I'm having a oil leak from the back right side of the oil pan. At first I thought it was the tranny but then noticed it dripping and falling onto How hard is this to fix? The oil pan seems to be in a tough spot in these.

 

What year model?

 

It's a 95 runner

 

Engine?

 

It's got the 3.0 v6.

 

2wd or 4wd?

 

Sometimes a leak from the rear portion of the valve cover can come down and show itself there.

 

It's 4x4

 

How bad is that?

 

If he's referring to the rear half-moon seal of the valve cover, it's super easy. Just feel around behind the head where it meets the valve cover.

Edit: Disregard... I'm in 22RE mode. Valve covers on the 3.0 are a pain.

 

Although resealing the valvecovers and oilpan are not a highly technical repairs, they are both somewhat of a pain.
Anybody who has common tools and can read the FSM, should be able to get it done.
The intake plenum has to be removed to get to the passenger side valve cover, and theres plenty of annoying hoses and stuff to be disconnected to get the plenum off.
While the plenum is removed, the PCV valve and its grommet should likely be changed out, and it would be the perfect time for a valve adjustment to be done, along with replacement of any other hoses that might appear marginal.
Food for thought.
Maybe it is just the oil pan leaking. I'd do some cleaning and try to find out for sure where the oil is coming from.

 

It will only leak when the engine has been runner and leakage depends on how much it has been running

 

Gravity is not your friend; oil leaking anywhere will always end up on the back edge of the oil pan. To find the leak, you much first get the engine clean enough to eat from. Start it up, then look.

My first guess is a leak from the back edge of the valve cover ("cylinder head cover") gasket. http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...68cylinder.pdf page 80. The gasket requires sealant in the corners, and if that fails it leaks from the back edge of the head. I use RTV, and the location must be sparkling clean or it won't stick. (Paint thinner is probably enough, but brake cleaner might be easier.)

While you can technically get the driver's valve cover gasket (only) off with the plenum in place, it's more work than just taking the plenum off. Consider millball's suggestions for things to do while you're in there.

Good luck!

 

If it's from the valve cover down then you will know it. Get under the motor and look. If it looks like it's from the top to bottom, it's probably the valve cover gasket; if just at the bottom, you may have a rear main seal. Hate to be Devil's advocate.

What is the engine power like? Does the pressure gauge drop? Does the engine knock?

 

Runs good has about the same amount of horrible 4rynner power. But no knocks or anything of that nature. I can see it may be the valve

 

The back side of a 3VZE is pretty difficult to see from underneath. And if you change your oil reasonably often, the oil leaking is close to clear, and only becomes "greasy" once it hits the dirt farther down.