Guys,
I'm back. Changed the valve gaskets both sides, changed the valve cover that was cracked and also resealed the half moons and replaced the cam plugs, pcv valve and spark plugs. The truck was given back to me yesterday but i still see a little drip over the bell housing, granted this could've have happened before the work was done and that is just oil residue before the job.
Quick question for the experts here , how would you differentiate or know if it was the valve gaskets/covers or the rear main seal? They both use the same oil so it is hard to differentiate.

I am hoping the leak was from the valve gaskets and covers and i cleaned the oil around the bell last night.
I am really hoping is not the rear main seal since that would mean that i have to lower the transmission and i just don't have the money for that

Also, If i start the truck and let it seat in idle for 15-20 minutes if is the rear main seal should i see dripping from the bell housing or anywhere around?.

I would appreciate your input once again!

Just continue to drive and see slow disappearance of the leak. There are some oil that leaked prior to the job.

Facts: Toyota OEM oil seals especially cam, crank and rear seals are truly lasts 250K miles or beyond.

My friends Tacoma 03 (160K miles) got the same engine and a shop told them the truck has a leak in the rear oil seal. They called me and I said it is impossible based on my experience with toyotas since 1990. They drove the truck to visit me from Louisiana to West TX and I got the valve cover gasket replaced (tiwh OEM) and yesterday they said no leaks after that.

I have 216K mile 97 4runner with factory rear seal; 00 LC with 237K miles with factory seals cam, crank and rear.

I once replaced the valve cover gaskets on my 4R with non-oem and that only lasted 6K miles.

@nissahnh , thank you for your reply. I am really hoping your expertise speaks for itself and is not the rear main seal. I have put a lot into this rig since i bought it and i really want to enjoy it now for a while but I am not ready to spend that kind of money on the tranny.

Hopefully this will be the end of it.

One thing if i let it idle for 15-20 minutes should i See any leaks from the rear main seal or around it? or just would leak by driving it?

Thanks

If you see oil on the sides or top of the transmission bellhousing, it is not the rear main seal. Rear main oil seal leaks will come out of the inspection plate on the front/bottom of the transmission.

Give that engine a good clean (simple green and a sprayer will be enough) and see if anything new shows up.

-Charlie

ok , thanks

I guess I have no other choice but to drive the truck and see how it behaves. I will try to clean it again with the pressure washer this weekend and try to keep an eye on it. Hopefully like many have stated is just the valve Gaskets that cause that leak.
I will let the truck sit idle for 15 minutes when i get home to see if it leaks

Will keep you posted
Thanks

If it is leaking enough to see in 15 minutes, you have a serious leak. Clean it and drive it for a while (like, just daily drive it for a week) - then check it.

-Charlie

will do,
Thanks

Please clean that dirty, oil soaked engine. I would charge you extra to work on it if it was that dirty. Get this Super Clean stuff from Walmart in the auto department. It works much better than Simple Green and washes off better than the foaming kind and doesn't stink when you are done. No need to pressure wash. Don't get it in your eyes. Comes in quart sprayer or gallon jug.

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Ok I will try it this weekend. Actually the truck does not look like the original pictures when I bought it. I pressure washed it about 2 weeks ago until I checked it yesterday after getting the valve gaskets done and saw the oil on the bell housing and on top of it too. I will use this this weekend and keep checking on the leak to see if it went away

I replaced my valve cover and spark plug tube gaskets with non OEM about two years ago (~18k miles) and about 4 months (~3k miles) ago they started to leak again. One spark plug gasket on the passenger side closest to the fire wall and the valve cover on the driver side. After market gaskets...no bueno. That or I need to fire...my(shade tree mechanic)...my(self).

Others here will disagree, but I agree with you. I have used aftermarket on 2 different cars and both of them were weeping within a year or so. OEMs have not leaked yet in over 6 years.

$1 at Dollar Store, Buy the quart size with sprayer not the refill.

The refill sounds like a better buy but it is actually a weaker dilution.

Yes I know it says Laundry Pre-Wash but is a good inexpensive degreaser.

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