i got my 4runner 2 or 3 months ago and i guess i never noticed the oil pressure levels. but then i was surprised yesterday when i realized how low my oil pressure was (it was barely coming up above the L!). so i immediately stopped by the local shop and had an oil "change"...where all they really did was put oil in. when i got it back the guy said i had a bunch of oil leaks but thats all i could really get out of him. so i'm thinking of just selling the runner if its going to be expensive to fix. any ideas on how severe it could be or any easy, cheap ways to fix it permanently (not just delay the problem)?

i'll get pics up in a few minutes.

 

I assume it is a V6 model I had a similar leak usually what I have seen is that it is the valve cover gaskets (cam seals) I just did an oil change and added 1 quart of Lucas Oil additive (about 8.99 at Autozone) in place of 1 quart of oil and my leak has cut down dramaticly....

 

here are the pics of where the oil is atleast leaking too i guess.






im still a little confused on whether or not i actually have a leak...we've taken it to our friend who's a mechanic after we bought it and he went over everything and didnt catch it...which i think it would be obvious. i also havent noticed any oil dripping on the ground until after i got the oil changed yesterday.

 

My oil pressure sits down at the first line when I'm idling, but it moves up to the right of the center while im driving...

I lose about 1quart of oil over every 5000 miles

Does your pressure look critically low even when driving?

 

That's where my oil leak is. It comes out all around the tranny and ends up on the diff. I was told that it was the rear main seal.

The best cheap fix is to run a thicker oil. 20W-50 is sufficent year round where I am. Though it's not the most optimal for winter. Where you live it shouldn't be a problem at all. It won't stop the leak but it should slow it for a good long while.

 

i have 3 words
rear main seal

 

no the pressure was just so low because i didn't have very much oil...which yeah isn't good at all.

i guess i'll try running thicker oil and see if it helps.

 

rear main seal. perfectly normal for a high mileage or older vehicle.

 

I have the same oil leak on that spot and I believe it is a back seal or a oil pan gasket? but just today the oil was leaking all over my brake line near the passenger side so I don't know if a back seal can cause that to leak there?

 

i dont have the time or knowledge on how to fix that and from what it sounds like it seems like it would be a pain. do you know how expensive it can be to have repaired?

 

so i was looking at the leak again..and i mean i really dont know anything about this kinda thing...but it looks like the leak is coming from up above and then running down onto the transmission.


it looks like it begins at whatever i circled in the picture and then running down those hoses..the silver in the left corner is the tranny...sorry it's hard to tell. i'll try to get a better picture tomorrow.

 

Proabably costs between 5 and 800 bucks to repair. I suggest you get a new clutch or do any other needed tranny work while it's out to save labor costs.

 

i'm hoping its on the 5 end haha...its an auto by the way. the thing i was wondering about is that its not actually coming out all around the transmission like yours was, its just dripping off of it.

 

my friend just had his done and I think it was somewhere in that range. Might have been a little less, but I don't like to shoot low on ball park figures. It just leads to disapointment.

 

go to autozone and buy some degreaser. spray some on and then wash it off. make sure its clean so you can see where its leaking. give it about a day or so to see if it leaks. I would also keep an eye on the oil to make sure it isn't burning any. after afew days, go look under the hood and see if its still leaking, if so, take it to your mechanic and see what he says. if not, you lucked out, and the guy who owned it before you must have just spilled it everywhere after drinkin a few cold ones. I would try 20w50 high mileage castrol or valvoline, especially after you ran it low on oil. keep an eye on it. i got the same engine with 157000 on it and i still use 10w30 high mileage, but she doesnt burn at all.

 

thanks i'll probably try that today. that'd be a really nice surprise if it just completely went away, but thats probably just wishful thinking.