Catch up

[TrexRunnerGirl]

Hi all - I have missed you. My little 99 keeps on running and no real issues since last posting about a year back I think. I did have to have the rear break lines replaced and the control arms in the front. since then she's been pretty steady.
The newly graduated hs boy drives it a bit more than I like and has unfortunately hit the garage 2 x because he's a dipshit and still can't drive. Bumper is scuffed but the garage door frame looks worse. Told him he's going to buy the truck (yea no) or pay for the repairs to garage and truck.

Now the question - Tim the Toolman still drops in occasionally and still has his YouTube up with videos?
the engine has a rear oil seal leak and has for some time. not bad and I've tried to mitigate it and it only drips on occasion. Throws a code every other month or so. I'll eventually have to take it apart to fix it.

Thought I'd drop in and check on everyone anyway and see how it's going. This is THE BEST place for fix-it-4Runner information and I appreciate you all for tolerating me still.
arty::cheer2:

 

[Devbot]

Somehow I knew a crash was coming after reading newly graduated :flame:
Rear main seal? Yikes, that's a rough one. I don't think even Timmy has attempted that fix. Are you positive about it? I thought my rear main was going out cause I had oil always dripping from around the trans bellhousing, but come to find out it was coming from the rear cam seals at my valve covers and was just near impossible to see it leaking. Since it's at the top of the motor it makes everything look suspect when they start to weep

 

[96RedRunner]

Rear Main Seal Replacement

Check it out ! It a big job make sure you wana/have to do it. ha.

Will scuff mark on Runner buff out hell with door ha. nah hit him in pocket book for door tuff love.

 

[mtbtim]

Hey Teri, good to hear you're still around. If the oil leak isn't that bad, don't worry about it. Oil is very affordable. Top it off when it needs it. If it's gushing out, then you need to do something about it.

 

[Devbot]

Rear Main Seal Replacement

Check it out ! It a big job make sure you wana/have to do it. ha.

Will scuff mark on Runner buff out hell with door ha. nah hit him in pocket book for door tuff love.

Well I'll be damned
Edit: oh wait that ain't Timmy lol oops

 

[96RedRunner]

Don't know if TtT (Timmy the Toolman) productions has vid on this would be a good one.
Job not for faint of heart, doesn't come around very often. One I know of 98 260k mi leaks not drips idling in park,
My 01 & 96 595k mi no leaking main glad I've been lucky one for a change.

 

[T4topher]

Don't know if TtT (Timmy the Toolman) productions has vid on this would be a good one.
Job not for faint of heart, doesn't come around very often. One I know of 98 260k mi leaks not drips idling in park,
My 01 & 96 595k mi no leaking main glad I've been lucky one for a change.

The TtT transmission replacement video gets you pretty darn close to the rear main seal. I just did it myself actually (not because it was leaking), wasn’t too bad if you have all the tools and don’t mind your vehicle being down for a couple days. Definitely a weekend project, wouldn’t be fun to have to do it all in one day..

 

[96RedRunner]

[MENTION=271883]T4topher[/MENTION], seal replacement is easy getting to it can be intimidating for some.

 

[96RedRunner]

Edit: oh wait that ain't Timmy lol oops

Lol no way to mix em up! Sams vid OG old school, Tim & crew nother level.

 

[thegipper]

Replacing the rear main seal is a piece of cake.....it's having to remove the transmission that involves a ton a labor. I've done it twice, it's actually not that bad if you have a tranny jack and a helper.

 

[mtbtim]

Don't know if TtT (Timmy the Toolman) productions has vid on this would be a good one.
Job not for faint of heart, doesn't come around very often. One I know of 98 260k mi leaks not drips idling in park,
My 01 & 96 595k mi no leaking main glad I've been lucky one for a change.

Yep, we have two video series that would help someone to replace a rear main seal, one is our auto trans swap and the other is our clutch replacement. At the beginning of Part 2 for the clutch replacement, we do replace the rear main seal. In our auto trans swap video series, we unbolt the transfer case from the transmission because we're replacing the trans. If you were just pulling the trans to get access to the rear main seal, you could obviously leave the two attached.

Like others have said, the bulk of the work is just getting to the rear main seal and that's getting the trans out of the way. We did struggle a bit with the seal removal but it wasn't that bad. But, if I suspected a rear main seal leak, it would have to be pretty damn bad for me to do all that labor to get in there. If it's not leaking bad, deal with the mess and add oil when you have to and forget about it. If somebody has OCD and the leak will keep them up at night, I guess they'll be pulling their trans.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oZDSjlxl2Q4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5PJPZ5-AK-I" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[alumarine]

As others have said, are you sure it's the seal and if so unless it was really bad I'd ignore it.

What do you mean by "Throws a code every other month or so"?

 

[3bears]

I aagree with alumarine.....what do you mean it throws a code every month or two....for a rear main seal leak ????????

I agree with others, if its just a few drips and not gushing....let it slide, oil is cheap....it rust proofs the bottom, and since you replace it often , cuts down on oil change interval

I dont want to get into an OIL WAR......just throwing this out there.....did you switch to synthetic ?......SOME people CLAIM that switching to synthteic on an older car will cause leaks while running dino will not leak.
Im not trying to start a debate...I run synthetics in everything I have and so do my sons and grand son.
But might be worth a try to switch back to dino and see what happens.

Also someone sompeplace posted on this forum, some kind of magic juice that cured his rear main seal...maybe look up rear main seal..........I only use that kind of stuff in a last ditch effort.

 

[96RedRunner]

If somebody has OCD and the leak will keep them up at night, I guess they'll be pulling their trans...

Leaking 98 Runner just adds oil a filter every now and then, how he rolls.
When/if you decide to do it not hard takes lil equipment still a PITA (pain in the ass) job removing trans, a shop it a money job.