Hello everyone, newb here. I bought a 89 4runner a year or so ago and its been great. Runs great and doesn't burn oil but leaks oil like a sieve. Over the weekend I finally started working on these leak problems. Replaced the rear main seal and oil pan gasket, what a pita but I still have a little skin left on my knuckles. I think I still have another spot that may be leaking though. I was looking through the maintenance thread for a post that list all possible spots a 3.0 manual shift could leak from and didn't see anything specific. If someone knows could they please post it up. If I still have a small leak I think its coming from the front on the engine. But it doesn't look like the valve cover. Anyway any guidance will be appreciated.

 

Oil leaks can be tricky. I had a leak I thought was coming from the rear of the engine since I could see drips from both sides of bell housing. Turns out I neglected to put thread tape on a plug in the oil pump (3vze). Oil would slowly creep down the lip of the oil pan to the back. Any place where there is a hose, gasket, or seal is a potential leak. Power wash it so you have a somewhat clean starting point and follow the drip backwards.

 

BTW, welcome! Lots of very good info and people here to help!

 

Clean dry engine, flash light and inspection mirror. Keep at it and you'll find them all. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the reply's. looks like it will be gunk and a power wash this weekend plus I finally broke down and ordered a service manual that will be in the mail by then.

 

Gunk (spray-on engine cleaner) and a garden hose may be enough. You've got to keep that power washer away from anything electrical. That said, it will certainly give you a clean engine!

 

The oil cooler would be a good place to look, mine was leaking bad. I did away with the oil cooler when I had the motor rebuilt.