Oil residue behind the pan?

[281CI96Coupe]

I just do my routine check ups on the GT, and i saw a small drop of oil residue on the card board thats layed down the garage floor. I looked under, and behind the oil pan next to the sway bar (not on sway) theres quite a bunch of oil looking residue. Is this normal for a 12yr old car? 78k miles.

I was thinking of putting the car on ramps, getting brake cleaner and cleaning it. I want to know what Im cleaning first.

-Nate

Disregard recent oil change, residue around the drain plug.

 

[nyuk98gt]

281CI96Coupe:

You have a little ATF drool to clean up, imho. The torque converter has a drain plug that might be seeping, the level in the trans might be a bit high, or the seal on the trans might be oozing a bit. Clean it all up with brake cleaner (keep that far away from the good paint!!) and then watch to see if it comes back. If it does, then trace it to the source. Maybe it has just built up over a long period. I'm betting on the slight ooze from the transmissoin vent (see the film just where the x-pipe makes a bend?). This is easy to clean up and it usually doesn't appear unless the fluid is a bit high and the car has been out for a good long run.

HTH,

Chris

 

[281CI96Coupe]

Thanks man, haha....Yeah about 2 yrs ago, i got my tranny flushed out with a machine, your right it might be kind of high, i will check the level. Thanks for the input chris!

-Nate

 

[the98stang]

That could be coming from anywhere. Start the car and look underneath for dripping. It could coming from up high, like the valve cover gasket, etc.

 

[twogts4us]

Need to determine if it's ATF or oil - smell it...
Oil has been known to leak from various places up top, ck around your valve covers and PVC valve.

 

[DerekStangGT]

you, my friend, look to have a leaking rear main seal, which is extremely common on Fords. mine's been seeping for the past 8k miles or so (im at 65k miles). im too lazy to fix it, so ive been adding a bit more oil on oil changes, and checking every 1k miles or so.

 

[281CI96Coupe]

Sounds laborious and a lot of money....

 

[DerekStangGT]

rear mains are one of the few true headaches with vehicles. it requires removal of the tranny (4-5 hrs labor) and all for a $3 seal

 

[35thstang99]

i had the same problem excpet it was all over the under neather of the engine...and i found out it was the main seal it...5 hours later and some cleaning underneath it was fixed....i heard the main seal was a problem on fords but im not 100% sure on that.

to the orignal poster its a high posibilty its the main seal it sucks for 3 dollars like said above but it must be done.