94 3vze: I have an oil leak that I cannot locate. Seems to be on the driver side somewhere lower than the valve covers and above the oil pan. When the engine gets hot, it smokes and smells. Is there any sensors that could be leaking in that area? Engine was just rebuilt 800miles ago.

 

Drivers side, front near alternator, drivers side behind the alternator, or rear area leaking into the tramsmission bell housing? Need more info, could be numerous things. 4x4 or 2wd?

 

Driver's side, rear. Can't see any oil from above engine, and when looking from underneath, the dripping is coming from an area above what can be seen. When engine is hot, smoke can be seen coming from the cavity near the rear of the valve cover, but well below the valve cover.

The oil drips down onto the bell housing, and to the ground on both sides of the bell housing.

 

The drivers side valve cover has a circular plastic cam cover disk at the rear of it. This disk is half way, vertically, into the valve cover, and half way into the head. You would need to pull off your valve cover, pull out this cam disk, clean everything out, and preferably, replace the valve cover gasket and the plastic disc, adding some gasket sealant to the disk.

 

Are the oil cooler hoses on that side?

 

There is an oil cooler on the side of some, not all 3VZE's. It came with the towing package. On the 4x4, the oil cooler is 3/4 of the way back on drivers side of engine block, and would leak oil just past the motor mount area. If it is leaking, the unit has a rubber oring type of seal on it. There are no oil hoses to it though, there are 2 coolant hoses connected to it and the block.

 

Left out that it is a 4wd.

Oil drips from the bell housing, but since there is such a profound smell of hot oil, I figured the leak was getting on the side of the engine block.

 

 

Probably best to pressure clean the engine, and then check where the leak is coming from. The auto parts stores sell oil leak trace dye and a light to detect where the leak is coming from.

 

Like an engine degreaser and a hose?

 

With 800 miles on a rebuilt, I would not think it would be too covered in oil. Some grease remover or gunk and a hose should clean up the area for you. Who did the rebuild?

 

Not sure, a machine shop in Birmingham.

 

This is definitely the area I think the leak is in. I can reach down onto the side of the engine head and no oil there, so it is lower.

 

If you jack up the drivers side front, remove the tire and the skirt in the fender well area, you can see this "oil cooler" area a lot better. Be sure to securely support the truck on jack stands before you go sticking your arms in!!!

 

Prolly the oil cooler like toyrunner is saying. Mine was leaking there on a 4runner as well. Ring was fairly easy to replace once you move the skirt out of the way. Still tight working conditions, but isnt everything.

You really get down to it, you could use that dye after you clean everything off. If you still cant find the leak.

 

Have you considered the rear main seal as well?