Troubleshooting Leaking Oil

[FloridaTestCenter]

I was able to purchase a 1972 Ford F250 truck. I am very excited. As a disclaimer, I am very much a novice when it comes to working on vehicles, but I am more than willing to learn.

The first thing I notice is that it is leaking (drips, not pouring out) what looks to be black fluid. Looking under the truck the bottom of the chassis is all covered in oil/dirt. I am guessing that it is leaking steering fluid. I wanted to get advice here before I proceed. A friend said I should get brake cleaner and spray it all down to clean the old gunk away so I can get eyes on where the leak is coming from. When I drive the truck from the street to my garage (covering 30 feet of concrete driveway, there are about 10 to 15 drops typically. Once I turn it off and let it sit, the drips slow and stop.

what do you advise me to do? Thank you in advance and I look forward to learning from folks here and eventually contributing to the community.

[Twisted_Steel]

Power wash the underside of the engine or either drive it to the car wash and spray it there. Careful where you aim.
If it is black fluid, it's probably engine oil. Usual leaking culprits are rear main seal, front seal, oil pan gasket and valve cover gaskets. As far as your power steering fluid is concerned, that is usually red, same as transmission fluid.. so unless that fluid is as old as the truck, it'll still have a red tint. Then again... possibility of multiple leaks.. sorry.. just saying

Good luck

[sargentrs]

Also, put a big piece of cardboard on the driveway where you park it. Next day, crawl under and narrow down where it drips from. Hopefully it won't be the front or rear of the engine

[tnlprt]

It also helps to know which engine

[elgemcdlf]

I am with Randy on this. If it is dripping while driving it is most likely a pressure leak. Read that as rear main. Again the cardboard will help isolate it. It really could be anything. The truck is hugging 50 years old.

[fordman]

Oil leaks can come from intake front and rear. Valve covers and front cover seal and rear main seal.
Look on top of trans right behind intake and see how wet it looks. Also just below and around valve covers and the bolts. You can also be able to see oil wetness from front seal behind the crank pulley balancer. If its pretty dry in those places that leaves rear main and the oil pan gasket i forgot to mention. Also look at the drain plug on the oil pan. Basically look for wetness. Oil will be black power steering and auto transmission fluid is red.