I was logged out somehow when i clicked submit the first time, and lost everything i typed, so this is my second go!

I own a 1996 lincoln MKVIII with the 4.6L DOHC 32v

It has an oil leak at the oil filter adapter housing

Here are the pictures:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...3&l=855c93348a

At first i thought it was a power steering leak because sometimes when i start it up the power steering whines real ****in loud for a few minutes until it warms up, but this is what i assume is the hoses deteriorating internally and clogging the power steering pump up.

As you can see in one of the pictures, the power steering reservoir has remained very full, however it has gone from a clean ATF color to a nasty burnt smelly brown color, so i dont think my power steering system has much time left.

It leaks about a quart of oil a month, so i know this must be oil blowing all over the bottom of the car.

The sensor on the oil filter adapter and the plug on the bottom of the oil filter adapter both have bright orange tape on them so i assume i am not the first person to tackle this leak.

Has anyone had a leak in the same spot, is this a common occurance in these engines, is my diagnosis correct, etc

thanks in advance for any and all advice and support!

mustang power!!!!

 

the orange is factory sealant, seen several that way. it looks to be the gasket between the block an the adapter or a cracked adapter. either way, remove the adapter, check for cracks. if none, install with new gasket.

 

while u have it off just rebuild the whole oil cooler

 

mark viii's didn't have the oil coolers, at least the 93 and 97 engines I picked up didn't and in his pics, it looks like his doesn't either

 

Thats correct, I didn't look at the pic originally but theres definatly no oil cooler there.