbo this week!!!! Have any of you dealt with a leak on the drivers valve cover? I need to replace the doghouse o-rings as well and I've heard about a CCV mod. Anyone know about this?

 

second vote for turbo ped. o-rings.

 

what's up scott? looks like we'll be pulling the turbo out soon...welcome to DB

 

CCV mod can be as straightforward/cheap or as difficult/expensive as you want...

some just run a hose from the CCV out to the rear of the truck and vent to atmosphere, and all that is required is a piece of 4" exhaust pipe to put in place of the CCV connection (on any way you decide to do it, this needs to be done) to prevent there from being a whole in the intake tube since you will be diverting the CCV gasses or find some way to plug the factory hole....

and you can then run a hose with some clamps to wherever you want it to vent (cheap) or you can buy an entire system that vents the CCV to a canister that collects the "mist" and keeps it out of the atmoshpere for several hundred bucks... or you can make your own for somewhre in between.



This is a pretty good DIY method though
http://guzzle.rbmicro.com/ccv1.html

 

thanks blue, that's really helpful! are the any other simple/cheap mods we can do while we're under the hood? nothing stupid like EGR, like some of the CA 12v Cummins, is there?

 

i'll pick up the o-rings. jon, i hear pullin a turbo is fun! wish i could put exhaust on it at the same time.

 

could do the Fuel Pressure Regulator shim mod...