Oil & Fuel Oil leak

[Eastbx]

Hey Guys,
This is my first time posting on this site. I'm also a 1st time tractor owner. I purchased a New Holland 2004 TC40A recently and it has been working as expected. I was performing a quick inspection after some light yard work when I noticed a small leak on the left side just below the starter. The oil seems to be coming from a bolt just above the oil pan. I've attached some photos to help pin point and maybe shed some light. Hoping for some good advice on how to address... Thanks to all.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Take a closer look and see if the oil is coming from some where else and is just coming out there. The only way it could leak from there is if there was a crack.
Bill

 

[Eastbx]

Take a closer look and see if the oil is coming from some where else and is just coming out there. The only way it could leak from there is if there was a crack.
Bill

A crack behind that plate? I'll take a closer look maybe it's coming from somewhere else??? I hope.


Well I checked further... It looks like its coming from the bolt itself. I didn't find any cracks, though. I attached some pix. Can there, I hope, be a simple remedy?

 

[jinman]

I think you get a lot of air from the fan blowing back over the engine and it might be oil seeping out your drain plug on that side and blowing up onto the side and back of the oil pan. Wash the area good with a cleaner like Simple Green or a purple cleaner so that it is dry and then watch that area closely for evidence of a leak. Once a leak has spread around, it is nearly impossible to trace. I have a tiny leak in my power steering reservoir and it ends up everywhere. I don't think that is your problem because it's on the right side of the engine, but I do think your leak could be coming from the engine drain plug.

 

[dynasim]

Is there a leak(drops of oil), or is it just dirty. I would note that the exhaust exit is in close proximity, and will leave behind an oily film on a cool surface.

If it were me, I would loosen those bolts(one at a time, and replacing it before moving on), and see if there is oil behind them. If there wasn't, I would not fret.

If you got this used recently, someone may have had a hydraulic connection in the area, and just wiped the surface before selling it. The residual oil will still attract dust, and would not have been seen by casual inspection.

Good luck,
Chris

 

[Eastbx]

I think you get a lot of air from the fan blowing back over the engine and it might be oil seeping out your drain plug on that side and blowing up onto the side and back of the oil pan. Wash the area good with a cleaner like Simple Green or a purple cleaner so that it is dry and then watch that area closely for evidence of a leak. Once a leak has spread around, it is nearly impossible to trace. I have a tiny leak in my power steering reservoir and it ends up everywhere. I don't think that is your problem because it's on the right side of the engine, but I do think your leak could be coming from the engine drain plug.

I did just that this morning, I cleaned area then let the engine run/warm up and the oil is clearly visible coming from the lower right bolt. Sorry for my inexperience with tractors but is that bolt the "engine drain plug"?

 

[smstonypoint]

I did just that this morning, I cleaned area then let the engine run/warm up and the oil is clearly visible coming from the lower right bolt. Sorry for my inexperience with tractors but is that bolt the "engine drain plug"?

Finally, a mechanical question I can answer with confidence. No, that's not the oil drain plug -- that plug is at the bottom of your oil pan. That pan looks sort of like a roasting pan and is featured in the third photo of your original post.

Steve

 

[Eastbx]

Is there a leak(drops of oil), or is it just dirty. I would note that the exhaust exit is in close proximity, and will leave behind an oily film on a cool surface.

If it were me, I would loosen those bolts(one at a time, and replacing it before moving on), and see if there is oil behind them. If there wasn't, I would not fret.

If you got this used recently, someone may have had a hydraulic connection in the area, and just wiped the surface before selling it. The residual oil will still attract dust, and would not have been seen by casual inspection.

Good luck,
Chris

Well I removed the bolts one at a time and replaced. When I removed the "suspect" bolt, bottom right, I found a small amount of oil in the cavity and on threads of bolt . I cleaned both and reinstalled bolt. I ran tractor with no load for about 40mins and so far no leak. And I also removed the "suspect" bolt again and found no new oil.

Do I have to still worry about the oil I found in the cavity?

Although it was hard to make out, eyes aren't as good as they use to be, I didnt find any cracks in cavity?

By the way I'd like to thank all you Gentlemen in advance, for your experience, knowledge and insight!

 

[Jerry/MT]

Well I removed the bolts one at a time and replaced. When I removed the "suspect" bolt, bottom right, I found a small amount of oil in the cavity and on threads of bolt . I cleaned both and reinstalled bolt. I ran tractor with no load for about 40mins and so far no leak. And I also removed the "suspect" bolt again and found no new oil.

Do I have to still worry about the oil I found in the cavity?

Although it was hard to make out, eyes aren't as good as they use to be, I didnt find any cracks in cavity?

By the way I'd like to thank all you Gentlemen in advance, for your experience, knowledge and insight!

I would keep a close watch to see if you have any more oil show up around that bolt, but I suspect some one removed the bolt and oiled it up before replacing it.

 

[jinman]

I agree with Jerry and/or the oil got around the bolt and you didn't get it all gone on the first cleaning. You are on top of this problem now and will watch this area like a hawk. At this point, that's the best thing you can do. Certainly, no oil should be coming out of the casting around the bolts if everything is normal.

BTW: :welcome: to TBN. I got involved in your problem and forgot my manners. As you can tell, it's a friendly and helpful group here. Feel free to ask all the questions you need. If I'm not mistaken, your tractor is a rare 2WD TC40A. Correct?