1996 4Runner massive oil spill after 6 minute drive?

[falkon240]

Hi all,

Did some searching on here and google for massive oil loss.

Didn't find much.

I went to dinner last night, came out and smelled oil.

Looked underneath the truck, saw a puddle of oil, thought it may have been from the car that was in the spot prior. Didn't see any oil light warnings or anything, so I drove home.

When I parked the truck proceeded to piss all of the oil around where the passenger side. I removed the stock skid pans but couldn't see anything when investigating.

It's dry above the oil pan on the motor.

Does anyone here have any experience with this problem?

 

[I_bRAD]

Hi all,

Did some searching on here and google for massive oil loss.

Didn't find much.

I went to dinner last night, came out and smelled oil.

Looked underneath the truck, saw a puddle of oil, thought it may have been from the car that was in the spot prior. Didn't see any oil light warnings or anything, so I drove home.

When I parked the truck proceeded to piss all of the oil around where the passenger side. I removed the stock skid pans but couldn't see anything when investigating.

It's dry above the oil pan on the motor.

Does anyone here have any experience with this problem?

Have you done any work on it lately? Oil change?

 

[falkon240]

Have you done any work on it lately? Oil change?

I got the truck about a month ago. Only thing I've changed on it are spark plugs, snugged the valve covers and an oil change. It's not leaking from the driver side (where the oil filter is) so I've ruled that out...

I went wheeling for the first time but I was very careful not to do anything that might strain the truck and it drove fine for the whole week after.

This is a very sudden and drastic oil leak.

 

[alumarine]

Have you checked the level on the dipstick?

 

[falkon240]

Have you checked the level on the dipstick?

I checked the oil dipstick after I got home. It's dry/low now.

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[I_bRAD]

I got the truck about a month ago. Only thing I've changed on it are spark plugs, snugged the valve covers and an oil change. It's not leaking from the driver side (where the oil filter is) so I've ruled that out...

I went wheeling for the first time but I was very careful not to do anything that might strain the truck and it drove fine for the whole week after.

This is a very sudden and drastic oil leak.

I realize the filter is on the opposite side, but I also know skid plates can redirect stuff in a direction you might not expect! BUT sounds like you've already checked that and if you forgot to torque your drain plug I'd say it would have come loose well before a month was up...

 

[amalik]

the common leaks (valve cover gaskets, cam plugs, etc) do not leak like that. you're sitting there with like a quart on the floor.

that is more of an obvious one you are probably ruling out - i..e filter not tight, drain plug loose on oil pan, etc.

 

[falkon240]

I'll go outside right now. I would be elated if that's what the problem was...

Nothing better than a simple fix.

 

[falkon240]

I wanted to start off by saying I really do appreciate the 4Runner community for your quick replies and quickness to embrace anyone else wanting to join in.

I have been working on cars for many years, but this is the first time I have experienced an oil filter coming loose like that.

Truck is do for an oil change I guess that was it's way of telling me. I'll finish up the oil change and let you all know the results.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Leave the skid plates off for a little to help nail down the leak if it's not the oil filter.

When my front crank seal took a crap it had a decent leak. To the point it left a obvious trail in the driveway when it happened. It wasn't drivable till it fixed it.


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[falkon240]

Leave the skid plates off for a little to help nail down the leak if it's not the oil filter.

When my front crank seal took a crap it had a decent leak. To the point it left a obvious trail in the driveway when it happened. It wasn't drivable till it fixed it.

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Def gonna leave the covers off. Still need to do the oil change.

Feel bad that all of it leaked out in front of my house eep:

 

[AuSeeker]

I wanted to start off by saying I really do appreciate the 4Runner community for your quick replies and quickness to embrace anyone else wanting to join in.

I have been working on cars for many years, but this is the first time I have experienced an oil filter coming loose like that.

Truck is do for an oil change I guess that was it's way of telling me. I'll finish up the oil change and let you all know the results.

Did you do the oil change?

Oil filters usually don't come loose if properly tightened, if you had someone else change the oil they failed to tighten the filter properly!!

 

[Tring]

Did you get it fixed?

 

[pluton]

I had close to your exact problem. It was a defective K&N oil filter(they're the BEST!).

 

[JayRolla]

I had the same issue on my 1996 when I first bought it. I have never had the issue since. I usually tighten it pretty good with just my hand and never had an issue taking it off or coming off.

 

[falkon240]

Turns out it is something worse. It was pissing oil from under the front pulley. I'm guessing the front main seal went out?

Towing to a shop today.

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[thegipper]

First time I've seen that seal fail on this forum.

Is your harmonic balancer messed up (wobbly or loose)? Perhaps if it is, it destroyed that front main seal but that may be a long shot.

Otherwise, I'm not sure how that seal could fail so badly to cause that much oil to leak out so fast.

other than it loosing oil like crazy, does it otherwise run ok?

 

[falkon240]

First time I've seen this on here.

Is your harmonic balancer messed up (wobbly or loose)? Perhaps if it is, it destroyed that front main seal but that may be a long shot.

Otherwise, I'm not sure how that seal could fail so badly to cause that much oil to leak out so fast.

other than it loosing oil like crazy, does it otherwise run ok?

I don't think anything is wrong with the balancer or pulleys.

I put some oil I had laying around inside to see if it was ok... truck runs fine just pisses oil out of that seal.

Taking it to a shop today.

 

[thegipper]

Crazy, keep us posted.

 

[kball]

I agree, never heard of a front seal failure since I've been on the forums.

If they are going to pull the pulley, might as well go all out and do timing belt, new rad, water pump etc... Then you should be good for a long while.