Oil leak. What would you suggest for next step?

[subiedrewbie]

I have a 99 4runner with 190k. I have an oil leak coming drivers side from the engine area. I went and replaced the valve cover gasket last night and torqued it all down to spec. Still had oil on ground overnight. I can see the head gasket from underneath the car and it looks oily. I have no other issues with how it runs, it just leaks. Anybody encountered this?

I've searched but most threads I've found are blown head gasket and that is not the case, no cel or anything. All fluids are good. Thanks in advance

 

[Kanger328]

Driver side? Tighten oil filter.

 

[kolelt]

I'm not a expert it maybe your front or rear engine seals are leaking ? Have you recentley used synthetic oil ? From what I heard people with high millage that switch to synthetic oil tend to have little leak from front or rear seal. Is ur oil filter tight ? Our oil drain bolt tight ?

 

[mikebontoft]

you replaced the gasket... but did you clean off the block and any other suspension components below?

 

[subiedrewbie]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

1. The seals were on my list of things to check/do.

2. Yes. I'm not sure when it was switched, but previous owner did do mobile 1 5w30 synthetic so I didn't want to switch back.

3. And yes. I cleaned up the areas below.

It's definitely not the oil filter or drain plug. It's up toward the engine just below the valve cover by the head gasket somewhere. I have yotamasters shop in town here so I may swing it by and have them take a look

 

[Canuckrz]

Did you remove the half moons and re-seal them when you replaced the valve cover gasket?

 

[subiedrewbie]

Did you remove the half moons and re-seal them when you replaced the valve cover gasket?

Not sure what the half moons are?

The previous owner did the gaskets and used a gasket sealer on the outside and it got inside. There were large clumps at the rear. None of that is supposed to in there correct cuz I dug out a couple chunks from inside the valve covers...

 

[Canuckrz]

They're on either end of the cylinder head beside the cams. Easiest way to describe it is to in-vision the 5vz had 2 cams per head and thats where the half moons would be. Apparently alot of people have problems with them seeping, they can run down the block and look like the leak is coming from other locations.

 

[pattycakes77]

I had my stock oil pressure sender crack a couple years ago and that thing spit oil all over the driver's side of the engine and below. It was a tiny crack but you could definitely see it leaking when the engine was revved and pressure built up. Maybe look into that?

 

[subiedrewbie]

I'll locate the sender unit and check that too. Thanks

 

[subiedrewbie]

They're on either end of the cylinder head beside the cams. Easiest way to describe it is to in-vision the 5vz had 2 cams per head and thats where the half moons would be. Apparently alot of people have problems with them seeping, they can run down the block and look like the leak is coming from other locations.

Thank you. I'll check this as well