Need help finding oil leak

[billyboy15]

Theres oil collecting under the round silver thing in the picture and i dont know where its coming from....is that the oil cooler? Also after everytime i drive it for more than 20 or 30 minutes i can smell oil burning when i turn it off its not a very strong smell but i can definitely smell it. my 4runner just hit 111,000 btw

 

[Troutsrunner]

Theres oil collecting under the round silver thing in the picture and i dont know where its coming from....is that the oil cooler? Also after everytime i drive it for more than 20 or 30 minutes i can smell oil burning when i turn it off its not a very strong smell but i can definitely smell it. my 4runner just hit 111,000 btw

What kind of engine is it. Were not freaking mind readers.

 

[billyboy15]

sorry lol its a automatic v6

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Oil cooler leak

 

[billyboy15]

Oil cooler leak

really? ok ill replace it i guess but i wouldnt think i would be able to smell that small of a leak

 

[animator]

That appears to be leaking from the oil cooler, but it does not explain the burning oil smell, which is most often generated when oil drips onto the exhaust manifolds, which sit higher than the cooler.


Practically every 5vz-fe engine leaks at the valve covers after 60k miles, so being at 111k, you are most likely due for a valve cover seal replacement. It is likely that oil is leaking from the valve covers down and onto your manifolds, causing the burnt oil smell. It is also likely that if the valve covers are indeed leaking, that the oil could be working its way down and appear to be leaking from the cooler, when in fact, it isn't.


Check your valve cover areas, and if they are leaking, fix that first. Then if the oil cooler does in fact need to be replaced, do that next. You don't hear about oil coolers leaking at anywhere close to the frequency of valve covers, which is why I say to look there first...

 

[billyboy15]

That appears to be leaking from the oil cooler, but it does not explain the burning oil smell, which is most often generated when oil drips onto the exhaust manifolds, which sit higher than the cooler.


Practically every 5vz-fe engine leaks at the valve covers after 60k miles, so being at 111k, you are most likely due for a valve cover seal replacement. It is likely that oil is leaking from the valve covers down and onto your manifolds, causing the burnt oil smell. It is also likely that if the valve covers are indeed leaking, that the oil could be working its way down and appear to be leaking from the cooler, when in fact, it isn't.


Check your valve cover areas, and if they are leaking, fix that first. Then if the oil cooler does in fact need to be replaced, do that next. You don't hear about oil coolers leaking at anywhere close to the frequency of valve covers, which is why I say to look there first...

ok thank you i was thinking about do my valve cover gaskets anyways so ill do that first and then clean up the oil and see if its still collecting under the oil cooler

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

^^^This. Does look like there may be a little bit of a trail from the top. Definitely check those first. If the oil cooler is leaking, you don't have to replace it, there's just an Oring and a bolt seal (bonded washer) that get replaced. If you remove the wheel well cover you can get a good view of the side of the motor. I believe on the driver's side it's a hard plastic piece with three trim holders that come of fairly easy with one of those door trim removal tools. Some autoparts store have those plastic sets which come in really handy when removing interior trim pieces.

 

[billyboy15]

^^^This. Does look like there may be a little bit of a trail from the top. Definitely check those first. If the oil cooler is leaking, you don't have to replace it, there's just an Oring and a bolt seal (bonded washer) that get replaced. If you remove the wheel well cover you can get a good view of the side of the motor. I believe on the driver's side it's a hard plastic piece with three trim holders that come of fairly easy with one of those door trim removal tools. Some autoparts store have those plastic sets which come in really handy when removing interior trim pieces.

thanks! yeah ill check it out