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Old 11-17-2018, 01:00 PM #1
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Chasing down a oil leak
My 97 sr5 has had a slow oil leak for some time now. I've put off fixing it for long enough. I've created a bigger problem by letting it go for so long (I know, I'm an idiot). I believe the leak is coming from valve cover gaskets however, I need to clean the entire undercarriage to help pinpoint possible other leak points. What would you suggest I clean all the oil off with? I've tried degreaser and a water hose. It didn't touch it. Thanks in advance.
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Old 11-17-2018, 01:33 PM #2
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Leave the oil. It's great undercoat. Get the valve cover gaskets changed if they have never been changed.
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Old 11-17-2018, 01:43 PM #3
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For the under carriage I’d go pressure washer. That’s how I did mine when I first got my runner years ago, thick caked on grease.
For the engine bay, I use a very greasy rag. Scrape the thick stuff off with a stiff plastic scraper and wipe the rest with a greasy rag. You want that grease protection on most everything for rust prevention. I also wipe everything on undercarriage with greasy rag after the pressure blast.
Hope that helps.



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Old 11-18-2018, 02:24 AM #4
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Oil
I thought I had an oil leak. Turned out my oil filter had backed off a bit. Lucky for me. I was dreading the gasket replacement circus.
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Old 11-18-2018, 10:12 PM #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by T4R2014 View Post
Leave the oil. It's great undercoat. Get the valve cover gaskets changed if they have never been changed.
I am not going to lie I dragged my feet on doing my valve covers but I have to believe the leak cause some of the most preventive rust proofing I've seen... Anyways to the original OP question if u want to take the guess work out of your diag work and want to find the specific cause of your leak use Oil Dye u will thanks me later. Its the most precise way of locating a leak plus there is other application coolant, trans and power-steering a/c as well.
https://www.amazon.com/Tracer-Produc...ne+oil+dye+kit
Last edited by SilverRidgeRunner1; 11-19-2018 at 05:56 AM.
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Old 11-18-2018, 10:44 PM #6
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Overthinking to the max. I'd guess Op's valve cover gaskets are original, which means the cam plugs and half moon rtv likely is too. A leak there will be obvious from oil around the valve covers, and even smoking when it drips on the manifolds.

Oil around there steering rack area is usually either:
1. Cam plugs and half moons - affordable maintenance procedure

2. Rear main seal - you're ducked. Requires dropping transmission.($$$) Best hope is replacing your PCV valve and maybe it will go away combined with high mileage oil.

Regardless, leave that oil undercoating alone. You'll be happy you did in the long run.
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