What is this and why is it leaking oil?

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SigEp418

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I’ve come out to a small puddle of oil under my truck the past two days. See the pics below. This area appears to be where it’s coming from. What part is this and why is it leaking. Only 44k miles. It’s circled in blue. Thanks!3491DD76-E299-45AA-9AB2-008F7D4F0406.jpeg64F51DDB-C93E-4FDC-BF05-1D9DB53D05B1.jpeg
 

EdGs

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No, not since 05/2022. Could it be coming from the filter?
Could be. Need to take a closer look to see if you can tell where it is coming from.

That is the bottom of the electric power steering rack. As @ThunderMug95 and @HuskerRam said, your oil filter is directly above the rack, and oil will get on it during oil/filter changes, so it could be old stuff. A little brakleen on a rag will clean it up nicely.

If the oil is just on the bottom there, see if it is fresh. I would be concerned that the gearbox of the rack might be leaking, but that would be a rare thing, IMO. Plus, the gearbox would have a heavy oil or most likely grease in it.

The biggest thing would be to see if it's running down from somewhere else (most likely).

Keep us posted.
 
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SigEp418

SigEp418

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I’m gonna try to tighten the filter when I get home today. I found a post on a different forum where the filter had rattled loose and was dripping oil from the same place as mine. I am going on 9 months without an oil change. I have a company car, so luckily this isn’t my dd.
 

HuskerRam

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I’m gonna try to tighten the filter when I get home today. I found a post on a different forum where the filter had rattled loose and was dripping oil from the same place as mine. I am going on 9 months without an oil change. I have a company car, so luckily this isn’t my dd.
Good call. I always had a loose filter when the dealership changed my oil. Started doing it myself and solved the problem!
 

EdGs

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Good call. I always had a loose filter when the dealership changed my oil. Started doing it myself and solved the problem!
Yep, I always tell people, if you have somebody do an oil change, please check it BEFORE you leave, just in case.

I know of people who had too litlle or too much oil put in and a couple who had NO oil put in. CRAP HAPPENS.
 

1979PowerWagon360

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Good call. I always had a loose filter when the dealership changed my oil. Started doing it myself and solved the problem!
I only do my changes myself. Nowadays finding anyone that does anything 100% properly is extremely difficult! One thing for sure is it takes more than ten minutes to fully drain. Then I make sure I'm using a clean funnel; do they? And I'm super careful about not under or over tightening the filter. OCD? I guess I am but I never have a problem.

Ever had an oil filter gasket stick to the vehicle and therefore have two gaskets when new filter is installed? I've seen it happen and talk about leaks! So I always make sure the gasket came off with the filter.
 
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SigEp418

SigEp418

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Yep it was a loose filter. There was an obvious drip coming off the bottom of the filter and I was able to get about 1/3 of a turn with my hand.

I’m not mad at my shop, it has been 9 months since the oil was changed. I’m sure it just slightly vibrated a little loose over time.

I’m thankful for forums like this and the knowledgeable people on here. Thanks for all the help!
 

grizzstang

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When I was running the recommended small oil filter mine came loose a few times.

Now that I run the larger oil filter for the pre 2012 Hemi's it never comes loose.

I am tightening them the same way by hand like I always do so I have no explanation why the filter size made a difference for me.
 

HuskerRam

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I only do my changes myself. Nowadays finding anyone that does anything 100% properly is extremely difficult! One thing for sure is it takes more than ten minutes to fully drain. Then I make sure I'm using a clean funnel; do they? And I'm super careful about not under or over tightening the filter. OCD? I guess I am but I never have a problem.

Ever had an oil filter gasket stick to the vehicle and therefore have two gaskets when new filter is installed? I've seen it happen and talk about leaks! So I always make sure the gasket came off with the filter.
I've never had the double-gasket problem, but it's certainly something I look for when I remove the filter.
 

Shawn Burns

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This is why I perform my own oil changes. I'm glad to know the OP found the issue and it's resolved.
That is my point exactly. I invest in new tools and the knowledge of learning when I have to do new maintenance. That way I am good going forward. No one will care as much about my vehicles as I do.
 

Ratman6161

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That is my point exactly. I invest in new tools and the knowledge of learning when I have to do new maintenance. That way I am good going forward. No one will care as much about my vehicles as I do.
For some of us, doing it ourselves is just not a practical option. The picture says it all keeping in mind that I don't have a heated place to work and the temperature yesterday morning was -4F. My strategy is to find a shop I trust and stick with them. Even for those of you with the skills and the time to fix things yourself, sooner or later you will need a pro at a shop. If you can't trust said shopwith an oil change, how can you trust them with anything else? My theory is I'll try them out with small stuff that I can check myself after to get an indication of how trustworthy they are. Finally, the only screwed up oil change i ever had was the first one I did myself and that was 43 years ago. Cran,Ed the filter down too tight causing it to leak.20230227_105006.jpg
 

Marshall

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I wish that I could go that long between oil changes and not put so many miles on my truck.

Almost 135k in just shy of 5-1/2 years. Gonna keep her 'til the wheels fall off.
I have never ran the wheel off, had a couple your feet would get wet in the rain , but that was old Japanese iron. my 2014 is about 80,000Km, about 50,000miles; Wife's 2008 honda AWD Honda CRV is about the same.
BTW that looks like steering rake, clean it off and look after next drive. Stick a sheet of cardboard under it, easy to see if still leaking. A filter leaking? pull it off and put a new one on, don't reuse it and no pipewrenches and silly ****.
PS reread, missed the part about the loose filter, good news.
 
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