Oil leaking on exhaust

[cweiser]

2001 2WD 312k miles, valve cover leaking on exhaust manifold. How much of a fire hazard could this possibly be. I don't want to have a car fire. I'm gonna have my mechanic repair the leak. I don't have the facility or time to do it myself. Also, could the oil leaking cause corrosion on the manifold? Thanks.

 

[BamaDrewski]

2001 2WD 312k miles, valve cover leaking on exhaust manifold. How much of a fire hazard could this possibly be. I don't want to have a car fire. I'm gonna have my mechanic repair the leak. I don't have the facility or time to do it myself. Also, could the oil leaking cause corrosion on the manifold? Thanks.

The oil is leaking from your valve cover gaskets (common issue on our rigs) onto the manifold and the gaskets need to be replaced. If nothing else, take a 10mm socket and tighten your valve cover bolts until you can get the gaskets replaced. It is not a difficult job. Depending on the mileage, you might also consider sealing the half moons and the cam covers when you are in there.

 

[spartacus]

just replace the valve cover gasket i did this job on my cousins truck in a her apt parking lot with hand tools pretty simple. Read this writeup
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...cover-gaskets-true-write-up-**pictures**.html
and watch this video video
https://youtu.be/N5fAXAuGozI
and then decide if you still want the mechanic to do it.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

The oil is leaking from your valve cover gaskets (common issue on our rigs) onto the manifold and the gaskets need to be replaced. If nothing else, take a 10mm socket and tighten your valve cover bolts until you can get the gaskets replaced. It is not a difficult job. Depending on the mileage, you might also consider sealing the half moons and the cam covers when you are in there.

Be very careful doing this. The torque spec is 52 IN LBS. The valve covers have been known to crack if over torqued

 

[2000se]

But what is the fire hazard on this? Oil leaking like this on the exhaust manifold from the valve covers?

 

[mtbtim]

But what is the fire hazard on this? Oil leaking like this on the exhaust manifold from the valve covers?

That amount isn't going to cause a fire. It will just smoke a lot.

 

[cweiser]

This engine was bone dry until around 200k and the leak has gotten worse over time, very common. I checked the tightness a few years ago and the bolts I could get to moved 1/8 to 1/4 turn. I know how easily the vlv cover can crack and also, overtightening can make the leak worse. My main concern is a fire hazard from the heat but I agree, that's unlikely. I don't need my truck burning up on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway! (I drive it twice a day, 80 mile commute round trip) I'm also concerned if the chemicals in the oil could corrode the exhaust manifold. It looks like it's either SS or possibly titanium. Any thoughts on this. (I know "Just fix the leaks!")
Thanks!!!

 

[mtbtim]

This engine was bone dry until around 200k and the leak has gotten worse over time, very common. I checked the tightness a few years ago and the bolts I could get to moved 1/8 to 1/4 turn. I know how easily the vlv cover can crack and also, overtightening can make the leak worse. My main concern is a fire hazard from the heat but I agree, that's unlikely. I don't need my truck burning up on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway! (I drive it twice a day, 80 mile commute round trip) I'm also concerned if the chemicals in the oil could corrode the exhaust manifold. It looks like it's either SS or possibly titanium. Any thoughts on this. (I know "Just fix the leaks!")
Thanks!!!

If you're at all interested in auto mechanics, this is a good repair to get your feel wet on. If you take your time, label hose and electrical connections so there's no chance you hook up something wrong, you can do this repair on your own very easily. The one bad mess up I've heard of people doing is connecting back up the hoses on the underside of the throttle body wrong. They hook up a coolant line to a vacuum line and flood their cylinders with coolant.

The video [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] and I made on the job is pretty good but we didn't show as much detail in some areas so looking at our Fuel Injector Replacement video will offer more detail in regards to getting everything off the top of the engine to fully expose the valve covers and then get everything back on.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N5fAXAuGozI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N-lhZIWOkyU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[jacked_72]

Valve cover gaskets most likely. While your in there, be sure to replace the cam caps and reseal the half moon plugs.

 

[HiMiles]

I'm also concerned if the chemicals in the oil could corrode the exhaust manifold. It looks like it's either SS or possibly titanium.

Oil helps stop stuff from corroding. Burnt on oil can be nasty to clean off porous manifolds, though.

It would be very strange if you actually had a titanium exhaust manifold on a 4Runner

 

[phattyduck]

I'm also concerned if the chemicals in the oil could corrode the exhaust manifold. It looks like it's either SS or possibly titanium. Any thoughts on this. (I know "Just fix the leaks!")
Thanks!!!

The manifold itself is cast iron, the heat shields might be stainless steel or a coated steel of some sort. The oil may cause discoloration, but there won't be any structural damage.

-Charlie