Ok, I have tracked down a couple of leaks, a couple from multiple areas.

1. My oil is leaking at the valve covers, oil pan gasket

2. Power Steering actually might just be leaking in one place - but leaking from the steering gear box. (I think that's what it's called.. where the steering wheel shaft enters a gearbox in the engine compartment)

3. Front diff gasket leaking

My questions are definitely newbie questions.. but here goes.

1. I understand that Permatex makes a lot of products for different uses. They have some stuff called #2 Sealant (http://www.permatex.com/products/aut..._2_Sealant.htm)
Now most of Permatex's products seem to be made to adhere gaskets to surfaces, or create a gasket between two surfaces... but will this #2 stuff work as a sealant around the outside of a leaking gasket?

If that doesn't make sense (probably cause it's not what it's made for), I am talking about cleaning up the outside of my leaking valve cover, oil pan and front diff, and adding a bead of #2 sealant.

Would that work or is it just the dumbest jimmy riggin idea you've ever heard of?

2. My next question is about the power steering leak. Kindof a two part question.

I understand that a PS leak from the gearbox is not a good place to have it leak. I have found some fairly inexpensive rebuilt gearboxes and even a $50 rebuild kit w/ gaskets and seals. I don't think I have the knowhow to rebuild it myself, but how hard would it be to replace the gearbox with a rebuilt one myself?

2nd part is about slowing it down till I fix it. Obviously my Yota calls for ATF fluid in the PS. I have thought about putting some kind of stop leak in there to slow it down, but it just didn't seem right to put PS stop leak in a bunch of ATF fluid. Can I throw some ATF stop leak in there for the time being?

 

About the #2 sealant, I'm skeptical to say the least. Why don't you go ahead and try it, then tell me I was wrong to doubt it. When/if it works, that is. Good luck!

You could use some RTV in place of the oil pan gasket or the front differential gasket(unless you mean the pinion or axleshaft seals which are rubber). Other than that you'll need you some new seals for the rest.

The stop leak rarely works for very long, if at all. I wouldn't waste my time on that again.

Putting a new gearbox in is just nuts and bolts. Simple. Rebuilding anything always seems more complicated than it really is. Don't feel intimidated, we have FSM's around here that cover it. What year/model are we talking here anyway?

 

Do it right... replace the seals that are leaking.

 

Thanks for the responses. The only reason I asked about the easy way was because I have no idea how to take out my front axle shafts on my IFS. My specs are in my sig line. Once they're out I can change the gasket easy, but then I'd also have to put it back together. Oh well, looks like I need to replace a CV boot anyhow.

My oil pan gasket is a PITA from what I hear.. on my 1990 3.0. I don't wheel it too hard, but I go out way in the middle of nowhere very often, and I don't like having leaks in the back of my mind the whole time.

I'm somewhat mechanically inclined, but I am just getting started at it. We'll see how much of it I can do myself. I think I'll start with the PS gearbox. It's leaking the fastest.. just doesn't look too easy to get to.

 

Front axle shafts are easy on your vehicle. Do a search on here and you'll find everything you need. The oil pan is a bit more tricky, but if it's not leaking bad, and you can live with it, just keep checking on it to make sure it's not getting any worse, and top it up as required.

I really hate having leaks on my vehicles, so I fix them all (unless they are very small and a large pain to fix), but if they're not bad and you can live with them, then by all means, just monitor them. I have one leak that I haven't fixed yet, and that's my rear main seal. I go through about 1/4 to 1/2 quart over my 8000km oil change interval, and never have any oil puddles on my driveway... only the occasional drop at the bottom of the tranny bellhousing. I only put 10000km on that truck during the past year, so that's not too bad.

 

Duh...um...sorry, somehow I missed that.

Time to get my prescription checked.

 

have you checked the tightness of all the bolts in the valve covers and oil pan? its not uncommon to have oil pan bolts loosen up over time, which could cause your leak... no harm in checking all the other leaking areas which are bolted....