[ok3wire]

I've been noticing oil drops on the driveway since about last fall. It's not a lot of oil that I'm losing. In fact, at the last oil change I was only about half a quart low. The oil change mechanic said it looked like the rear main seal was the culprit. My local Ford dealership said they would need to verify, of course, but that it would run me about $950 to have it replaced.

Question #1: How critical is it to have this work done now?

Question #2: If I do decide to get the work done and eat these massive labor charges, are there any other internal components that it would be wise to swap out while the tranny's dropped and the engine is cracked open?

 

[barnbuilder]

Make sure its not the turbo pedistal.

 

[benco57]

Look in the valley of the engine 1st, if there is oil in the valley in the front of the engine then it is most likely the HPOP O-ring leaking (there are 3) if there is only oil in the valley in the back of the engine then it is most likely be the Turbo pedestal O-ring. I would try to diagnose this myself instead of letting the dealership do it, if possible. If it is the HPOP, which seems to be the most common, it is a pretty easy fix, Ford sells a Kit that has the 3 o-ring and locktite also there is a write up on here (I think) about the repair.
If you know where to look, you can start your engine and stand on the driver's side facing the front fender and shine a flashlight at the HPOP where the oil lines enter the HPOP and see oil running out of where the fitting screws into the HPOP. There is an O-ring on the plug in the back of the HPOP that can leak to but it is harder to see.

The reason it look like a rear main seal is because the valley fills to certain point then drains through o hole in the back of the valley and the leak looks like it is coming from the rear main seal.

 

[klhansen]

I'll second what benco said. Gravity makes topside oil leaks look like rear main seal leaks.

Another possibility is the intercooler and intake plenum boots oozing oil. It can build up enough if they're leaking enough to run down the back side of the engine.

I't take a LOT more than a few drops on the driveway to make me spend that kind of money changing a rear main seal, even if that was what was causing them. You can do your own diagnosis. All it takes is a pair of eyeballs and a flashlight.

 

[ok3wire]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, gents. I'll pop the hood and see if I can narrow things down a bit more on based on your suggestions.

 

[xfordtdm]

The best way to diagnose a rear main is to remove the inspection cover on the bell housing. I think there are 4- 10mm bolts. I thought I had a rear main seal leak and removed the cover to find it was not the rear main. I brought it to the dealer and they said it was the rear main. I said "no it's not". The smart a** then asked "How do you know?" I informed him that I was master certified and state licensed. I then told him that if his technician had removed the inspection cover, he would see that the rear main was not leaking. He called back a few hours later and said it was the o-rings. They fixed it under warranty.