2.7 2023 Oil Leak - Frustration and Tears that will most likely cause me to miss my annual Colorado off-road trip.

[ChrisCozart]

Frustration: More of a venting post since there is more than a few 2.7 oil leak stories in our threads.

My '23 2-door WildTrak had an oil leak last August that turned out to be a leaking front seal and was fixed under warranty (TSB), which had its own drawn out story (parts took forever, dealer started the work and realized they needed some specialy tool which took more time to order, that part was delayed and eventually arrived so the dealer could finish the work of replacing the front crank seal, BUT while my Bronco was sitting at the dealer for weeks, mice chewed some randome wires that took days to track down and fix.....turned out to be a multi-week event.

• 7/11 - Noticed another oil leak that looked identical to the front crank seal leak I had last year. Scheduled service appt.
• 7/13 - Dropped Bronco at the dealer for the scheduled service appointment
• 7/15 - Initial inspection indicating the leak isn't the new front crank seal but a leaking timing cover and oil pan
• 7/15 - Parts ordered (front cover seal and oil pan seals) but due to some unexplicable reason the parts took nearly 2 weeks to arrive
• 7/24 (Friday) - Parts arrived, work was set to start on 7/27 (Monday) but the mechanic called in sick
• 7/28 work started
• 7/29 received call from dealership telling me the problem is actually a pooly machined timing cover from the factory that needs to be replaced.
• 7/29 Dealership "Emergency Ordered" front cover, with the hope it will be in 7/30 to start the work and needing a full day to put the car together and test, but there was doubt the "emergency order" will actually arrive tomorrow (7/30)....could be 7/31 (Friday), which means the work will most likley carry over into the next week (August)

Tears: The boot to the teeth is I've had an offroad trip planned for months to drive from North Texas to the Rocky Mountains (Alpine Loop / Lake City), leaving this Sunday. If I'd known this issue would have taken so many wrong turn and will now most likely end up causing me to miss this trip, I would have never taken it in until after the trip. And I can't get the Bronco back from the dealer now so I can take my trip and give it back to them when I return becasue, apparantly, the repair work done up to now required the body to come off the frame; they can't/won't put it back together! Trip will most like have to be canceled......money spent, time off work committed, others invested in the event.....all for not! Not a good July for me and my Bronco!

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[Rydfree]

Frustration: More of a venting post since there is more than a few 2.7 oil leak stories in our threads.

My '23 2-door WildTrak had an oil leak last August that turned out to be a leaking front seal and was fixed under warranty (TSB), which had its own drawn out story (parts took forever, dealer started the work and realized they needed some specialy tool which took more time to order, that part was delayed and eventually arrived so the dealer could finish the work of replacing the front crank seal, BUT while my Bronco was sitting at the dealer for weeks, mice chewed some randome wires that took days to track down and fix.....turned out to be a multi-week event.

• 7/11 - Noticed another oil leak that looked identical to the front crank seal leak I had last year. Scheduled service appt.
• 7/13 - Dropped Bronco at the dealer for the scheduled service appointment
• 7/15 - Initial inspection indicating the leak isn't the new front crank seal but a leaking timing cover and oil pan
• 7/15 - Parts ordered (front cover seal and oil pan seals) but due to some unexplicable reason the parts took nearly 2 weeks to arrive
• 7/24 (Friday) - Parts arrived, work was set to start on 7/27 (Monday) but the mechanic called in sick
• 7/28 work started
• 7/29 received call from dealership telling me the problem is actually a pooly machined timing cover from the factory that needs to be replaced.
• 7/29 Dealership "Emergency Ordered" front cover, with the hope it will be in 7/30 to start the work and needing a full day to put the car together and test, but there was doubt the "emergency order" will actually arrive tomorrow (7/30)....could be 7/31 (Friday), which means the work will most likley carry over into the next week (August)

Tears: The boot to the teeth is I've had an offroad trip planned for months to drive from North Texas to the Rocky Mountains (Alpine Loop / Lake City), leaving this Sunday. If I'd known this issue would have taken so many wrong turn and will now most likely end up causing me to miss this trip, I would have never taken it in until after the trip. And I can't get the Bronco back from the dealer now so I can take my trip and give it back to them when I return becasue, apparantly, the repair work done up to now required the body to come off the frame; they can't/won't put it back together! Trip will most like have to be canceled......money spent, time off work committed, others invested in the event.....all for not! Not a good July for me and my Bronco!

Make them pay for a rental. Tell them it is going to be a Jeep.

 

[TomC]

I have an oil leak issue with my 2.3 going on 5 weeks. Heading down a similar path, and they have already pulled the timing chain cover and tried to fix it once. Now on second attempt and awaiting parts as well. Good luck to us both.

 

[TruckCamper]

Having hacks rip apart your truck seems a bad plan... Fix it yourself and move on. Not really "free" when you consider the time, loss of vehicle and frustration.

 

[Valhalla]

Sorry man!

 

[Nc211]

I recently watched a video from a shop in GA about an F150 continuously coming back for an oil leak from the oil pan seal. They replace a few times with no luck, it kept coming back after a few hundred miles or so. Turned out the PCV system was faulty. Something about a revised head cover to allow more channel width for the pressure to escape through. I say this because you’ve had oil leaks through the seals. I’m curious if perhaps the PCV is messed up and pressure is too high. Once the pressure builds and can’t be regulated very well, the oil will always find the weakest point and exploit it.

 

[Returntothefog]

sorry to hear that OP, can you shed some light on where you observe this leak so fellow 2.7 owners can check for their bronco?

 

[ChrisCozart]

I recently watched a video from a shop in GA about an F150 continuously coming back for an oil leak from the oil pan seal. They replace a few times with no luck, it kept coming back after a few hundred miles or so. Turned out the PCV system was faulty. Something about a revised head cover to allow more channel width for the pressure to escape through. I say this because you’ve had oil leaks through the seals. I’m curious if perhaps the PCV is messed up and pressure is too high. Once the pressure builds and can’t be regulated very well, the oil will always find the weakest point and exploit it.

Thanks for the insight. Not sure how to test that or suggest to the dealer to check it while it’s there.

 

[ChrisCozart]

sorry to hear that OP, can you shed some light on where you observe this leak so fellow 2.7 owners can check for their bronco?

There was no oil pooling under the vehicle. I stumbled on the leak only after I removed the front bash plate, right behind the bumper, to do an oil change between factory recommended intervals (24k). I immediatly saw oil residue collecting on the top of the plate. Looking up into the front of the engine area, there are small dops of oil acumulating on the steering components, and up around the pan there is very obvious oil residue on the bottom of the pan and pooling around the oil pan bolt heads.

 

[Jmor]

Frustration: More of a venting post since there is more than a few 2.7 oil leak stories in our threads.

My '23 2-door WildTrak had an oil leak last August that turned out to be a leaking front seal and was fixed under warranty (TSB), which had its own drawn out story (parts took forever, dealer started the work and realized they needed some specialy tool which took more time to order, that part was delayed and eventually arrived so the dealer could finish the work of replacing the front crank seal, BUT while my Bronco was sitting at the dealer for weeks, mice chewed some randome wires that took days to track down and fix.....turned out to be a multi-week event.

• 7/11 - Noticed another oil leak that looked identical to the front crank seal leak I had last year. Scheduled service appt.
• 7/13 - Dropped Bronco at the dealer for the scheduled service appointment
• 7/15 - Initial inspection indicating the leak isn't the new front crank seal but a leaking timing cover and oil pan
• 7/15 - Parts ordered (front cover seal and oil pan seals) but due to some unexplicable reason the parts took nearly 2 weeks to arrive
• 7/24 (Friday) - Parts arrived, work was set to start on 7/27 (Monday) but the mechanic called in sick
• 7/28 work started
• 7/29 received call from dealership telling me the problem is actually a pooly machined timing cover from the factory that needs to be replaced.
• 7/29 Dealership "Emergency Ordered" front cover, with the hope it will be in 7/30 to start the work and needing a full day to put the car together and test, but there was doubt the "emergency order" will actually arrive tomorrow (7/30)....could be 7/31 (Friday), which means the work will most likley carry over into the next week (August)

Tears: The boot to the teeth is I've had an offroad trip planned for months to drive from North Texas to the Rocky Mountains (Alpine Loop / Lake City), leaving this Sunday. If I'd known this issue would have taken so many wrong turn and will now most likely end up causing me to miss this trip, I would have never taken it in until after the trip. And I can't get the Bronco back from the dealer now so I can take my trip and give it back to them when I return becasue, apparantly, the repair work done up to now required the body to come off the frame; they can't/won't put it back together! Trip will most like have to be canceled......money spent, time off work committed, others invested in the event.....all for not! Not a good July for me and my Bronco!

Chris,
Make sure to check Ouray area trail and road conditions they had fires and mudslides recently.
Here are 2 posts..

https://www.facebook.com/OurayWildO...y-07292026heavy-flooding-ha/1362201282721307/

https://www.facebook.com/OurayCountyRoadandBridge/

 

[ChrisCozart]

Chris,
Make sure to check Ouray area trail and road conditions they had fires and mudslides recently.
Here are 2 posts..

https://www.facebook.com/OurayWildO...y-07292026heavy-flooding-ha/1362201282721307/

https://www.facebook.com/OurayCountyRoadandBridge/

Thanks, Jeff. I've been watching the feeds from many of the Lake City, CO socials and news feeds. We'll be coming from that area, which is East of the Ouray County area. That is assuming we get to go. The delaership didn't receive the "emergency order" for the cover this morning and now says it will come tomorrow (Friday). And they said if it comes tomorrow, my Bronco will be ready for pickup on Saturday. We leave on Sunday morning, so any delays with the repair by the time the shop closes at noon on Saturday will force me to miss the trip. Although, I'm still waiting for a response to me asking if they had another Bronco for me to borrow if they don't have mine ready on time. We'll see......

 

[Jmor]

Thanks, Jeff. I've been watching the feeds from many of the Lake City, CO socials and news feeds. We'll be coming from that area, which is East of the Ouray County area. That is assuming we get to go. The delaership didn't receive the "emergency order" for the cover this morning and now says it will come tomorrow (Friday). And they said if it comes tomorrow, my Bronco will be ready for pickup on Saturday. We leave on Sunday morning, so any delays with the repair by the time the shop closes at noon on Saturday will force me to miss the trip. Although, I'm still waiting for a response to me asking if they had another Bronco for me to borrow if they don't have mine ready on time. We'll see......

Hope the bronco gets fixed...

550 was closed both directions from Ouray yesterday as well as hurricane pass, maybe others as well. We've gone 3 times to that area,love it especially in mid to late September when Aspens. Change n weather is fantastic.
Safe travels

 

[Nc211]

Thanks for the insight. Not sure how to test that or suggest to the dealer to check it while it’s there.

A very easy way to check it:

Start the car, while engine is running, open the oil cap on the engine. Piece of paper or something light like that, over the opening. If the sheet of paper is being pulled inward toward the oil opening, the PCV is ok. If it’s being blown outward or just basically sitting still, then the PCV is bad because the pressures have found the weakest link to escape from. This can be done on any car!

 

[Nc211]

Here is the video I was talking about earlier. Older version of the 2.7, but maybe….. it’s worth the watch..

 

[Valhalla]

Nice! Thank you! I like that Dorman pan! I have the Dorman update for the HEEP filter housing, it doesn't leak like the stock Chrysler unit.

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