Oil leak

[JSTA281]

Prior to yesterday I did not notice any leak of anykind comming from my truck (7.3 excursion). Yesterday I had a 4in turbo back exhaust installed. When I got the truck home I noticed a couple of spots in the driveway. I thought it was AC condensation. I wipe my finger through and it was oil, basically clear with only the dirt and grease particles it pick up as it driped down over the transmission bell housing. It is not trans fluid and I seriously doubt it is engine oil. Could this be the oil to the turbo? Could they have bumped or damages a oil fitting while installing the exhaust? If not any other guesses what it could be? due to the location of the drip it is almost impossible to be power stering fluid, more possible that it is brake fluid driping from the master cylinder but unlikely as I checked it. What do you think?

[SCUFFY828]

i dont think they could have caused the leak by just putting exhaust on , you just have to get in there and look around

[JSTA281]

Originally Posted by SCUFFY828

i dont think they could have caused the leak by just putting exhaust on , you just have to get in there and look around

Suggestions on what I am looking for? What oil is basically clear that could drip down off the bell housing? Also it appears that it only drips when hot, when I check this morning again for new spots, there was only two similar spots after it sat all night as there was when it only had sat an hour or so the day before. when I crawled under this morning I could see where it was driping from (the bell housing) but it was no longer leaking/driping.

[bigcountrysg]

You said it was clear oil. You said it started after you had the exahust put on. I am wondering if it is not from some type of penatrating oil they used when they put the exhaust on.

Or I wonder if it is not some type of protective oil coating on the down tube. When it gets hot it gets thin and then it drips. What side of the truck are the spots on the driverside or passenger side.

[SCUFFY828]

Originally Posted by JSTA281

Suggestions on what I am looking for? What oil is basically clear that could drip down off the bell housing? Also it appears that it only drips when hot, when I check this morning again for new spots, there was only two similar spots after it sat all night as there was when it only had sat an hour or so the day before. when I crawled under this morning I could see where it was driping from (the bell housing) but it was no longer leaking/driping.

if its is more clear very wel could be fuel leak and just be coincidental that it hapened when it did, look at the back of the fuel filter housing and see if the yellow fuel drain valve looks wet

[JSTA281]

The spots are directly below the bell housing so basically in the middle of the truck. I doubt it is fuel as I smelled it and even tasted it, and it did not smell or taste like diesel or motor oil. I will check the fuel as I am not ruling anything out, but to me it is unlikely it is fuel.

The protective coating or oil makes some sense but it is not smoking or smelling like oil on an exhaust would smell. I don't think what ever it is is driping on the exhaust side as I said it looks to be almost drippin just off center to the drivers side on the bell housing then running down and dripping directly from the center of the bell housing.

[vitalidle]

Is it possible its condensation mixing with dirt or oil residue?

[JSTA281]

It feels like light weight oil, not water.

[vitalidle]

Hmm strange. Check the engine between the heads to see if you have any oil lying there. If you do its possible your turbo pedestal orings are leaking or your exhaust back pressure valve actuating arm has a seal that could be bad and your leaking there or your high pressure oil pump up front next to your fuel filter is leaking.

[JSTA281]

Apparantly I am "oil illiterate" becasue I took it back to the shop that did the exhaust today and they put it on the lift and it is engine oil. The guy said it did not appear to be the rear main seal and speculated that it is either a valve cover or a turbo seal.

Does that mean anything to any of you and how hard would either of those two things be to fix, I am a fair mechanic but a rookie at diesels.