Where should I check for oil leaks?

[rabbott]

My '97 F350 7.3 is leaking quite a bit of oil. About a quart per 500 miles. Everytime I park, oil immediately drips on the ground. The bottom of the truck is coated.
Where are some obvious places to check for a leak? I'm pretty sure the oil is coming from the top of the engine and running off down the back.

Thanks

Check the hpop "high pressure oil pump" and the oil lines. You may have a leak there. You could spray it with purple power and pressure wash it then blow air in the valley then start it up and watch where its coming from also. A mirror will help a lot.

[460+]

Check the intake valley around the high pressure pump, up on the cylinder heads. There are plugs in the heads that have o-rings, they will also leak.

[RadarRider]

Well, here goes again. What you need to do is get yourself a couple of cans of brake cleaner. Spray down all areas covered with oil. Get some clean rags & thouroghly clean and dry the oil areas. Now, take her for a good long ride where you can get the engine oil up to temperature. Take it home and check underneath your truck. If it leaks as soon as you park it, you shouldn't have any problems pinpointing the source. Let us know if you try this and give a good description of where it's coming from. We'll help ya!

[RadarRider]

Oops! One more thing. If you think the oil is coming from the top of the engine, I wouldn't recommend spraying brake cleaner all over the top of the engine or the electrical components. Try using a clean rag and if brake cleaner is REALLY necessary, use it in sparing amounts. You don't wanna add a 'check engine' light next to an oil leak problem.