best way to track down an oil leak?

[Underpowered]

my 00 7.3 leaks oil like the Exon Valdez. actually seems worse right after the truck is shut off. I can let it idle in my drive way for 15 minutes, no oil. shut it off, and oil starts to drip from it for a few minutes after the truck is turned off.

It is a substantial leak, about 2 quarts every tank of fuel. I have got up, looked around and i can't visibly see where it is coming from. did some searching and found it could be coming from numerous places like the HPOP, EBPV, or turbo pedistal just to name a few.

I am completely unsure of where any of these (other than the turbo or course) are located on my engine. i see the HPOP is around the fuel filter. i notice no oil around the front of the intake valley, so i assume it is not coming from there. there is oil trace on the rubber boots of the aluminum crossover tube between the two heads, but still not a collection in the valley. I can verify it is running down the back side of the block and dripping out of the tranny bell housing.

with most engines it seems there is usually a known culprit to problems such as this, but it appears with the 7.3, it is numerous culprits. any help to the best way to track it down, or at least exact locations of where each part is at and typical leaky location would be help full I need the truck to be running, but can't have it marking its territory every place i visit with a 10" oil puddle under it.

[campbellflage]

if its running down the back of the block and not in the vally, I would guess turbo or pedistal o rings. Another place mine leaked was at the oil pan where the dip stick enters it.

[JJFLASH]

Wash it off best you can (this will start an argument about how to do that. I use degreaser and a hot pressure washer, obviously being careful where I spray), clean it up good. Get a flashlight and make yourself comfy up on top of your engine then have someone fire it and run it while you watch for leaks. If it's leaking that much, you should be able to spot it. May take a while though.

You are correct, there are a few places that it could be leaking from.

[campbellflage]

x2 with JJflash on washing it. I use engine degreaser and garden hose.

[Underpowered]

i guess i'll wash her down and see where it is.

i was under it yesterday and it actually looks like the oil pan gasket was recently replaced, as well as the little bushing where dipstick enters.

turbo pedestal is my guess, but i wanna be sure before i go tearing into it.

[Justin@DP-Tuner]

If oil is not in front of the engine valley, and it is dripping out the weep hole in the trans bell housing, then it is most likely from the turbo/pedestal, or the oil rail plugs on the back of the block.

[Jakeman711]

In my truck it was the EBPV actuator that is in the turbo pedestal. There are notorious for leaking and I had the exact same symptoms that you are having to the tee. I just bought a new pedestal with the EBPV delete. If you have excessive blow by this is where they leak.

[Underpowered]

That may be it then. I did the oil cap test and blow by didn't seem bad. Cap stayed put on the filler neck.