1996 toyota 4runner oil leak

[vincet67]

Ok so I'm new to these forums so please explain things simply when replying


So I was driving on the freeway when I felt like I hit a dip a little hard on accident/ accidentally rolled over something. Then I noticed my hood had smoke coming out from under it. I immediately pulled over and popped the hood. The hood wasnt very hot and there was minimal smoke. I left the hood popped up just to let it cool down. Then my friend noticed that it looked like oil had leaked under the car. After a while I noticed there was a considerable amount of oil under the car. I knew it was oil when I had touched the liquid in question. What might have happened? What can I do to fix it? This is rather important seeing as I need this car for daily transport. Please answer and thank you!

 

[kball]

I'm confused, did you hit a dip hard or run over something? If you ran over something was it under your tire or down the middle of the undercarriage? What color was the oil that was leaking?

 

[vincet67]

I was unsure but I wanna say it was in the middle of the under carriage. It was kinda late at night so I couldnt exactly see the color that well. When it was on my finger it looked like caramel colored I want to say.

 

[kball]

Could be either engine oil or gear lube from the front diff. Do you have the front skid plate? Is that where the oil is dripping from? If so you'll have to take the skid plate off and go searching...

 

[vincet67]

I do have the skid plate under there. If it is the front differential what can I expect in terms of repair/replacement costs?

 

[kball]

Did the leak just start when you hit whatever it was? The skid should have protected it so I'd take the skid off and see what you've got going on under there. I guess I should also ask, your truck is 4wd right?

 

[vincet67]

I wasnt sure. I pulled over and then my friend pointed out the liquid under the car. Im gonna guess that it did happen when the impact happened. My 4runner is not 4wd though. Its a 96 4runner 3.5l sr5

 

[kball]

Just so you know it's 3.4l. Since you don't have 4wd, you don't have a front diff so that's not it. I'm betting it's engine oil and it's been leaking for longer than you think. Unless that skid plate is bent badly enough to hit the drain plug on the engine oil pan. Go pop the hood and start looking around. Start high and work your way lower till you find the oil.

 

[vincet67]

o ok gotya! I would hope it hasnt been leaking for that long seeing as I just had the oil changed a month or two ago. okay i will thank you !
This may sound silly but is there any good spots to find the oil leak? Seeing as Im a poor college student Im hoping that the fix wont kill my wallet, but i realize a fix is coming

 

[kball]

Sometimes if the oil filter is not put on tight enough it can seep. You say you just got the oil changed so you might check that area out well. Although I've never heard of an oil change shop not tightening the crud out of the filter so that shouldn't be it. Check the oil level first and see if it's low.

 

[vincet67]

What do you mean when you say check that area out well? Do you think that if the oil filter wasnt put on tight enough that maybe that bump in the road jarred it loose(r)? The oil level was below the bottom most dot on the dipstick

 

[kball]

I mean look around the oil filter area good and see if that's where all the oil is coming from. I wouldn't think hitting something in the road would jar the filter loose. Sounds like you've lost a lot of oil. I'd fill it back up and take it back to that oil change shop.

 

[kball]

Did you look at the skid plate? Is there a big dent in it?

 

[vincet67]

oh okay! Okay Ill take it back to the shop. But with that oil having been so low im just scared to drive my car to the shop even if it is five minutes away. I havent been able to look at the skid plate as of yet because my car was left at my girls house cuz she was the one who used her triple a to tow it. I will update once I have though

 

[5vzT4R]

If its below the first dot, which is the LOW - ADD MORE dot. Then I would guess that just happened because you driving for long periods at a time like that, would most likely burn up the engine.

You need to pull your skid plate off and look for the leak/damage. Take pics and post them when you find it if you want and we can give you are opinion. Like said above, start from top to bottom.

 

[kball]

Yep, I would think 1-2 quarts will at least put you in the good range since you can still see oil on the dipper.

 

[vincet67]

OK so after looking it over i discovered that there were oil splats around the sides and back of car. The skid plate was not dented in. From what I could tell there wasnt a big oil splatter on the inside all over the engine either.

 

[kball]

Well it's pretty hard to guess over the internet. I take it when you say "around the sides and back of the car" you mean behind the engine? Get under there and look on both sides and check the drain plug. it could also be leaking down onto the skid plate and then spraying everywhere from there as you drive.

 

[5vzT4R]

If your not to sure what to look for the best option would be to add oil and drive it to the nearest shop. Unless you can tow it or trailer it somehow.