Oil leak near filter - 302

[a_d_a_m]

Apologies if this is common info, but I'm not having any luck with search.

The 302 is starting to leave a few drips on the driveway overnight. Normally, I wouldn't care, but I'm strangely motivated to fix it before it gets worse. I peeked around under the hood and found the general area it seems to be leaking from - right in front of the oil filter.

On the 4.6 cars, the oil filter adapter housing gasket would always fail. Is that a thing that happens on the 5.0s, or should I be thinking otherwise?

[His Royal Ghostliness]

No adapter housing on the 302, filter seals directly against the engine block. What's known to spring a leak in that general location actually lives above filter, it's the oil pressure switch for the warning lights on the dash - should be a wire dropping from the main engine harness down below and behind the power steering pump, follow that wire and you'll find the pressure switch. Said switch seals to the engine block via NPT thread that rarely springs a leak, what does develop leaks is the switch itself, so just popping a new one in place of the factory one should cure your problem. No special tools are needed for the job, just a big socket (I'm thinking like 15/16" or 7/8") and an extension or two and a ratchet. New switch will come with the sealer already applied on its threads, so you don't even have to deal with that - it's literally pull wire off old switch, unscrew old switch, screw new switch on, and reconnect wire to new switch. Do this on a cold engine and oil loss (and skin loss too, due to proximity of exhaust manifold) will be next to none.

[a_d_a_m]

Thanks for the prompt (and hopefully relevant to my problem) response.

I am a 4.6 guy and these 5.0s are new to me!

[His Royal Ghostliness]

Well it's either that, or the timing cover. Timing cover is all oil splash from the chain inside, so not likely to be the culprit. Oil pressure switch is, well, under pressure, so more likely to leak.

Also check your PS pump, that typically drips down the return hose from the steering box but cooling fan up front is pretty good at redirecting fluid leaks to areas where they would normally not be able to reach.

[TecNickal]

Yup ^ what they said. Although there is a special socket for oil pressure switches.

[gadget73]

There is, but you can use a normal socket without problems. I've installed and removed several of them with a regular deep socket in whatever size fits it.

[a_d_a_m]

Well, here's a short video of the wet spot.

https://youtu.be/eW6juavu_BA

The hose on the back of the PS res is wet, but not causing issues. Fluid level is fine.

Oil was about 1.5-2qt low (but was fine at last gas stop and hadn't been consuming a noticeable amount).

When the car is running and I rev it up, I see a definite fluid leak (bubbling/seeping) coming from in front of the oil filter.

Timing cover?

[a_d_a_m]

and if someone could confirm Fel-Pro TCS45450 as a good part number for this repair, I'd be indebted.

[Tiggie]

I'd clean that with some kind of degreaser (http://gunk.com/products/cat_det.asp) then rinse with water. Let it dry and check again for the leak. You don't want to do the timing cover unless you know for certain it's leaking.

[sly]

from that video... it really does look like it's leaking from the oil pressure switch (sensor). You can see the bulk of the shiny stuff around the center of the metal below it and nowhere near the edges and not above it. It does look like it's pooling in that little nook below it a little and may make you think it's coming from the timing cover, but I'm pretty sure it's from the sensor.

[a_d_a_m]

from that video... it really does look like it's leaking from the oil pressure switch (sensor). You can see the bulk of the shiny stuff around the center of the metal below it and nowhere near the edges and not above it. It does look like it's pooling in that little nook below it a little and may make you think it's coming from the timing cover, but I'm pretty sure it's from the sensor.

I haven't had time to jack the car up and really get after it, but I will give this serious consideration. You guys know way more about boxes than I do. I've been a modular man since 2005.

[TecNickal]

Hose it all down...look at it.

Take the air box off and take a peek. Get a little mirror to help. After hosing it all off with brake clean you'll see what it js

[sly]

+1 clean the area to make sure.

[a_d_a_m]

Hose it all down...look at it.

Take the air box off and take a peek. Get a little mirror to help. After hosing it all off with brake clean you'll see what it js

Will do.

After further consideration, the fact that the oil pressure switch is pressurized and the area under the timing cover is not seems to lend credence to it being a switch, and not a timing cover leak. Plus, it was a sudden leak.

And since pantera77 did the HO swap and I can vouch for his abilities, I'm going to degrease and start with the sender...later this week or early next.

[VicCrownVic]

If it ends up being something other than the oil pressure switch we'll go from there, but I agree with everyone else. Clean then watch the switch with the engine running.

When mine sprung a leak I could never figure out where it was leaking until one day when I had the engine running I could see a slight leak in that area so I goosed the throttle and could really see it gush out.