I do not know the history of this truck. Recently purchased with about 91,000 miles. Looks to be all original.
I have no idea if the timing chain has been replaced. And I didn't open the valve cover to inspect yet. The truck runs very well and I don't hear any signs of broken guides. There is a ticking noise but I think that's normal?
It appears I have a leak on the front of the engine at the top of the timing chain where it meets the head. No oil in coolant.
Not my daily driver. Only have a carport, no garage. What would you do if this were your truck?
Replace the head gasket and timing chain ASAP or keep an eye on it?

I'm not adding oil. Maybe because I don't drive it everyday. I do wipe it off every now and then so it doesn't get over everything.




Just changed the plugs yesterday. Still has the original wires from 1994. Runs great.

 

What would i do if i own that truck? Check vitals (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coolant & oil), which you've done and if those look decent, drive it till it dies. It's a 25 year old truck, man. Sitting around not getting driven is worse than driving it every single day around the neighborhood.

 

Agree, drive it and monitor the leak.

 

It's a pretty trivial leak, not likely to ever become a catastrophic one.

Might even be a slow seep from the rocker cover halfmoon.

 

Sounds good to me. I'll just drive it!
Oil leaking does bother me but I guess it is only messy at this point. Not causing any real issues.
So far I've....

• Replaced spark plugs
• Reconnected EGR
• Replaced vacuum lines with silicone from LCE
• Replaced dented driveshaft
• New shifter bushings
• Cleaned throttle body
• Replaced throttle body coolant hoses
• Redline fluid in diff
• Redline fluid in trans
• New OEM thermostat
• New radio with bluetooth
• New 6.5 door speakers...Infinity
• Added slim 10" powered sub

I love these old Toyota trucks!

 

That timing cover and head have been off before.

Tool marks on various nuts and bolts on the water pump in the images, rtv squishing out of the timing cover to head junction as well as on the valve cover over the half moon.

 

I agree the valve cover and water pump has been off. Possibly the timing cover too. Not so sure the head has been off though.
The radiator has been replaced. And there is rtv around the coolant hoses.
The truck runs so well..... so the only reason to tear it apart would be to fix the leak. It definitely looks like it's coming from the top of the timing cover. Not from the half moon.
Maybe I will pull the valve cover and have a look at the bolt that's supposed to have sealant on it. Is that the one that's hidden in the oil? And the same time I could inspect the guides.

 

I dont think that one has sealant on it. Double check before you do it.

 

Here is the suspected bolt that is leaking. Needs RTV or something to seal it. I haven't taken off the valve cover yet to see.

 

No sealant required for that bolt.

But if someone removed the timing cover without pulling the head and replacing the head gasket, you will be fighting an uphill battle to reseal it. And if the timing cover was replaced and not milled to the block height, again very hard to seal..

 

I have seen leaks there from a fractured timing cover from someone trying to pry the cover off without undoing that bolt, dropping the oil pan and timing cover to do a Timing chain. Where the cover meet the head and block leaks easily after that if not done perfect. Many others have been mentioned as well.