Steering pump fluid or oil leak diagnosis

Hey y’all, I’ve recently been getting a squeal from the front of my engine and I suspected it to be a bad pulley or something. While I was trying to diagnosis that I stumbled upon a bit of oil/fluid on the front side of my engine again and was hoping you guys might be able to help and give insight based on your past repairs. My best guess is that it’s coming from the power steering pump or the small timing chain cover right above it(I would prefer this since it’s a cheaper and easier fix). My truck has also had a humming noise for sometime that happens inconsistently, maybe that is connected. I will upload a video of that noise as well as pictures of my engine. I tried to get as many angles of the area as I could. It’s also possible the squeal(separate bad belt or pulley sound) I’ve been hearing could just be caused by the oil/fluid on the pulleys and belt…













(I will upload the video it is having trouble uploading from my phone)
update: idk how to upload videos on this damn site lol

 

Timing chain cover is most likely.

What I would do requires a new belt.

Degrease the engine and wash it super clean (at a car wash quickly they dont like this lol). This will 100% screw up the current belt. It needs to be changed after it dries.

Then monitor the leak and its origin.

 

Yeah my plan was to clean it up and try to see where it’s coming from. Thanks for the comment

 

Planting this seed now, because its an 05, if it does happen to be a timing cover, consider replacing the chain and tensioners as a "while you're at it"

 

The way it looks like the belt and fan are slinging it around I wonder if it isn't the front crank seal leaking.

 

I would hope not considering I replaced it a year or two ago. If it failed already that would be sad...

 

I have pretty low confidence in parts anymore.

Typically the normal timing cover leak doesn't get picked up and slung around by the belt though.

In any case I'd do what @Bishop84 suggested, clean it up and find the source.
You could even put some leak detection dye in the oil and use a UV light to locate it if the source isn't readily apparent.

 

I've seen plugged PCV's cause recurring crank seals. Probably wouldn't hurt to check it and see if its free.

 

Yeah it also could have been that I thought it was leaking from there when I replaced the crankshaft seal and it was really just leaking somewhere higher. Its hard to tell. Its not like dripping oil or anything so Im not really ready to spend any money yet, but I think my best course of action is to clean it all off and try to see where its coming from

 

I know what that is obviously but for everyone who doesnt could you explain what the PCV is

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIF1_Xit-fs

If it sticks, it means the pressure in the engine has no wear to go and will find a way out. Often results in blown seals, not slow leaks. Again doesnt hurt.

You just remove it, shake it to hear the ball, and maybe shoot some penetrating fluid or intake cleaner on it to make sure its clean.

 

Gotcha, thanks for the recommendation I will for sure check on that. So the PCV valve is like a pressure escape?

 

timing cover and PS pump? Maybe.
Valve covers? Looks like it. You can do VCG’s, clean, and re evaluate. Or throw more parts at it you want.

idk how involved the timing cover job is.

other cars I’ve had generally have the pump go bad around 10/100 and I put a new one. I don’t act like my truck is somehow any different, made of gold, and refuse to do any work on it. But everyone is different.

PS pump is supposedly rebuildable. If mine was confirmed leaking I would not be vehemently against putting a new one or rebuilding it. Rather than play the Russian roulette of how many miles can I get away with before it breaks at the worst time like on a desolate trail.

also, the PS hoses tend to dry up, their connection seal is no longer sealing, and that leaks too.

id imagine that square cover is just an inspection port that can be taken off, cleaned, and resealed. Rather than the whole entire front timing cover.

 

Lot of long term residue makes internet diagnostics difficult. My $is on a leaking valve cover gasket.

 

Hey y’all I cleaned it up and have been keeping an eye on it and my best guess is the small timing cover. It seems to be a very slow leak so I thought I’d just replace the gasket anyways since it’s such a cheap and easy job. Two quick questions though, which side of the gasket goes towards the engine? There is one side of it that has a blue line around it. Also do you recommend using any type of gasket material on it, if so what kind? Or is it fine to just use only the gasket? Thanks in advance for your wisdom!