The 7.3
PowerStroke is one of the most attractive Ford engines in the class. As it's
very reliable, it is used in many trucks and other vehicles. But, this
is not very efficient, and some 7.3 Powerstroke common oil leaks are critical issues for the engine.
You must always keep an eye on the oil leaks as they reduce engine oil and ultimately cause potential issues. Also, leaking oil from your vehicle's engine pollutes nature and your garage. As a result, we will discuss these common issues with their possible solutions.
Symptoms Of The 7.3 Powerstroke Common Oil Leaks
Some
symptoms are below that indicate oil leaking issues in your 7.3 Powerstroke:
Checking Engine Light
(CEL)
If HPOP o-ring leaks, it won't cause a CEL or any other major drivability troubles until it reduces oil flow to the 7.3 injectors. When this issue occurs, pull over the engine valley and inspect it for oil.
Lower Reservoir
Checking your engine's reservoir level is a simple way to find oil leaks. It should have up to ¾ to 1 inch of oil from the inspection plug's top.
Causing A Gradual Power
losing
It's
another good symptom of oil leaks because of low pressure from the oil delivery
mechanism. If the startup pressure is less than 500psi, they may not fire in
any way.
Some Of The Most Common Oil Leaks In
The 7.3 PowerStroke
We have
categorized some common leaking spots that allow you to manage them quickly, or
at least you can locate them where they're leaking from the engine. Below are
some common spots where oil leaking happens in the 7.3 PowerStroke:
Oil Pump
It's
not very tough to locate a leaking oil pump. Usually, the leakage happens
heavily as the PowerStroke is designed with a high-pressure pump for oil
discharge. If you realize it's leaking, you must repair it as soon as possible
because it can sprinkle oil on the road.
The gasket of The Oil Pan
Oil
leaks most commonly happen in this spot in the PowerStroke engine. The oil pan
is aluminum; it can lose its original shape when it hits anything.
As a
result, the gasket can't save the raised situations anymore. Sometimes it
requires changing the gasket, sometimes it doesn't work, and sometimes it needs
the replacement of the oil pan.
Turbocharger
Regrettably,
the 7.3 PowerStroke's reliable turbocharger is prone to oil leaking. It remains
unnoticeable when it starts. But, eventually, this leak produces black smoke
that causes issues with its turbocharger.
Valley
This
spot remains between the HPOP and the turbocharger that leaks very often. It
stays above the engine, and leaked oil comes down onto the location of its main
seal. Therefore, you can think that its main seal may require replacement,
which is not always correct.
Main Seal
It
frequently happens after running 150000 miles; that's the youth of the engine,
and this main seal can commit suicide saying goodbye. Then, you'll need to
replace the costly primary seal and spend some money that's tough to do.
Small Seals & Rings
Some
seals and rubber components are prone to wear and damage. They can discontinue
functioning correctly and finally start dripping oil. Sometimes, it becomes
tough to find the location of the issue.
However,
the possible leaking spots may be the upper and lower parts requiring care
checking. Both the turbocharger and HPOP can drip and send oil there.
How To Deal With These Oil Leaks?
Initially,
it would help if you kept in mind that checking the oil level of the
PowerStroke is very important. When you take it too lightly to watch this oil
level frequently, you can get into potential issues.
If you
find the engine is leaking oil heavily, avoid driving the vehicle and even
starting its engine. As you know, the engine comes with a high-pressure oil pump, so all leaks would be dangerous.
Also, you must be careful with the light of
the oil level that doesn't always flash until its oil level reaches extremely
low. If the light flashes because of low oil pressure, it could be delayed to
save this engine.
But,
when it comes to dealing with its leaks, it's not too hard. First, find the
location of the issues and replace the malfunctioning components using the new
ones.
FAQs & Answers Section
Let's
know about some FAQs with their answers that you might be looking for:
How Good Is The 7.3 Powerstroke Engine?
The 7.3
Powerstroke is one of Ford's most durable and reliable diesel engines. The
engine was produced before creating some regulations for diesel engines.
So, it doesn't have emissions controls that make the engine less complicated.
How Can You Make Your 7.3 Powerstroke
Run Better?
Getting
more air into your 7.3 Powerstroke engine is a great way to make it
robust. But, that air must come out of the engine correctly. It calls
an exhausting system that reduces back-pressure and increases power.
Why Does Oil Leak From Your
Bellhousing?
Your
engine has bolted to the bell housing in front of the transmission system. The
oil drips down into your bell housing if its main seal leaks. It results in oil
dropping the bell housing bottom.
What Is The Best Type Of Oil For The
7.3 Powerstroke?
The
best engine oil for the 7.3 Powerstroke is the 15W-15 recommended by Ford.
Final Words
Finding and fixing the 7.3 Powerstroke common oil leaks will allow you to drive it many miles for years. Because of high-pressure oil circulation, these oil leaks are common.
If you
find oil drops in and under the engine, investigate the vehicle and
solve the issue correctly. Otherwise, a simple leak may be a big issue very
soon.