oil, oil everywhere

Hello. What would cause a sudden, huge oil leak in a 96 Windstar? Unfortunately the leak doesnt appear to be coming from the filter or the oil pan plug. :banghead: please let me know if you have had similar problems. thanks.

I once had a oil pressure sender (on a Mercury Lynx) split and spray oil all underhood. You might have a look .... usually on the rear (RH side) of the V6 engine.

thanks 120unce for responding. will work on the windstar on saturday. anyone else have a huge oil leak before? the white driveway is getting ruined fast. PLEASE HELP . thanks.

Did you do or have done an oil change lately. The guys at the oil change place never tighten my filter enough and if I dont check it I have a puddle under the van. Check for a leak in the power steering hose. Have someone turn the wheel while watching under the hood. I once had a problem and it was a small hole and unless there was alot of pressure say from turning the wheel it wouldnt leak.

On the '96 3.8L engine, the oil pressure sensor is under the bracket that holds the power steering pump and alternator.
I have it shown in a picture that has the bracket removed.
There is also a oil level sensor....on the oil pan.....back side.....above the drain plug.

You can look to see where the spot(s) on the driveway appear, relative to the part of the vehicle that is directly above it......you can also do this with a piece of cardboard.
Look straight up from where the oil spot is, and follow from there.

One easy mistake to make.....is that the old gasket from the old oil filter stays stuck onto the filter mount flange......then you have a double gasket...and oil can leak out there.
I am guessing that you already checked the drain plug.
I have read a post or so of a hole rusting in the oil pan.

Another thing to do.....as you are loosing a lot of fluid......check the fluid levels to see which one is low.
The ones to check are engine oil, Power steering, and transmission.
Follow the correct process......
Vehicle on level ground, oil with engine off, power steering with engine off (go by the dip stick as there is supposed to be a lot of room for expansion).
Transmission, with engine running at idle, warm, and in Park.

I have a 98 Windstar with the 3.8L and just developed an oil leak right above the oil filter. Doesn't appear to be oil filter itself, I suspect the oil pressure sending unit, but can't figure out how to reach it. Does anyone have a picture.

The Haynes manual shows where the 3.0 is, but is a little contradictory about the 3.8L... Says it's on the lower left (driver's side) corner of the engine, near the oil filter. However the oil filter is on the right (passenger side).

This all coincidentally started right after I had the plugs and wires changed. Any connection?

Good chance the pressure sensor body was damaged when someone was trying to get the plugs loose.

That sendor is kinda buried.

redundant2
The sending unit is about six or eight inches above the oil filter on the front of the engine. The front is where the crankshaft pulley and the water pump are. Remember this is a front wheel drive van so the engine is turned to the right or passenger side. It is hard to get at and see but its there.

I would expect that, on the '98, it will be the same place as on my '96.
I have it shown in one of my pictures.
You will need to remove the alluminum bracket that holds the power steering pump and alternator to get at it....or even really see it.

Turned out to be a crack in my oil filter. Nice quick and easy fix.

Thanks for the help