I have a 2005 4runer. At 10 years old (150,000 miles) I tried a synthetic oil and got many "drips" around the oil pan (and above). I switched back to conventional (NAPA 10W - 30) and the drips slowed down to about two drips every month.

I will not use synthetic oil in my 4 runner ever again.

Scotty Kilmer says it can cause problems in older engines. Watch the whole video. scotty kilmer on synthetic oil leaks in older cars - Bing video

Esther based oils will usually swell seals a bit.
PAO bases can shrink seals.

Thanks, Jeremy. It is a weep - not a leak. Apparently no drips hitting the ground - at least not yet. I trust the guy who did the visual inspection - he seemed to know what he was doing. I cancelled the diagnostic appointment at the dealer. Post back when you know more about whether the RTV worked. By the way, I am in Grand Junction! At this point, I am planning to wait and see. I need to put some cardboard under the engine to confirm it's not dripping. Dealer quote was $2700 just for labor.

I really appreciate your comment. The mechanic who looked at it does offer a one year/12k warranty. My gut tells me to just get it fixed. But, even the mechanic said I don't have to do anything at this point as it's not dripping onto the ground. My brother (backyard mechanic) and my husband (armchair mechanic) both said I should wait. My husband has been putting a quart of oil in his '95 Ford truck every 1500 miles for years. But, I'm not sure I have the patience for that! I want to look at my baby and know she's in tip top shape!!

Don't derail this thread please. If she wants to join your Church of Higher Viscosity, she knows where to find it.

Go to the dealer and get their offer. Do not tell them what your mechanic said, as to cause or cost estimate. Just see what they say.

I agree. I just re-scheduled the diagnostic appointment. I also spent an hour or so watching the YouTube video on how to re-do the timing cover seal. Wow. So much labor. It's so hard to find someone to trust to take the engine completely apart. Not sure if I trust the dealer or the independent guy.

Anyway, I will take it in on Monday and get the dealer take on it. I will ask them to confirm for me where the leak is. (I think I can see it) I imagine the area will be clean after they have checked it out. Then, I can watch and see if it worsens - and how fast. I just want to be able to keep an eye on it.

As for the oil weight debate - I'm all for any regs to clean our air. I will go with what's in the manual.

Hey neighbor. I would drive it and not worry. Maybe spray some degreaser and use a car wash sprayer every couple months. Mine's been leaking for at least 100k miles and I only now got around to trying to reseal the outside because I was doing some work in the same general area of the engine.

I doubt it ever drips. The oil comes out very slowly, only when the engine is running, and the wind through the engine compartment does a great job of spreading it all around the front right corner of the engine.

Had a 2nd gen Tacoma with the same problem and fixed it correctly. Decided it was not worth the effort again unless I need to pull the timing cover for something more serious.

and you are driving an oil leaking 19mpg 4Runner of all things??
lol

Ouch!! You make a very good point. I enjoy driving the 4 Runner a ton, and need it to tow a camper. I know we will have to experience some pain to deal with climate change ... I hope that someday humans come up with a sustainable solution. I do see an electric vehicle in my future. I totally appreciate your comment!!

I also see an electric vehicle in my future ... when something similar in size to the 4Runner reaches the market. Electric vehicle technology is evolving quickly. Toyota is working on a solid state battery which could become a significant development.

That is a good point, isn't it. I used to be involved in the "climate field".
It was when I started talking about how glaciers once covered NYC to about two miles thick, deposited glacial erratics all over Central Park and carved out the Finger Lakes and how solar cycles dictated freeze/thaw cycles that they started trying to break my chops.
Like any field where someone dares speak out against, you are not welcome anymore.

In fact, we are on the rebound side to the ice age.
We won't be around to see it, unless our carbon is recycled quickly back into new life, but that is how they justify their jobs and create HUGE streams of revenue.

I think is it better for the environment to have things that last a LONG time.
In 15 years, I went through two refrigerators.
I still have a 1950's Philco in my basement that has never had an issue.
But it is a manual defrost.

If the EPA really cared, we would not be doing business with China and India.

I was part of a design team for ocean-going vessels to clean up floating plastic. Think almost like a whaling ship with a huge grinder to mince the plastic so more volume can fit in the hull.
Problem is the cost. There is no money to be made doing that, only expended.

We can go into how the Earth is a giant recycling facility and how the sun is dying and one day will engulf the planet, but this is a 4Runner forum.
Some pretty cool people on board here trying to share knowledge and logic.

Hence why I buy Toyota exclusively since 1999 and forgo 0.1-2 MPG to get 500k+ out of a vehicle by using an oil that will better protect.
I can buy a new cheap Kia every four years, or keep my Toyota's running for two decades.
The less parts that break, the less in landfills and recycling energy expended.


Anywho... Have a wonderful New Year.

They can embed rails into highways in one lane, where you can charge on the go and break off if you want to go faster or exit and be charged a road-use/electric use fee based on an RFID chip embedded into the vehicle that transmits when being charged via the rail.
I mean, we already have self-driving cars which is half of the solution.

Once the tax per mile comes into play, that is the beginning of the end for a majority of internal combustion engines.

Then, we just need to build more nuclear plants. One meltdown though... Ugh.
Solar panels are black for a reason. But black absorbs the most radiation making the immediate area warmer.
Plus the fact that the clearcutting of forests to install solar...
Ever walk into or out of a forest on a hot day? Very cool in the forest compared to an open field.

Dude.

The science is settled.

Anything to the contrary is heresy.

Not sure I get you as that can be taken two ways.
Since your previous comments, I should take that as a dig?

If so, please feel free to debunk anything I said about the Finger Lakes, Glacial Erratics and anything else.

That happened LONG before the internal combustion engine, and even industrious man.

Enjoy.