always check underneath when you are about to buy.

[hairysrunner]

Well, I was so overcome with joy when I found 98 limited in my price range that I didn't think to look under the engine for any leaks.
After the purchase yesterday I drove around town enjoying my new addition picking up things to clean and maintain my new found love.

This morning i dressed for the cold air and yo and behold a oil leak greeted me on the driveway. After a thorough exam i have concluded that it is the oil pan gasket. The gasket is actually sticking out from the pan in some places and the bolts were not tightened much at all.
Ok, here are the details: the truck was a one owner, never wrecked and serviced accordingly. 259000 miles 4wd. Is this a DIY or should I take it to my mechanic. I do most of my work but this looks like a tight fit and spring semester starts Monday. Thanks for reading my ramble and thanks in advanced.

 

[01KY4R]

I haven't done this to my runner yet, but do not see any problems making this a DIY project. I think you'll kick yourself after you finish for considering paying a mechanic..... Just be sure to drain the oil from the pan before removing the bolts!

 

[thor999]

DIY but DO NOT use anything to pry the pan off, and try not to scratch the mating surfaces when removing old gasket material (use plastic putty knife and solvent) or you could make it worse. Remember to apply proper torque when reinstalling and you should be GTG

 

[theizzardking]

DIY but DO NOT use anything to pry the pan off, and try not to scratch the mating surfaces when removing old gasket material (use plastic putty knife and solvent) or you could make it worse. Remember to apply proper torque when reinstalling and you should be GTG

^this just treat the mating surface like the most fragile piece of glass you've ever touched and call it good, shouldn't take to long.

 

[BlackCat914]

Yikes, the first thing I'd do when buying a used car with 260,000 miles on it is look under it. Anytime I buy a used car from a private party I ALWAYS ask them where it's parked most of the time, and then check the ground.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I agree with BlackCat. OP, sorry to hear but consider it a relatively cheap lesson learned.

As for the pan, if the bolts are loose, just try re-torquing them first. It's not uncommon for them to work loose over the years, same with valve cover bolts.

However, if it does need a gasket, it's actually not that easy of a DIY, the front diff is in the way. It's doable but it's not easy.

 

[Stockwell45]

I replaced my oil pan 2 months ago. It's not as easy as it seems.

1. drain oil and jack up truck, use jackstands to support frame. remove wheels, skid plates, and CV shafts.

2. Drain the gear oil, disconnect vacuum lines and electrical connector from front diff. Disconnect driveshaft. Remove 2 bolts and the 12mm hex bolt from diff. Wrestle the diff out, a jack helps. This is a joy.

3. Unclip the wiring harness that runs along the front edge of the oil pan. Remove all bolts and 2 nuts holding the oil pan up.

4. Clean the mating edges of the pan and engine really well, don't leave any gasket material behind. Brake cleaner helps.

5. Apply new gasket. I used RTV, just apply to the oil pan mating surface, and attach it back into place with a few bolts. Smooth out the RTV that oozed out over the seam of the oil pan and engine. Reapply bolts and nuts like you would a wheel, from opposite ends. Don't over tighten.

6. Reassemble everything in reverse order.

It's not really that difficult, just time consuming. Give yourself at least 2 full days to do it, especially if you aren't familiar with doing work on the front end of your 4runner.

 

[Dous]

Great information from the above posters

I was hoping to read you had a 2wd, it is easy as pie then.....

 

[H2O_Doc]

always check underneath when you are about to buy

It dawns on me that this is also pretty good dating advice.

 

[Greg_Canada]

Also, there should not be a "gasket" per-se installed.... it should be black RTV.

If there IS a gasket, make sure to take Stockwell45's tips, as well as using Toyota BLACK RTV (orange is for gear / tranny oil, black is for engine oil) as it's the best gasket maker you can buy. Just make sure you get it on straight the first time, and DO NOT overtighten the bolts! (ask me how i know.....)

 

[hairysrunner]

thanks for all the replies. especially from H20 LOL. There is definitely a paper gasket in there. I can feel it and see it at the front left corner and along the drivers side of the pan. I had read before that it did not take a paper gasket so this was a surprise to me. It is possible that the previous owner had the job done and it was done wrong. Just my thoughts. thanks again.

 

[Greg_Canada]

thanks for all the replies. especially from H20 LOL. There is definitely a paper gasket in there. I can feel it and see it at the front left corner and along the drivers side of the pan. I had read before that it did not take a paper gasket so this was a surprise to me. It is possible that the previous owner had the job done and it was done wrong. Just my thoughts. thanks again.

Yep, they were probably used to working on an old chevy....

 

[agloukhoff]

How bad is the leak? If it's not that bad consider just leaving it and adding oil as needed.

The fact that it currently has a paper gasket may not be such bad news for you.

Since you are not trying to replace the pan itself nor do you have to scrape and prep the surface that much as the current gasket is paper, you may have enough clearance to seperate the pan from the engine, pull the old seal out, and apply the new sealer without removing the front diff.

It's not the "right" way to do it, but if you got a bad leak it might be a quick fix if you don't have time to remove the diff.


I used Permatex Right Stuff on my oil pan and it's held up great and was very easy to use. I highly recomend it, just keep in mind, it works FAST so you do need to get all your oil pan screws back in within 10-15 minutes or they will not go in.

 

[hairysrunner]

They local mechanics that I have used in the past on my wife's volvo quoted me $500.00 to do the job. they did excellent work on the volvo but I think that is too high for this job.

I have thought about Agloukhoff suggestion to just add oil as needed but I don't need a spotted driveway and I just can't drive it with my family knowing the issue is unresolved.

I plan to take a good long look at the project once the rain has cleared up and I have my son's car up and running. I will most likely drive it just not down to Atlanta or somewhere too far. it only leaks after I have driven it and the oil spreads out on the driveway about 4-6 inches each time. The motor runs good and has good acceleration so I don't think anything is wrong there. I think it is a leak that needs fixed and then the truck will be good to go anywhere. I just drove my 96 4banger up to Penn. from North Georgia with 2wd encounter snow and we were just fine with that so I'm good to go for now.