96 Ford PSD - Mysterious Fluid Leak

[wfishtx]

My ole truck has a mysterious fluid leaking out of the front of the transmission. There is a small hole in the front housing (not sure why) and its leaking fluid from it. I put a small bowl under it the other day to catch the fluid as that would be a tell-tell sign, so I thought.

I figure it has to be one of the following things:
1. Diesel fuel - fluid doesn't smell like diesel, so I ruled that one out.
2. Oil - fluid is too clean, so I ruled that one out
3. Transmission fluid - there is no red color to the fluid, so I ruled that one out.
4. Radiator fluid - again there is no green color to the fluid, so that one is ruled out as well.
5. Power steering fluid - no way power steering fluid can get that far back, at least I don't think it would.
6. A/C condensation - this is what I think and hope it is. The only thing that makes me scratch my head about this being the fluid is that the fluid has an oily feel to it and doesn't completely dry up on the ground like standard A/C condensation. It does leave a stain. I'm thinking its picking up grease and oil build up from the last 10 years on its way out and that's the reason for the oily feel and the stain on the ground. Also, why would it just now start to leak A/C condensation in that area, when it hasn't all these years? What could have happened to cause the A/C condensation to leak down into the transmission housing like that?

Has anyone else had this small problem and were you ever able to pinpoint exactly what it was? I keep a check on all of my fluids and nothing seems to be getting low. Its been doing this for nearly a month now, so I'm sure if it was an important fluid, it would certainly be getting low by now.

Any thoughts or suggestions on what it might be?

Thanks as always.

[Roby]

Most likely you are seeing diesel fuel leaking in this area. You have a low pressure fuel pump mounted in the valley of the engine. This pump can leak and when it does the fuel runs out the back of the valley of the engine, down through the bell housing and appears to be leaking from the front of the transmission. Shine a flashlight into the area just ahead of the intake opening and see if there is fluid laying in the valley of the engine.

[bwguardian]

Most likely you are seeing diesel fuel leaking in this area. You have a low pressure fuel pump mounted in the valley of the engine. This pump can leak and when it does the fuel runs out the back of the valley of the engine, down through the bell housing and appears to be leaking from the front of the transmission. Shine a flashlight into the area just ahead of the intake opening and see if there is fluid laying in the valley of the engine.
I agree, those years are notorious for that...had to do one of dads employees trucks several months ago...it is a 1997 model.

[wfishtx]

I'm a little skeptical of this as the fluid doesn't smell like diesel, nor have I seen any decline in MPG. It gave me over 18 MPG about two weeks ago on an out of town trip, but not much shocks me with this truck so I'll give it a look over when I'm back from my business trip.

Thanks for the reply and I'll let you know if I'm able to discover anything.
Most likely you are seeing diesel fuel leaking in this area. You have a low pressure fuel pump mounted in the valley of the engine. This pump can leak and when it does the fuel runs out the back of the valley of the engine, down through the bell housing and appears to be leaking from the front of the transmission. Shine a flashlight into the area just ahead of the intake opening and see if there is fluid laying in the valley of the engine.

[hoosierplugger]

I agree with Roby. By the time diesel works it's way down to that inspection cover it doesn't smell much like diesel anymore. If the valley's wet, it's likely a diesel leak. Craig

[wfishtx]

Thanks to all for your responses. I haven't done an extensive evaluation of the mysterious fluid, but I have no other explanation for what the fluid could be other than it being the low pressure fuel pump leaking diesel as most have suggested.

With that being said, has anyone ever replaced one of these on their own? Was it difficult, easy, etc.? Is it pretty easy to do yourself or would it be less headache just to take it to the mechanic? With it being located on the top of the motor, it seems fairly easy to access, so I'm thinking I might do it myself, but I certainly don't want to tear into something that would be best left to an expert.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

[bwguardian]

PM Refugioco, he just finished one through my help and the diesel stop forum. I did one on a company truck of one of dads employees a this last spring, it is not that bad if you are mechanically inclined...'96 F-250. Just do the research prior so that the driver rod does not drop down in the engine off the crankshaft.

[Bull Fish]

I have the same problem on my 97'. It is the LV fuel pump on mine planning a replacement on sunday. I havn't changed one before but a mechanic friend rated it a 4 on a 10 scale.

[TKoenig]

its not bad... did my lil brothers for him about 6 months back

[wfishtx]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the repsonse to this thread. I took the truck in this morning to my mechanic and sure enough, its leaking fuel from the fuel pump, so I'm having it replaced.

As usual, this sight always seems to have the answer.