smokey0066

Ok just recently the weather has gotten cold up here and one night we got low enough for frost. And I'm not sure if it was the same night but I just recently noticed a small oil stain in my driveway from the 4runner. 2000 4runner with 160k on the clock. Mobile1 used since new with ~5k change intervals.

The last few days I looked under there briefly and find the front diff pretty wet with oil and some on the front skid. Its been about 3k since my oil change. I checked the obvious, oil filter is still tight, its not leaking around the oil pan. The valve cover gasket has hints of oil all around but I find it hard to believe that much oil is coming off the valve cover. Am i wrong? or could it be? I'm going to take off the front skid plate tomorrow and see if I can see anymore under there but I don't see anything that stands out to lose enough oil to cause diff to be wet and dripping. Will probably just take the filter off and change the oil while i'm at it and see if I can see anything else.

I'm not ultra familiar with the bottom of the engine, never taken one out or seen one out. Wondering if those who are more familiar can point me in the right direction of something I'm missing.

thanks!

smokey0066

ok I need help. I started up the truck and watched oil seep out between the engine and the oil filter. BINGO right? so I changed the oil and all was good. That was 2 days ago. Today guess what? There is a slight bit of oil on the lower lip of the oil filter. Looks like the filter isn't sealing? I've got that dang filter on pretty tight. In 10yrs of ownership this is the first time I've had issues with the filter sealing.

any tips? tricks? I'm stumped.

J2F42C

There is a small gasket behind the bolt that holds the oil cooler to the block. There is also an O-ring between the oil cooler (this is what the filters spins on to) that may be leaking as well. Replace both. I know somewhere years ago someone had a similar leak and this fixed it.

These part #s are for a 99, check with the dealer to see if they work for you (they should):

Little washer behind the bolt: 90210-22001
O-ring: 90301-67004

Check out page 4 for a diagram:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/d...24/index4.html

smokey0066

J2F42C The oil cooler isnt leaking on my truck. Thanks for the tip but its the oil filter gasket that is causing me trouble.

michael0584

Double check and make sure there is not an extra oil filter gasket stuck to the block. I have seen them stick and come off the filter, then you put the new filter on and they leak between the 2 gaskets or the gasket blows out and causes a major leak.

J2F42C

What kind of oil filter are you using then?

smokey0066

I've been using purolator pureone on this truck with mobile 1 its whole life. No double gasket. When I took the first filter off on Monday night I checked the seat and even cleaned it with a scotch bright pad and lubed the gasket as usual prior to install. It looks like the gasket isn't centered on the engine block. So I checked my old filter and you could tell the inner edge of the filter was not compressed onto the mating surface.

I'm out of ideas. I guess I'll just keep an eye on it and the oil level. At least I can just stick a light in the wheel well and check in on it every day. I'm not putting another filter on there for at least 4k miles unless there is a massive leak again.

J2F42C

Since it is a cheap try, buy another brand of filter. Then you know it is the filter maker causing the problem if it doesn't drip anymore.

I have had Purolators (yellow can) with serious overspray around the gasket lately. I cleaned them off with brake cleaner and all was good. Maybe their quality control is not up to par anymore.