Leaking oil while parked facing downhill

[Gone4broke]

Bought a 1997 4runner 3.4 manual 4x4 from a guy who said he replaced the engine about 60k miles ago, didn't notice any leaks but did see some grimey build up below the water pump (I believe) I figured it was from when he had the water pump and timing belt replaced. Anyway I parked it facing down my driveway this morning and tonight i came out to a nice little puddle of oil about 1 ft long by 4 inches wide. I've parked it facing up the drive way for the past couple weeks and never seen any oil on the ground.

What would cause this? Maybe the front of the oil pan is leaking? Also what's that little white plastic rectangular part at the front of the oil pan? I think that's where it's dropping off of, I'm going to finish cleaning it up tomorrow and see if I can buy some uv dye to help pinpoint the leak. I have a video but I think the file size is too big to upload so I'm going to upload to YouTube and post the link in here tomorrow if that will help.

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[LittleCaesar]

The little white box is a wire loom holder. If that is the general area where the oil is originating from, it sounds like the crank seal to me is the culprit.

 

[thegipper]

Sounds like the front main seal (crank seal) to me. It could be the oil cooler but most likely the crank seal.

I've never seen one leaking that bad before but you may want to check to see how much play (front to rear) is in the crank shaft if that is where the leak is coming from.

 

[St Runner]

It could be that you are draining accumulated oil that is in the skid plate. Check the valve cover gaskets and also front diff and look up above the skid plate with a flashlight and see if there is any oil there.

 

[alumarine]

It could be that you are draining accumulated oil that is in the skid plate. Check the valve cover gaskets and also front diff and look up above the skid plate with a flashlight and see if there is any oil there.

This. The skid plate can hold all sorts of fluids.

 

[Gone4broke]

Sounds like the front main seal (crank seal) to me. It could be the oil cooler but most likely the crank seal.

I've never seen one leaking that bad before but you may want to check to see how much play (front to rear) is in the crank shaft if that is where the leak is coming from.

How do I check for play in the crankshaft?



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[Gone4broke]

Here's a picture after cleaning it with degreaser a few times and spraying with a hose last night. It does look like the seam between the oil pan and block is a little wet still, don't know which is worse front main or oil pan gasket [emoji2363]

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[2TH4IST]

Damn, that looks like oil pan leaking. Does the pan have fipg or does it look like a cork or rubber seal. Either way it should be fixed as if it leaking sitting there then it is quite bad.

To check the crank you pry back and forth on either the crank pulley or flywheel/flexplate and inspect for play.

 

[Gone4broke]

Damn, that looks like oil pan leaking. Does the pan have fipg or does it look like a cork or rubber seal. Either way it should be fixed as if it leaking sitting there then it is quite bad.



To check the crank you pry back and forth on either the crank pulley or flywheel/flexplate and inspect for play.

I'm not sure what the gasket is, I'm really not stoked about dropping the diff. I'll probably take it to a local mechanic to verify that's the issue before I decide if I want to try to do it all myself or just bite the bullet and have a pro do it.

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[thegipper]

I would use a mirror and a flashlight to look under the crank pulley. You should be able to see if its leaking from the front main seal or if it is the pan.

Personally, I'd rather do a timing belt job and replace the seal than drop the front diff and screw with the oil pan. The seal is very easy to replace but you do have to take a bunch of crap off to get to it.

If it is the pan that is leaking, you could try re-torquing the pan bolts in that area. Maybe they are just a little loose.

 

[Gone4broke]

I would use a mirror and a flashlight to look under the crank pulley. You should be able to see if its leaking from the front main seal or if it is the pan.

Personally, I'd rather do a timing belt job and replace the seal than drop the front diff and screw with the oil pan. The seal is very easy to replace but you do have to take a bunch of crap off to get to it.

If it is the pan that is leaking, you could try re-torquing the pan bolts in that area. Maybe they are just a little loose.

Yeah I've been reading that loose bolts are sometimes the culprit, I mean that would be the best case. Crank pulley is the lowest and biggest pulley on the front of the block right?

I'm an amateur mechanic with a huge emphasis on amateur.

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[Gone4broke]

Update: seems like it's definitely the oil pan in the front. Can't really see any oil between the crank pulley and the lip of the pan but lots of oil below the lip.

Also, any tips on removing the wire loom holder so I can tighten those bolts?

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[phattyduck]

There's a 10mm head bolt on each side above it. Not sure how easy it will be to get off there with all the accessories in the way...

-Charlie

 

[3bears]

im thinking its your pan...reason or question is why...was it broken loose for something...is this a common problem ?
park other way and not worry for a bit

 

[Gone4broke]

There's a 10mm head bolt on each side above it. Not sure how easy it will be to get off there with all the accessories in the way...



-Charlie

Yeah I got both bolts out but there's not enough room to move it even when it's unbolted. I was able to tighten all but one on that side closest to the passenger. Hopefully that does the trick otherwise I have no idea. I'll have to bite the bullet and bring in a pro.

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[Gone4broke]

Update: I don't think it's a leak on the gasket in the front, I think I might have a rear main leak that's running to the front or a valve cover leak that's running to the front. I'm thinking more likely a rear main since it's low enough that even when parked downhill the oil level is high enough to get out and run towards the front. If it was a valve cover I would think it wouldnt leak except after it's been running for a while.

Thoughts?

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[RedSled]

When you were parked facing down hill was the runner also leaning to the passenger side? The reason i ask is because i had a leak the same condition of yours, and found it was the brake fluid reservoir cap leaking and ran down the motor. Only did it when i parked facing down hill.

 

[Gone4broke]

When you were parked facing down hill was the runner also leaning to the passenger side? The reason i ask is because i had a leak the same condition of yours, and found it was the brake fluid reservoir cap leaking and ran down the motor. Only did it when i parked facing down hill.

Nah it was level other than facing downhill, plus the fluid was definitely oil not brake fluid. I'm confused because I think there's a valve cover leak, but that's not what was leaking out of the front because the level wouldn't be high enough for that to matter, so I'm thinking there's multiple sources of leaks. Valve cover, rear main and possibly oil pan as well. The bell housing is pretty wet with oil and it goes all the way up the engine pretty much.

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[2TH4IST]

Here's a hint, add a florescent dye to your oil, run it for a bit. Park it down hill and track it with a black light flash light. Did this a ton when I worked at a vw dealer.

Could be a rear main, oil builds up in bell housing and once parked down hill it drips out. But it's hard to explain why there is oil on the white starter/alt cable housing in the front of the pan. Oil creeps upwards but doesn't defy gravity. I think at this point, front main and cam seals, oil pan, and rear main are suspect and probably should be replaced. Yes, tons of work, but you know it's done right. Might as well do cam seals and vc gasket as well. A newly sealed engine.

But make sure the seal surfaces are smooth and clean of gouges and nicks. That will cause problems. Ive always disliked chasing oil leaks. They can be a total blast ��

 

[Gone4broke]

Here's a hint, add a florescent dye to your oil, run it for a bit. Park it down hill and track it with a black light flash light. Did this a ton when I worked at a vw dealer.

Could be a rear main, oil builds up in bell housing and once parked down hill it drips out. But it's hard to explain why there is oil on the white starter/alt cable housing in the front of the pan. Oil creeps upwards but doesn't defy gravity. I think at this point, front main and cam seals, oil pan, and rear main are suspect and probably should be replaced. Yes, tons of work, but you know it's done right. Might as well do cam seals and vc gasket as well. A newly sealed engine.

But make sure the seal surfaces are smooth and clean of gouges and nicks. That will cause problems. Ive always disliked chasing oil leaks. They can be a total blast ��

I actually just did the dye thing and wouldn't you know it I can't find dye anywhere. I parked it uphill though thinking that maybe I would catch it coming out of the bell housing or vc. I'm gonna go check again and then park it facing down and see what happens.

It's so weird to me that the back of the block and everything is wet and seems to have leaked recently but the puddles only come when I park downhill.

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