Front is leaking Bad

The TIMING COVER on these engines is the black plastic shield over the belt, not the lower housing over the front of the crankshaft (that would be overhead valve engines).

So behind that cover, there are the front of the valve cover seal (front of valve cover has to go around cam so it's a weird shape and likes to leak there), camshaft seal, auxiliary shaft seal, and crankshaft front seal.

Take the timing cover off, run the motor without it and see where the oil is coming from.

theres a TON of stuff in the front that could leak oil. Non of them are very bad, and I would consider the front crank seal to be the most difficult.
Could be the valve cover gasket, bolt in the cam pulley (needs to be sealed with something because the cam is filled with oil), front crank seal, camshaft seal or aux shaft seal. You'll just have to pull off the front cover and see.
If it is one of the seals, then you can get a short piece of pipe that is the same size as metal ring around the seal. It will make it much easier to bang the new seal in.

bhuff30 said:

bolt in the cam pulley (needs to be sealed with something because the cam is filled with oil)

Click to expand...

NOW you tell me


ANYWAYS the ranger engine bay is a bit shorter so not as much fun to work on as a mustang. Start off removing the belt, radiator fan and waterpump pulley, and crank pulley. I think that is all the accessories in the way? The serpentine belt tensioner (if you have that) may get in the way.

Now if you read a manual they will tell you that you have to drain the cooling system and remove the thermostat housing. The reason for this is an ill placed bolt which is one of the timing cover bolts, and located RIGHT NEXT to the t-stat housing. Before you take this part, try to get that bolt loose by any means. IF you can loosen it enough to slip the cover off, you do not have to worry about removing the t-stat housing.

Find all the 10mm headed bolts and one screw. When you get it off reinstall whatever was removed, hose down the front of the engine so you can see where the oil comes from. I do not suggest using any solvent in there as any petroleum products on the timing belt may ruin it, at least according to the box a new one comes in...

the Pinto's are a little harder than the 2.3 Limas to get to the timing belts. I would say front seal on the crankshaft.

To get these motors to be leak free is a slight challange. New mootors are better designed to prevent leaks a little better.

Take all of the covers off and power clean it to get rid of all the oil. then run it (after it has dried). sometimes you can watch the oil come out. I had one on my distro shaft seal that I could watch the oil just seap out.

it is probably the front main seal and if it is anything like my old 84 2.8 BroncoII then it should be a quick fix. i just had to take the crank pulley off and pop out the old seal and then put the new one in and put the pulley back on and drove. a 2.3 may require more though i'm sure