What is right behind the oil pan?

[xbrotherx]

I'm no mechanic so I hope this post is in the right thread...bump if not. I noticed a very small couple of drops of oil on the drive yesterday. I looked underneath and saw there was some kind of cover missing two bolts that was hanging right behind the oil pan. I could see gears inside the cover. It seems to be hanging there rather stably right at the back of the oil pan.

Everything still drives fine (fingers crossed). And the oil spot on the driveway is only about 2inches in diameter.

SO what is that dust cover thing? Is it something I can simply fix by finding bolts to fit in there? Does it lend itself to something more serious?

BTW, my truck is a 1996 F250 4x4 CC SB PSD w/ 216K on it.

[dhanna6powerstroke]

That is the inspection cover for the torque converter. It can be removed so you can get to the torque converter bolts if the trans. has to be removed. The oil you are seeing is probably originating on top of the engine and leaking out of the weep hole in the back of the block and running down the back of the engine. Can be a lot of things causing the leak. HPO (High Pressure Oil) lines are pretty common on the 7.3's.

[usnavyad]

Agreed I had the same problem but it was not the hpop but the turbo pedestal o rings is you a turbo truck I'd say so in 96 is oil appearing in the vally its prob that make sure its not fuel cause it will give u the same problem as for the cover its the inspection cover

[xbrotherx]

Mine is a turbo. So is this a major issue or something minor. I can get it into a mechanic on Thursday I think. Is it ok to still drive until then? I checked my oil level and was great.