• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


Oil Leak!!!

Messages
260
Reactions
96
Points
27
Location
Safety Harbor, FL, USA
#1
I recently noticed that my skidplate/splash guard underneath the engine is saturated in oil on my 2020 ST. Has anyone had this issue? I have seen examples where the hub actuator seal has gone bad and to replace it is a nightmare. Bought the car less than six months ago from the Ford dealership!!!!
IMG_2690.JPG
 

OP
mcfarlrm
Messages
260
Reactions
96
Points
27
Location
Safety Harbor, FL, USA
Thread Starter #3
Take it to the dealership
Scheduled for next Monday. Along with this, open recall on catalytic converter, hard shifting transmission, rattle from wastegate and possible engine knock.... Already contacted Ford directly and they are sending out a tech to the dealership too. Pretty pathetic for a 2020 with only 20k miles that cost almost $60k out the door.
 

Messages
359
Reactions
204
Points
37
Location
Buffalo, NY, USA
#4
Scheduled for next Monday. Along with this, open recall on catalytic converter, hard shifting transmission, rattle from wastegate and possible engine knock.... Already contacted Ford directly and they are sending out a tech to the dealership too. Pretty pathetic for a 2020 with only 20k miles that cost almost $60k out the door.
Yes but in the grand scheme of things.. from the most expensive vehicle to the least expensive vehicle.. there will always be problems. Man made/machine made will always have flaws here and there.

I used to work at an Audi/BMW dealership and they also have had plenty of horror stories with vehicles breaching 100k.
 

OP
mcfarlrm
Messages
260
Reactions
96
Points
27
Location
Safety Harbor, FL, USA
Thread Starter #5
Yes but in the grand scheme of things.. from the most expensive vehicle to the least expensive vehicle.. there will always be problems. Man made/machine made will always have flaws here and there.

I used to work at an Audi/BMW dealership and they also have had plenty of horror stories with vehicles breaching 100k.
Still a shame though. I've never had this many issues with any of the six vehicles I've owned before. Never had a single issue with my 2015 Audi S5 but can't say the same for anything BMW related.
 

Messages
171
Reactions
70
Points
27
Location
Belleville, IL, USA
#6
Still a shame though. I've never had this many issues with any of the six vehicles I've owned before. Never had a single issue with my 2015 Audi S5 but can't say the same for anything BMW related.
I mean it sucks don't get me wrong, but you always need to take these thing into consideration on total redesign first year vehicle as well. I was going to get a 2020 when I first seen them debuted....but I had a feeling about issues on it and held out for a 2021. Granted it is horrible to have all the issues you stated above.
 

Messages
359
Reactions
204
Points
37
Location
Buffalo, NY, USA
#7
I mean it sucks don't get me wrong, but you always need to take these thing into consideration on total redesign first year vehicle as well. I was going to get a 2020 when I first seen them debuted....but I had a feeling about issues on it and held out for a 2021. Granted it is horrible to have all the issues you stated above.
I believe just this morning I started to hear the flex pipe rattle on my 21.. first hint of an issue with 12,000 miles on it. Going to wait until tomorrow morning to really take a good listen on a cold start.
 

Messages
171
Reactions
70
Points
27
Location
Belleville, IL, USA
#8
I believe just this morning I started to hear the flex pipe rattle on my 21.. first hint of an issue with 12,000 miles on it. Going to wait until tomorrow morning to really take a good listen on a cold start.
I thought I had that as well, I faintly heard something twice but have not heard it again....it seemed it only happened when it was extremely cold outside.
 

Messages
359
Reactions
204
Points
37
Location
Buffalo, NY, USA
#9
I recently noticed that my skidplate/splash guard underneath the engine is saturated in oil on my 2020 ST. Has anyone had this issue? I have seen examples where the hub actuator seal has gone bad and to replace it is a nightmare. Bought the car less than six months ago from the Ford dealership!!!!
View attachment 10987
Can probably assume no but have you had your first oil change yet?
 

OP
mcfarlrm
Messages
260
Reactions
96
Points
27
Location
Safety Harbor, FL, USA
Thread Starter #10
Can probably assume no but have you had your first oil change yet?
I have not. They did an oil change prior to me picking it up form the dealer and Ford confirmed. I checked the oil and it looks good and at the right level. I'm hoping that it may have been residual spillage when changing the oil and will know more on Monday when I take it into the dealer.
 

Messages
354
Reactions
249
Points
37
Location
Cincinnati, OH, USA
#11
someone may have just been uber messy when they removed the drain plug. The OEM plug is plastic and is very easy to break, especially if you get frustrating trying to remove it! I would definitely check your oil level ASAP.
 

Messages
171
Reactions
70
Points
27
Location
Belleville, IL, USA
#12
someone may have just been uber messy when they removed the drain plug. The OEM plug is plastic and is very easy to break, especially if you get frustrating trying to remove it! I would definitely check your oil level ASAP.
This is the honestly crazy when I first heard this awhile back........not sure why the went the plastic route
 

Jeppo

Active Member
Messages
506
Reactions
287
Points
82
Location
Davidson County, NC
Vehicle
2021 ST
#13
What’s next, plastic pistons? o_O
 

ZRX61

Member
U.S. Air Force Veteran
Messages
315
Reactions
195
Points
37
Location
L A, CA, USA
#14
Guy I know has an Audi. I can always tell when he's taken it in for an oil change because of the oil on the driveway for a week. This also happened with his previous 4 or 5 vehicles. No idea where he takes them, I don't want to ask in case he asks me for help & I just KNOW it will result in multiple cases of the *ever sinces*
 

JohnE

Active Member
Messages
513
Reactions
281
Points
82
Location
Vancouver, WA, USA
#15
That plastic plug will not break as long as you release it correctly. I found that it works well; quick to release and close.
 

OP
mcfarlrm
Messages
260
Reactions
96
Points
27
Location
Safety Harbor, FL, USA
Thread Starter #16
someone may have just been uber messy when they removed the drain plug. The OEM plug is plastic and is very easy to break, especially if you get frustrating trying to remove it! I would definitely check your oil level ASAP.
Checked the level again this morning and it's still good. Hoping it's just spillage and not the oil pan or the hub actuator. This video below from a hub actuator leak looks like a pain in the ass to fix.

 

Messages
409
Reactions
113
Points
37
Location
Toronto, ON, Canada
#17
Checked the level again this morning and it's still good. Hoping it's just spillage and not the oil pan or the hub actuator. This video below from a hub actuator leak looks like a pain in the ass to fix.

Yeah...I heard if it is the actuator you are looking at a huge job. There's 4 bolts that have to come off and 2 of them require taking apart much of the car lol.
I believe I saw a video on this from a ford guy on Youtube who is a mechanic and showed just how much labor it is to fix this for apparently a 60 cent seal.
6hrs of labor if I'm not mistaken.
 

OP
mcfarlrm
Messages
260
Reactions
96
Points
27
Location
Safety Harbor, FL, USA
Thread Starter #18
Yeah...I heard if it is the actuator you are looking at a huge job. There's 4 bolts that have to come off and 2 of them require taking apart much of the car lol.
I believe I saw a video on this from a ford guy on Youtube who is a mechanic and showed just how much labor it is to fix this for apparently a 60 cent seal.
6hrs of labor if I'm not mistaken.
Good thing for warranties if this is the case...
 

OP
mcfarlrm
Messages
260
Reactions
96
Points
27
Location
Safety Harbor, FL, USA
Thread Starter #19
Oil leak ended up being spillage from the last oil change....
 

Messages
409
Reactions
113
Points
37
Location
Toronto, ON, Canada
#20
Oil leak ended up being spillage from the last oil change....
I had the same fear as I noticed some oil spill when I hoisted the ST up to have the exhaust looked at.
extra oil was added and leaked over.
 



Top