3rd Gen. Oils Usage.

[jspagna1]

Whose 3rd Gen is using/burning oil? I saw a couple of drops of oil under my 97 T4R and thought it may have been engine oil because I checked the dipstick and it was down to the add oil level.
So I took it to my mechanic and he said it's not engine oil, it's the power steering hoses that are leaking. When I told him what about the engine oil, he said it's burning oil?
My 97 has the 3.4 V6 and it has 166,000 miles and I am pretty religious of having the oil changed every 3,000-4,000 miles. the truck does'nt smoke or anything so it's not buring it that way. So he told me to check it every 1,000 -2,000 miles and add oil if need be.
Anyone elses 4Runner using oil? I guess with 166,000 miles, I should expect it but i was still surprised to hear this anyways because I'm so anal about the maintenance on my truck?
Curious to hear from other 3rd gen owners out there.

 

[HCurphy]

Whats the oil look like? Red? Brown? Pink? Too dirty to tell? Any higher up in the engine compartment?

Clean up the whole area and check back frequently, see if you can find where it originally starts seeping from.

Rack could be leaking ATF, check that level frequently. Valve cover gaskets can leak pretty heavily from the back of the engine causing oil to drip its way down there and also look like that, as suggested check that level frquently, too. (If it originates from the valve covers, try snugging up all the bolts-they tend to back there way out. Remember aluminum strips really easily though so be careful)

 

[jspagna1]

Looks brown. Or ya too dirty to tell. I had the valve cover gaskets replaced a year or two ago because they were leaking. Still bugs me that it would be burning oil. Even new Honda's burn oil I hear.

 

[LittleCaesar]

As preventive maintenance I'd change out the PCV with a new one. Then pull off the intake and see how dirty the throttle body is and see if there is any oil in the TB or in the intake tube down to the air filter. If none, then you may just chalk it up to old age (a 15 year old engine). Lastly, depending on what your mechanic is using for oil, I'd try a high mileage oil such as Mobil Super HM 5w-30 and give it a six month run to see if it helps.

If you want to get to the nitty gritty, run a compression and leak down test.

Just buy new hoses if you plan to keep it more than a year.

 

[Jungoes]

(one possibility)
If its just after an oil change, you may notice some oild drops for a while- oils spills when you remove the oil filter and during draining sometimes that can settle on the under-engine shield plate. I had mines do that for a few days and it went away.

 

[Evilmunkey]

you're supposed to remove the skidplate for the oil and filter change, but due to the location of the filter on our T4R's sometimes oil pools in some area and may drain later or while driving. Also keep an eye on your p/s resevior since yes the inlet and outlet hoses can leak coming to and from the resevior.

 

[jspagna1]

Ok spoke to my mechanic this morning and it is definitely the power steering that is leaking. Pretty bad I might add. Anyway he is telling me that you can no longer order replacement hoses and that they now only sell it where you have to replace the whole unit. Cost is $600.00 just for the unit. He said if he tried to replace the hoses with hose clamps the pressure would blow them right off.
Ater just spending $700.00 on new shocks & stuts I'm starting to get a little frustrated and wonder if this truck has just become a money pit? I only have 166,000 miles and it's only 15 years old? (sarcasm)

 

[theizzardking]

Ok spoke to my mechanic this morning and it is definitely the power steering that is leaking. Pretty bad I might add. Anyway he is telling me that you can no longer order replacement hoses and that they now only sell it where you have to replace the whole unit. Cost is $600.00 just for the unit. He said if he tried to replace the hoses with hose clamps the pressure would blow them right off.
Ater just spending $700.00 on new shocks & stuts I'm starting to get a little frustrated and wonder if this truck has just become a money pit? I only have 166,000 miles and it's only 15 years old? (sarcasm)

a quick google search says "bull****"

it's a $70 part that's readily available. i could be wrong though, there's a few more that cost $120-200 but to be honest i think those are a rip off, this rock autp part # should be what you need for $70
EDELMANN Part # 80269
EDELMANN Part # 80269


make sure you google 19xx 4runner power steering hose and cross reference.
google search for the part:
https://www.google.com/search?q=EDELMANN+Part+%23+80269&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a#hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=nO2&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=shop&sclient=psy-ab&q=1999+4runner+power+steering+hose&oq=1999+4runner+power+steering+hose&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=serp.3...6615l12714l1l13266l32l25l0l0l0l0l1299l8584l2-17j3j6-1j2l23l0.frgbld.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=3c2be9d6a640a4&biw=1280&bih=895

 

[Drcoffee]

Contact Geib Industries. They can make a whole new hose for you.
Address: 3220 Mannheim Rd
Phone number: 847 455-4550
Zip code: 60131
City: Franklin Park, Illinois (IL)