Slight oil leak turned into drips

[3rd gen king]

So I have always "burned oil" but hey 366k I could understand, but I had always seen oil all over my skid and on my trans pan..and just skipped over it . So yeah, DON'T DO THIS

so after some research ( YES I USED LE FUNCTION OF EL SEARCHO) it's my rear main seal.. Supposed to be a beech because of my auto trans but next weekend I'll be tackling it.

Few questions..

It's all over my lower end but it does drip on the exhuast insulation shield of the passenger side, is that my vaulve cover gasket? (passenger side of course)

As far as the seal I've got oem seal, but should I drop the trans entirely or move it back enough to get the job done?

Anything else I should do while im down in her guts?


Thanks in advance guys

 

[satek]

Are you seeing any smoke coming up after you get your car to operating temperature?

I had white smoke coming up and I think that was oil getting burned up on the exhaust manifold so I replaced both valve cover gaskets and it went away.

I also had oil everywhere on my engine and my skid plate as well, but I don't know if it's because I was running with a leaking valve cover gasket for a long time or if it was something else.

Can't answer anything about the transmission, but other people suggest replacing the PCV valve and cleaning the MAF sensor while you have the valve covers off.

 

[Singtoe]

Does your 4runner smoke? If it doesn't, and if it was me; I would do complete reseal.

Because you are not sure where it leaking from. I would replace all of them.

Pull the motor, replace the oil pump seal, the rear main seal, the oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket.

If you haven't already, go ahead and do a water pump and timing belt.

While everything is apart, go ahead and replace the input and final drive shaft seal on the transmission.

 

[3rd gen king]

Does your 4runner smoke? If it doesn't, and if it was me; I would do complete reseal.

Because you are not sure where it leaking from. I would replace all of them.

Pull the motor, replace the oil pump seal, the rear main seal, the oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket.

If you haven't already, go ahead and do a water pump and timing belt.

While everything is apart, go ahead and replace the input and final drive shaft seal on the transmission.

No smoke and im pretty sure it's the rear main (about a month ago I had all the belts done, water pump and thermo ) but I was planning on doing both valve covers, oil pan and the rear main. I don't have the cash or tools to pull the engine so I'm just going to get done what I can... If it doesn't fix it I guess I'll buy the engine jack and have it pulled

 

[imboredeveryday]

when u do the v-cover gaskets make sure u do the plug on the back for the cam and the half moons also take silcone and reseal them thats usually the main part of where the oil leaks from

 

[nevada]

if it were me, id do a better job in verifying the leak.
you're talking a massive amount of labor on a guess.

there are dyes you can get, possible you can rent the kit?
you add the dye, run the engine, then crawl under and watch for the leak.

worth the price of admission if it turns out to NOT be the rear main.