88 4runner. 22re, 5 spd.

Oil is leaking off low spot of tranny but it is engine oil (at least it does not smell like gear oil). It is running down off the right (passenger) side of the bellhousing. When I reach up on top of the bell it is all wet with oil, running up to where it mates with the back of engine block. Any idea what could be causing this leak?

 

rear main seal maybe.

can you see all around the head and valve cover?

 

If it's wet up to the top of the tranny my first guess would be the valve cover gasket. Take it to a car wash and clean it as well as you can then when you get back home feel around the back of the valve cover and see if it's wet. When my rear main was leaking (FYI don't run full synthetic in an engine with 235,000 miles) it wasn't wet on top just at the bottom of the tranny where it mates to the engine and around the boot at the clutch linkage thing.

 

yep....could be leaking from that half-moon plug on the back too

 

Oh snap! I forgot all about that damn thing, good call!

 

here's a pic of the back of the head so you know what you are looking for.

 

I am having the same leak. Have replaced the valve cover and not noticed anything.

Any other places oil could be leaking? I really don't want to drop my transmission again.

 

I can see that when I look up there with a flashlight, that black piece (cast iron?) in the pic above below the half moon is all wet with oil. So would a valve cover gasket be my best bet? Will it contain that half moon seal?

It is also wet at the bottom of the tranny where it mates to the engine and around the boot at the clutch fork but I can't tell if it is leaking down from above or rear main. Or both.

 

well, gravity will make a mess of things.

not sure what's included with what, but make sure you get a valve cover gasket, 2 half-moon plugs and the ?4 metal/rubber gasket things that hold the cover down.

 

Go hit an auto parts place and grab a valve cover gasket set it'll have two half moon pieces, and the gasket. It sounds like the half moon has started leaking oil, had this happen on an 86 pickup and after the gasket swap it stopped.

 

$5.67 for gasket, 2 half moons and 4 grommets at Rock Auto

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php

you should be able to find the same at Napa or most anywhere else could probably get it

 

Great, thanks for the help. I could probably use a valve adjustment anyways.

 

that's what we're here for

 

I did mine while I was in there also.

 

X10, we're here to help.