92 Pickup 4cyl 4wd

I have a small oil leak behind this little bellows. This is located under the truck about a foot south of the front axle.



Thanks

 

That would be the clutch slave cylinder and the boot is what covers the opening in the side of the bell housing for the clutch fork that the s/c pushes on.

 

if there is a leak from there it is either the rear main or front trans seal

 

You'll know for sure in a couple of days, cause if it is leaking enough oil or grease in the bell housing to throw it out the clutch lever boot, you are about to have serious problems if you are not adding a lot of oil or grease.

In a little while...
A) the clutch will soak up enough oil/grease to start slipping bad.
B) the tranny or motor will lock up from lack of lube.

You can pop that boot out of the bell housing to see what is going on in there a little. Just don't try it while it is running. It isn't that hard to pop back in. At least you will be able to tell if the inside of the bell housing is indeed coated with oil/grease.

 

It's not a fast leak. I have a bit of grease and oil in several spots.
I was told it leaks oil about a quart every 3K. I changed the oil when I got it and it's been 3-4K and oil is still okay.

I'm just trying to find any worry spots. I've seen that one for a while and have wiped it off a few times and after a week or so it starts to accumulate again.

It hasn't been slipping at all. I'm looking thru Chilton's... Dosen't look that easy to check the oil level. Says I need to raise it.
We'll see about that.

 

If you have a leak out of the back of the valve cover it'll actually leak down the back of the engine and around the trans, and look like its coming out of there. Are you sure thats where its coming out of? or might it be coming from somewhere above there?

 

I do have a pretty oily spot on the back and bottom portion of the engine. Just a little above the slave cyl for clutch. Although not much oil comes out of it (or at least engine oil) because I've checked it often and it seems to still all be there.

Maybe I'll try to check the tranny oil and engine brite the metal parts under there to clean things up a little and try to find where it's coming from...
I know that stuff is bad to get on non metal parts, so if I'm careful, is this still a bad idea?

 

You don't need engine brite, though I don't know if it will hurt anything. Just get a can or two of Quick Start Fluid. It is almost 100% ether and will cut the oil right off. Spray then wipe with a rag and spray again.