Shit-box720 Posted May 17 Report Share Posted May 17 (edited) I’ve had an oil leak for quite a while now it’s a 1983 2wd non federal it looks like it’s coming from the AC compressor but I know it’s not. I thought maybe it was the distributor seal but I can’t feel any oil coming from the shaft but the top and bottom of my ac compressor is covered in oil and a lot of my bottom end is soaked let me know where I should check Edited May 17 by Shit-box720 Left out info Quote Link to comment
Thomas Perkins Posted May 17 Report Share Posted May 17 (edited) Could be your steering gear.If it leaks, it will sling it there. Edited May 17 by Thomas Perkins Quote Link to comment
Shit-box720 Posted May 17 Author Report Share Posted May 17 I thought that too but it looks like engine oil and the power steering assembly looks dry I might have someone turn the wheel while I watch Quote Link to comment
Thomas Perkins Posted May 17 Report Share Posted May 17 If that gear slings oil.It is not power steering fluid. Quote Link to comment
Thomas Perkins Posted May 17 Report Share Posted May 17 Mine has been leaking for years.But my power steering reservoir stays full.My Steering is great.It looks like oil.But is does not get on my compressor. So mine does not affect anything so I just left it alone. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted May 17 Report Share Posted May 17 Power wash the valve cover and exposed parts of the front of the head, the timing cover and the compressor. Get it clean and let dry. Next time you go for a drive check for fresh leaking oil. Oil will migrate down by gravity from a leaking valve cover. There is a crankshaft seal in the timing cover behind the pulley. 1 Quote Link to comment
Thomas Perkins Posted May 18 Report Share Posted May 18 (edited) Don't power wash it?Water will get everywhere.Get some dry rags and wipe all the oil up.Never power wash it.Tighten up Mike.I always keep my engine spotless.So I can tell if something is wrong.I do that with my wife's car too.There is green dye you can add to your oil and when it comes out where it leaks you can see with a special light and glasses.Better to just wipe the oil off.So your oil pan is not leaking and you see no oil coming from your valve cover.Your oil cap is not leaking.Here is my pressure washer.Never use on a engine.Or clean your vehicle. Edited May 18 by Thomas Perkins Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted May 18 Report Share Posted May 18 Long as wires are in good shape, never a problem, just don't hose directly at the distributor. No worse than driving in a bad rain storm. Water everywhere? Wear rain gear and boots something every PNW dweller owns. 1 Quote Link to comment
trjerm Posted May 18 Report Share Posted May 18 used a pressure washer on all my vehicles for years and noissues so far Quote Link to comment
Shit-box720 Posted May 18 Author Report Share Posted May 18 I was just out there letting it run for a while getting up to temp. Turning the wheel back and fourth and giving it rpm’s to see if anything would change and I couldn’t see anything squirting out onto the compressor or leaking onto it. But there was a lot of fresh oil right where the hoses for the charcoal canister meet the hard lines under the distributor I’m really thinking something’s slowly leaking from the distributor onto these hoses and onto the compressor Quote Link to comment
Thomas Perkins Posted May 18 Report Share Posted May 18 (edited) 2 hours ago, trjerm said: used a pressure washer on all my vehicles for years and noissues so far Why is that?Mine never gets dirty.You can eat off mine.Overv405,000 miles on mine.Just keep it vlean.Underneath the whole truck is clean. Edited May 18 by Thomas Perkins Quote Link to comment
Thomas Perkins Posted May 18 Report Share Posted May 18 2 hours ago, trjerm said: used a pressure washer on all my vehicles for years and noissues so far Quote Link to comment
Rustbin Posted May 18 Report Share Posted May 18 4 minutes ago, Thomas Perkins said: Why is that?Mine never gets dirty.You can eat off mine. Cause most of us are slobs and don't know as much as you about how to fix the problem so we put it off till we have to. Pressure washing the engine bay is fine if you cover the distributor and carb, as well as not doing something obviously stupid. 1 Quote Link to comment
Thomas Perkins Posted May 18 Report Share Posted May 18 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Rustbin said: Cause most of us are slobs and don't know as much as you about how to fix the problem so we put it off till we have to. Pressure washing the engine bay is fine if you cover the distributor and carb, as well as not doing something obviously stupid. I am a clean freak.Dad made me this way cause he was in the Military.I will cut the grass at my burial plot right before they bury me. Edited May 18 by Thomas Perkins 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted May 18 Report Share Posted May 18 Gravity draws oil downward from above and the blast of air from the fan will push it back. The leak is almost never where you suspect. WTF is your speedometer reading? Quote Link to comment
ElliotV Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 11 hours ago, datzenmike said: WTF is your speedometer reading? When that bad boy hits 88mph you are going to see some weird shit. 1 Quote Link to comment
SamL Posted May 20 Report Share Posted May 20 On 5/18/2026 at 6:11 AM, datzenmike said: Gravity draws oil downward from above and the blast of air from the fan will push it back. The leak is almost never where you suspect. WTF is your speedometer reading? He drives in reverse a lot. Quote Link to comment
Thomas Perkins Posted May 20 Report Share Posted May 20 7 hours ago, SamL said: He drives in reverse a lot. Better on gas. Quote Link to comment
Thomas Perkins Posted May 20 Report Share Posted May 20 Look at how many miles I got on it.Better than new. Quote Link to comment
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