Oil leak, fix or not?

mpfjax · 04-15-2010, 05:20 AM

I have a 97 4runner with 200K. When I bought it the mileage was 170K. The valve cover gaskets were leaking and the previous owner (original owner since new) said that all he had done was change the oil and have the brakes done. At that time (1 year ago) the bottom of the motor had no leaks at all. I immediately took it to my Toyota guy and he fixed everything and did the timing belt/water pump. He said that the motor had quite a bit of sludge and that it had obviously missed a few oil changes. After hearing that I started using the Pennziol Synthetic that cleans out sludge (that may have been a bad idea). Now the oil pan is leaking around the edges and appears worse at the back right (passenger side) of the pan. It is not bad enough to drip onto my driveway. It does not build up at the bottom of the bell housing so I don't think that the rear seal is leaking (I hope not).
So, with that said,
Will it do any good ro replace the oil pan seal or will it just start leaking again? And if so, is this a difficult job?
Thanks

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hross14 · 04-15-2010, 06:38 AM

Those oil pans hardly ever leak--the FIPG stuff toyotas use is pretty robust. Other leaks in the motors though will run all over the place because of the front sump and depensing on how you park. Buy some UV dye and make sure it is coming from the oil pan. It took me a crap load of carb cleaner and sitting under the truck (running) to see that it was the front crank seal.

FYI--balancer bolt needs to be torqued to 213 ft lbs. (Personally i torque and use loctite)

mpfjax · 04-15-2010, 07:06 AM

I park with the front higher. I didn't think of that. The valve cover gaskets are new and the oil cooler isn't leaking. What else could it be? I hope it's not a crank seal, that is probably not any fun.

hross14 · 04-16-2010, 09:51 AM

front crank seal isnt the end of the world--an oil pan or rear main seal--now thats another story.....buy the dye and see what you come up with. You can also use the ol baby powder trick on the motor to see where it is coming from......

Good luck

ericdg16 · 04-16-2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hross14

You can also use the ol baby powder trick on the motor to see where it is coming from......

Good luck

?????

surf4runner · 04-16-2010, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hross14

You can also use the ol baby powder trick on the motor to see where it is coming from....

powder your nuts and check for leakage...

have heard about switching to syth causings leaks, maybe go back to dino and keep up on the changes.

ISFast · 04-16-2010, 12:06 PM

With Syn you have problems of the oil getting everywhere. It finds all the pinholes and makes them a river. I switched at 111k and it made me have to replace the valve cover gaskets and at 170k it leaks from somewhere thinking the valve covers again. But it doesn't even use a 1/4 qt in 5k miles so to me no need to worry about it til it gets worse or i get bored.

CYi5 · 04-16-2010, 01:46 PM

My guess is rear main seal. Check out this thread and see if it looks familiar.

hross14 · 04-16-2010, 02:02 PM

HHaaaa yeah--specially in the summer--here in the south

OK--you can sprink some baby power over and around the motor and then watch for where the tracks originate from.

mpfjax · 04-16-2010, 05:41 PM

Ok,
I read all of the previous threads. Thanks for all of the input and pics.

Don't know if anything has been done with the cam plugs, just the valve cover gaskets.

With my luck, it's probably a rear main seal, but I will try the UV dye.

longroad · 04-16-2010, 06:55 PM

I ran penzoil platinum one oil change and noticed a small leak as well, I have 140k miles so I'm guessing its the rear seal as well. I am thinking of running Auto-Rx, it claims to stop leaks and condition the seals with no negative affects, the folks at BITOG rave about it.

111db · 04-18-2010, 06:54 AM

Baby powder? Never heard of that in 20+ years of professional maintenance. Sounds like a huge mess in the making.

Find the leak: Degrease the entire engine with degreaser and rinse off with HOT water. Let it dry. Repeat as necessary. Watch it for a couple days to find out where the actual leak is.

Although it is a bit of work, dropping the pan isn't as bad as one may think. Obviously the diff has to come out. I just did mine about 3 weeks ago.

eddieleephd · 04-18-2010, 08:19 AM

Wash your engine and drive then see where it is showing up!!!

mpfjax · 04-18-2010, 07:05 PM

Yes, it looks like it is coming from the back of the right (passenger) side head. The oil apparently goes down the right side of the motor, builds up on the right side of the oil pan, and then starts to show on the right side of the bell housing. But it doesn't build up at the bottom and isn't dripping. Also I am starting to smell burnt oil after driving. Again, the valve cover gaskets were just done 30K miles ago by a Toyota Tech.
The motor doesn't appear to use oil. If I were to repair a leak as serious as a crank seal, could the leak start back because of the miles and/or wear on the motor?

hross14 · 04-19-2010, 06:42 AM

you might see wear on the crank surface--but I have only seen that on chevys--and it was the front crank seal surface--not the rear....

So i say it is HIGHLY unlikely--Whatever method you use--find out where it is coming from first and then attack the problem.

And--not to say anything about who changed your valve cover gaskets--but some mechnics have been known to spray/clean off the valve cover and call it good without changing the seal ;(

AND an FYI--the baby powder method is used overseas--mostly old school british car mechanics--I have a 1972 jaguar talk with those guys from time to time

mpfjax · 04-19-2010, 10:51 AM

I was thinking the same thing. Were they done wright?? I may just do the whole thing over again on my own and take my time and do it correctly.

eddieleephd · 04-19-2010, 11:44 AM

it looks like it is coming from the back of the right (passenger) side head, oil apparently goes down the right side of the motor, builds up on the right side of the oil pan, and then starts to show on the right side of the bell housing. But it doesn't build up at the bottom and isn't dripping. Also I am starting to smell burnt oil after driving.

In response to this I will restate to wash the engine either with a pressure washer or at a car wash, then drive and watch it sounds more like a head gasket than a seal and if it is not leaking all that much I personally would not mess with it.

The only reasons I would not mess with with it are, good compression and slight leak.
In my World that would be a lot of energy to save a few drops of oil!!!

the other thing I can say is that the oil has made it to your exhaust manifold and that is what you are smelling burning so washing the engine will stop this as long as the leak is small!!

04-15-2010, 06:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
hross14 Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,485	Those oil pans hardly ever leak--the FIPG stuff toyotas use is pretty robust. Other leaks in the motors though will run all over the place because of the front sump and depensing on how you park. Buy some UV dye and make sure it is coming from the oil pan. It took me a crap load of carb cleaner and sitting under the truck (running) to see that it was the front crank seal. FYI--balancer bolt needs to be torqued to 213 ft lbs. (Personally i torque and use loctite) __________________ Yes, I said "country." America really is a nation, but you couldn't convince those who lead the Democratic and Republican Parties of that. Both parties now see America as nothing more than an economy, a marketplace, and not a sovereign nation. They don't see you and me as citizens of this great nation; they see us as units of labor, consumers and taxpayers. Yes, I am here to collect my 238$ worth of stock from AIG. "What do you mean a free market economy doesnt apply to the rich?"

04-15-2010, 07:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
mpfjax Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) [OP] Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Jacksonville Posts: 15	I park with the front higher. I didn't think of that. The valve cover gaskets are new and the oil cooler isn't leaking. What else could it be? I hope it's not a crank seal, that is probably not any fun. __________________ 2003 4Runner SR5 V8, 2WD Last edited by mpfjax; 04-15-2010 at 10:06 AM.

04-16-2010, 09:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
hross14 Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,485	front crank seal isnt the end of the world--an oil pan or rear main seal--now thats another story.....buy the dye and see what you come up with. You can also use the ol baby powder trick on the motor to see where it is coming from...... Good luck __________________ Yes, I said "country." America really is a nation, but you couldn't convince those who lead the Democratic and Republican Parties of that. Both parties now see America as nothing more than an economy, a marketplace, and not a sovereign nation. They don't see you and me as citizens of this great nation; they see us as units of labor, consumers and taxpayers. Yes, I am here to collect my 238$ worth of stock from AIG. "What do you mean a free market economy doesnt apply to the rich?"

04-16-2010, 12:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
ISFast Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 115	With Syn you have problems of the oil getting everywhere. It finds all the pinholes and makes them a river. I switched at 111k and it made me have to replace the valve cover gaskets and at 170k it leaks from somewhere thinking the valve covers again. But it doesn't even use a 1/4 qt in 5k miles so to me no need to worry about it til it gets worse or i get bored. __________________ Lexus IS-F 08: Obsidian, Borla exhaust, aFe pro dry filter, Tinted glass and tail lights, 6k fogs (( Sold but not forgotten)) Toyota 4runner 97: 5" lift, 33's, and lots of mods <<SOLD>> Ford Raptor 10: Tuxedo Black Fully Loaded

04-16-2010, 01:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
CYi5 Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: HB, CA Posts: 384	My guess is rear main seal. Check out this thread and see if it looks familiar. __________________ 1999 Toyota 4runner Limited 4x4 E-Locker: DR Coilovers ~ Camburg UCA's ~ OME 891's ~ IVD Rear Resi's ~ 285/75/16 Geolander A/T-S ~ 16x8 LC Rims

04-16-2010, 02:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
hross14 Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,485	HHaaaa yeah--specially in the summer--here in the south OK--you can sprink some baby power over and around the motor and then watch for where the tracks originate from. __________________ Yes, I said "country." America really is a nation, but you couldn't convince those who lead the Democratic and Republican Parties of that. Both parties now see America as nothing more than an economy, a marketplace, and not a sovereign nation. They don't see you and me as citizens of this great nation; they see us as units of labor, consumers and taxpayers. Yes, I am here to collect my 238$ worth of stock from AIG. "What do you mean a free market economy doesnt apply to the rich?"

04-16-2010, 05:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
mpfjax Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) [OP] Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Jacksonville Posts: 15	Ok, I read all of the previous threads. Thanks for all of the input and pics. Don't know if anything has been done with the cam plugs, just the valve cover gaskets. With my luck, it's probably a rear main seal, but I will try the UV dye. __________________ 2003 4Runner SR5 V8, 2WD

04-16-2010, 06:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
longroad Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 23	I ran penzoil platinum one oil change and noticed a small leak as well, I have 140k miles so I'm guessing its the rear seal as well. I am thinking of running Auto-Rx, it claims to stop leaks and condition the seals with no negative affects, the folks at BITOG rave about it.

04-18-2010, 06:54 AM	#12 (permalink)
111db Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 1,216	Baby powder? Never heard of that in 20+ years of professional maintenance. Sounds like a huge mess in the making. Find the leak: Degrease the entire engine with degreaser and rinse off with HOT water. Let it dry. Repeat as necessary. Watch it for a couple days to find out where the actual leak is. Although it is a bit of work, dropping the pan isn't as bad as one may think. Obviously the diff has to come out. I just did mine about 3 weeks ago. __________________ Jon *97 4Runner 3.4 4.88's * ARB Lockers F/R * ARB compressor * Sonoran Steel numba 1 * 285 BFG AT/KO * TJM 17 * BudBuilt Skids * Stubbs Sliders & BBQ sauce * Irbis out back * Various Electronic Gadgets**

04-18-2010, 08:19 AM	#13 (permalink)
eddieleephd Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Diego, Ca., Marietta, Ga. Posts: 739	Wash your engine and drive then see where it is showing up!!! __________________ '99 3.4L 4x4 All Manual Taco 2.5" lift OME CO and Alcan Leafs Deck Plate Mod.

04-18-2010, 07:05 PM	#14 (permalink)
mpfjax Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) [OP] Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Jacksonville Posts: 15	Yes, it looks like it is coming from the back of the right (passenger) side head. The oil apparently goes down the right side of the motor, builds up on the right side of the oil pan, and then starts to show on the right side of the bell housing. But it doesn't build up at the bottom and isn't dripping. Also I am starting to smell burnt oil after driving. Again, the valve cover gaskets were just done 30K miles ago by a Toyota Tech. The motor doesn't appear to use oil. If I were to repair a leak as serious as a crank seal, could the leak start back because of the miles and/or wear on the motor? __________________ 2003 4Runner SR5 V8, 2WD

04-19-2010, 06:42 AM	#15 (permalink)
hross14 Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,485	you might see wear on the crank surface--but I have only seen that on chevys--and it was the front crank seal surface--not the rear.... So i say it is HIGHLY unlikely--Whatever method you use--find out where it is coming from first and then attack the problem. And--not to say anything about who changed your valve cover gaskets--but some mechnics have been known to spray/clean off the valve cover and call it good without changing the seal ;( AND an FYI--the baby powder method is used overseas--mostly old school british car mechanics--I have a 1972 jaguar talk with those guys from time to time __________________ Yes, I said "country." America really is a nation, but you couldn't convince those who lead the Democratic and Republican Parties of that. Both parties now see America as nothing more than an economy, a marketplace, and not a sovereign nation. They don't see you and me as citizens of this great nation; they see us as units of labor, consumers and taxpayers. Yes, I am here to collect my 238$ worth of stock from AIG. "What do you mean a free market economy doesnt apply to the rich?"

04-19-2010, 10:51 AM	#16 (permalink)
mpfjax Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) [OP] Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Jacksonville Posts: 15	I was thinking the same thing. Were they done wright?? I may just do the whole thing over again on my own and take my time and do it correctly. __________________ 2003 4Runner SR5 V8, 2WD

04-19-2010, 11:44 AM	#17 (permalink)
eddieleephd Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Diego, Ca., Marietta, Ga. Posts: 739	it looks like it is coming from the back of the right (passenger) side head, oil apparently goes down the right side of the motor, builds up on the right side of the oil pan, and then starts to show on the right side of the bell housing. But it doesn't build up at the bottom and isn't dripping. Also I am starting to smell burnt oil after driving. In response to this I will restate to wash the engine either with a pressure washer or at a car wash, then drive and watch it sounds more like a head gasket than a seal and if it is not leaking all that much I personally would not mess with it. The only reasons I would not mess with with it are, good compression and slight leak. In my World that would be a lot of energy to save a few drops of oil!!! the other thing I can say is that the oil has made it to your exhaust manifold and that is what you are smelling burning so washing the engine will stop this as long as the leak is small!! __________________ '99 3.4L 4x4 All Manual Taco 2.5" lift OME CO and Alcan Leafs Deck Plate Mod.

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04-19-2010, 11:44 AM
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