Purchased rig in October 2010. Had a shop replace timing belt, water pump, spark plugs, belts, cam seal, crank seal.

Got it home and noticed oil leaking a few days later underneath (not sure if it was leaking before but based on sludge everywhere I am sure it was). I completely cleaned up the engine bay everywhere to get a better look where oil is leaking. Notice a pretty good leak (I clean the area off after driving and then the next day a good amount of oil is there again) on the passenger side above the oil pump wher the timing belt connects to the egine (general area).

Took it back and they replaced the valve cover gaskets to start (they also said it looks like a rear main seal leak). Ended up taking it over to another shop in town specializing in Toyotas and they said it looks like cam/crank seal leak and rear main seal.

Is it possible the leak in the front area is from the new seals put in? I called the shop who did the work and they think it could also be a leaking head gasket (none of the obvious head gasket issues are present at all)? I am trying to educate myself as much as possible on the issue before going back to the original shop. In the few weeks reading posts on this site I have gone from knowing zero about engines (other than where to put in engine oil) to a fairly confident level about what is where and how it works. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

I have a 97 that also leaks a bit. Once it was leaking much more than normal. Out of dumb luck I reached down and turned the oil filter... it was way too loose. Since it is on the drivers side I don't think this would be your problem but following the KISS method it can't hurt to check it. I believe leaking around the valve covers is "normal" for the high mileage 3.4 engine. Replacing those was a good move. If you end up replacing cam / crank seals and it fixes the problem I'd be interested to hear how much you paid.

Jon

 

sometimes shops say the change those seals but don't (cam crank seals). Or some knucklehead things he's a boss and jams a screw driver in there to pop the old seal out and bam! he just scratched your cam which then damages your new seal that he didn't lightly grease the inside off like he should to make sure its not dry. You should ask if they replaced the crank bolt and if they torqued it to proper spec?
Being an 02 the head gaskets would only fail from overheating or gross neglegence. The early 3.4 v6 95-96 had problems but you should be golden.