'97 F-250 7.3L Powerstroke

[youngie22]

I have a oil leak in my plow truck and cannot find much of anything, I have crawled under and cleaned stuff up and tried to check it out. But whereever it is coming from, I can't see it from top or bottom. I am probably not looking at something right, and don't really want to spend the time I don't have just ripping into it not knowing what I'm looking for, especially sense I am not much of a mechanic. So.... Nay one have this problem before, or know where I may want to start? Anything can help right now.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I can never keep any of the diesel straight but if its a ford I would check the oil pan (they like to rust through on some engines) and I would check the back side of the oil filter housing with an inspection mirror (if it takes the cartridge style oil filter that is located on top of the engine) there is a plug back there that I have seen leaking on a few vehicles.

[Scott K]

Most leaks on the diesels originate from the top and leak through the bell housing down, I would look in the engine valley on the top, look under the intake v where the cac hoses go into your engine, if its wet there I would look at the high pressure pump, then at the intake hoses where they go into the engine. If its dry there look under the turbo and along the intake ports on each head. If thats all dry climb under the truck on the back of each head there is a plug about 2" around screwed into the head, them are the oil galary plugs them tend to leak alot. Some of the older fords did have oil pans rust through in mn. If its dry above in the intake valley, and oil is coming out of the bell housing, then its most likely rear main. good luck, hope this helps!