leaking oil please help.

[Donovansolis]

hey forum

roughly two weeks ago i decided to paint my oem deck plate red in the process, i observed oil covering a lot of parts below the block on the passenger side.. immediately i thought of a leak.. i was nervous and hoped it was not a major issue and for my luck yesterday during a oil change at the local Toyota dealer.. i was called from the waiting lounge, they took me inside the shop to look into it.. i had like 5 different mechanics approach me talking at the same time.. all i could heard was fire hazard, fire hazard...apparently i need new value covers.. or gaskets... one of the mechanics said the leak was on both sides but idk.. as the oil leaks it lands on the exhaust.. which can provoke a fire hazard.. it was like they were pressuring me to get the job done that day.. a it sucked because it's a 700$ fix at the dealer and i'm broke.. can't afford that i'm not really mechanically inclined. but i have experienced this issue with a different car.. when the oil leaked it landed on the exhaust and the worse thing that every happen was a really bad smell.. with a little smoke.. no fire at all.. i already talked to my dad's mechanic for now i'm just waiting on him to look at it on monday but i feel real bummed out .:happens:

based on this is it bad if i still drive like this?

i have a big concern on this leak and was wondering if anybody can help me out with any info.. suggestions/advice are always appreciated..

p.s sorry for the book i wrote just making sure i'm specific.. my clock saids 221k and i really hope this isn't the end of the road.

 

[yukonrider]

Take some pictures. I have a small leak out of my valves, and I would hardly call it a fire hazard... Unless It is spewing oil I would doubt its a fire hazard..

 

[Jon]

I had leaking valve cover gaskets a couple weeks ago when I purchased the Runner, so I bought the gaskets thinking quick fix until I realized that the upper intake manifold hasto be removed to remove the valve covers. Next idea was just tighten them down if they were loose. They were really loose. I got about 2 turns on each valve cover bolt. I didn't torque to specs, just wrist tight but if you need them it's 53 in/lbs = 4-5 ft/lbs (wrist tight)! Don't over tighten, you will end up pushing the gasket out or cracking it resulting in a bigger leak. No more leak for me, easy fix. Hope you can get by with that.

Sounds like your local dealership likes to blow smoke, I'd find a different shop. $700 for a valve cover gasket replacement! BS! What do they charge $300hr? That's why I do all of my own maintenance.

 

[zcruiser]

Good grief what is it about these shops that makes them want to alarm people and make them believe they have a fire hazard. I had a shop do this to me recently on a state inspection and failed me on an upper control arm. They got testy when I told them I would take it home and fix it myself.

Like Jon recommended, just do a little hand-tightening and see if that helps. Might want to take it to a car wash and steam off the excess so you can see better where it's leaking.

221K is hardly the end of the road (just ask Jon!), but you do want to keep an eye out for a couple things...

- Timing belt & water pump
- Radiator failure causing tranny oil and coolant to mix
- Rear axle seals
- Spark plugs and wires
- Diff fluid

 

[Jon]

Thanks zcruizer, I completely forgot to mention the pressure wash. Just to piggyback on that, I recommend doing the wash with the engine running. That way if you happen to knock something important loose and it stalls you will know basically what area to look in. I do mine after every trip to the range, so about 4 times in the first 2weeks of ownership! Point: I haven't had a problem pressure washing the engine compartment. My past experience 91 Yota P/U was with engine not running I blew a vacuum line off and couldn't get the dam thing to start. Took forever to find the fix.

 

[Donovansolis]

-Take some pictures. I have a small leak out of my valves, and I would hardly call it a fire hazard... Unless It is spewing oil I would doubt its a fire hazard..

...yeah it doesn't seem to be a big issue well from the naked eye i don't spot the leak.. hopefully like jon says it just needs to be tighten..

-I had leaking valve cover gaskets a couple weeks ago when I purchased the Runner, so I bought the gaskets thinking quick fix until I realized that the upper intake manifold hasto be removed to remove the valve covers. Next idea was just tighten them down if they were loose. They were really loose. I got about 2 turns on each valve cover bolt. I didn't torque to specs, just wrist tight but if you need them it's 53 in/lbs = 4-5 ft/lbs (wrist tight)! Don't over tighten, you will end up pushing the gasket out or cracking it resulting in a bigger leak. No more leak for me, easy fix. Hope you can get by with that.

Sounds like your local dealership likes to blow smoke, I'd find a different shop. $700 for a valve cover gasket replacement! BS! What do they charge $300hr? That's why I do all of my own maintenance.

....yeah, i didn't really show to much emotion as they approached me as i already knew.. hopefully Monday my mechanic can give e more info.. from there ill decide weather ill take matter into my own hands..

-Good grief what is it about these shops that makes them want to alarm people and make them believe they have a fire hazard. I had a shop do this to me recently on a state inspection and failed me on an upper control arm. They got testy when I told them I would take it home and fix it myself.

Like Jon recommended, just do a little hand-tightening and see if that helps. Might want to take it to a car wash and steam off the excess so you can see better where it's leaking.

221K is hardly the end of the road (just ask Jon!), but you do want to keep an eye out for a couple things...

- Timing belt & water pump
- Radiator failure causing tranny oil and coolant to mix
- Rear axle seals
- Spark plugs and wires
- Diff fluid

it sucks because after they finished telling me how 700$ should do the job.. they started too compliment my trunk and how it looks real nice with those sport wheels on it.. and the red trd decal

in my head i was like... $#%@. i minus will do a swap to 2UZ-FE 4.7l with that kind of money off of craigslist.. but anyhow.. there no sight to little oil on the engine the only way u'll notice the leak is if you got under the skidplate timing belt was done at 196k... same with plugs and wires... futher done the road ill upgrade a new radiator..

 

[Jon]

This is hardly a job for a professional mechanic. 10mm socket, ratchet, extension and clockwise rotation= required tools. Oh yeah, you gotta pop the hood too! :jk:

 

[jaybird126]

So I'm pretty pissed,

I changed my oil on my 2004 Sport Edition 4Runner today, and then checked the dipstick and it read way over after putting in 5L. I turned the car on and it shook while idling moreso than its ever done.

I tried backing the car up and drove in a small loop and the transmission seemed to skip. Parked the car, checked the Trans fluid, it took a Quart, but I had given it 3 quarts or more three months ago. So Then I drained the oil because I thought there was too much in went to Advanced auto and got their advice on a good oil filter.

After draining the oil, I check the dipstick, it read waaay over again, after draining it all out. Then I checked the spark-plugs to see if the oil had somehow gotten in there and clean them out, put the new filter on, and added 4.5 quarts. The same thing happened, dipstick read way over top notch.

Then I backed up and drove it in a loop, the car was shaking a little and seemed like was skipping on the trans, on my way back blue smoke started gushing out of the tailpipe
~what the he!!?

I had my buddy look at it and help me with the plugs etc, he said I blew a gasket.

 

[Donovansolis]

This is hardly a job for a professional mechanic. 10mm socket, ratchet, extension and clockwise rotation= required tools. Oh yeah, you gotta pop the hood too! :jk:

thanks man.. i appreciate yours and everybody else help.. i'm motivated to take matters into my own hands and save a pretty penny.. i love my 4runner and i know it won't let me down

 

[Jon]

Good to hear, motivation is the key to getting $hit done! If you don't have the tools Autozone will lend them and it's a 5 minute job that can be done in the parking lot.

 

[BTO]

Actually, a valve cover gasket leak can be a fire hazard. Emphasis on the "can". If enough oil sits on the exhaust manifold and it gets hot enough it can ignite. I know this because a recall was issued by GM on our old Grand Prix for this.

 

[Donovansolis]

Actually, a valve cover gasket leak can be a fire hazard. Emphasis on the "can". If enough oil sits on the exhaust manifold and it gets hot enough it can ignite. I know this because a recall was issued by GM on our old Grand Prix for this.

i pretty sure the most ull get is a bit of smoke along with a foul smell of burnt oil.. btw GM makes ish motors.. that fail early...