Major oil leak!

[FoneRunner]

So for the second time in a month I went to check the oil only to find that one drip was barely hanging on to the dipstick...very disturbing feeling when you're 300 miles into a 1000 mile trip! I just did my valve cover gaskets which were definitely leaking, but upon inspection are dry. That means the oil must be coming from somewhere else...I removed my skid plates(which have a nice thick coat of oil on them!) to get a better look at the lower part of the engine but the whole thing is just covered in oil....good oil too I might add!

So, question is...where else(don't say rear main seal...)could that oil be coming from? I did notice that the passenger side diff drop was dry, but the driver side was soaked with oil...but thats as far forward as the oil spill was. I feel like calling BP for advice!

 

[Nelsonmd]

So for the second time in a month I went to check the oil only to find that one drip was barely hanging on to the dipstick...very disturbing feeling when you're 300 miles into a 1000 mile trip! I just did my valve cover gaskets which were definitely leaking, but upon inspection are dry. That means the oil must be coming from somewhere else...I removed my skid plates(which have a nice thick coat of oil on them!) to get a better look at the lower part of the engine but the whole thing is just covered in oil....good oil too I might add!

So, question is...where else(don't say rear main seal...)could that oil be coming from? I did notice that the passenger side diff drop was dry, but the driver side was soaked with oil...but thats as far forward as the oil spill was. I feel like calling BP for advice!

Can you hit up a self serve car wash to clean the oil off the engine? At least then you have a fresh shot at locating the leak.

 

[kball]

Check your oil filter and make sure it's tight enough.

 

[YotaZach85]

Check your oil filter and make sure it's tight enough.

This:iagree:. Mine did this when I bought it, made me get it cheaper though!

 

[LINY4Runner]

You gotta rinse the whole thing down and check it after it's been cleaned...grab 3 or 4 cans of brake cleaner and go to town...then take her for a drive and check periodically.

Good call on the oil filter...that's on the driver's side...make sure that's tight and not double-gasketed.

When was the last time you changed the oil?

 

[echo4tango]

if its not the filter then i would check the oil pan gasket.

 

[FoneRunner]

Wow! Do my powers of suggestion work? No one said rear main seal! :trophy:

I checked the filter and its tight, but not too tight. Its also bone dry around it...no oil coming from there. I hear what y'all are saying about getting in there with some brake cleaner...but I've decided to take it in to see a doctor. Since I rely way too heavily on this vehicle for everyday transport I decided to let some experts take a look. I'll update this when I get an answer...

 

[LINY4Runner]

Wow! Do my powers of suggestion work? No one said rear main seal! :trophy:

We're all just hoping that's not the case...

 

[Jon]

I cant see it being a rear main unless you drive everywhere in reverse. Oil always (usually) sprays back from the leak. Hope for the best

 

[FoneRunner]

I took it to the guys over at ACC Toyota today. Brian there took the inspection cover off and the flywheel was dry, so it's not the rear main seal! Whew! However, the consensus is my oil pan gasket is in need of replcement. That means the front diff and all the junk blocking the oil pan has to come down to change it...lots of labor. Good news is, we're gonna do some upgrading while that sucker is out! Now...on to the next thread about front diffs!

 

[FoneRunner]

Well, turns out it was the rear main seal...but I also got a new oil pan gasket too....so now I'm good for another quarter million miles!!:guitar2:

 

[chris360hawks]

How much did that run you?

 

[FoneRunner]

It ended up being right around $600...or about a quarter what the dealership wants.