Synthetic oil leak! Experience needed!

[Amirocassar]

Edit: 02 4Runner with 177k miles.

Hey guys, I recently switched to mobil1 high mileage full synthetic 5w-30. I never had a leak prior to this with conventional oil, but now I'm getting a leak around my oil pan and even a bit around the oil bolt(nut whatever you'd like to call it, I'm tired after an overnight shift). So ironically I came home to look up info on the water pump/timing belt change that I plan to do in the upcoming weeks and I wanted to make sure if I had an oil cooler, which I did and then I saw the leak. I just put in the synthetic Saturday and have been driving roughly 55milew everyday since. So I was debating to change back to Dino or try an oil leak stopper. I got the Lucas oil leak stopper and was only able to put in maybe 2/3rds or 1/2 before I was pushing the max line.(the bottle says the whole thing for 4qyarts but I guess I had more than that in it and I didn't wanna flood it). So any experience with this? This Lucas oil leak stopper? I'm going to bed and am really hoping it works. Even if It stops the leak until
I switch back to regular oil at the next interval then that's fine. I wasn't sure if I switched to regular oil If it would
Leak or not since I'm assuming the synthetic oil cleaned up whatever and now the leaks are present. Again, I had no prior leaks. Also, any ball park on gasket changes if it comes down to it? There's a pep boys near me... I really don't wanna do gasket changes since it seems like it would be a b*tch. Thanks....


PS: I understand synthetics doesn't cause leaks, so I don't want somebody flamin me and saying I'm saying it does. I'm just saying the detergents clean the engine and then the underlining or "hiding" leaks become present.

 

[amalik]

Just throwing this thought out there but... why not get the oil pan fixed (Maybe new gasket?) and continue to utilize the benefits of synthetic?

There had to be a reason you wanted to go synthetic in the first place.

Now if you are leaking oil after a pan-fix and synthetic... that's the shop (Or your) problem, and another story

 

[piecesparts]

The synthetic oils have a different molecular make-up, so the synthetic oils will leak, where a dinosaur blood based oil may not. I agree, if the leak is repairable, then I would try to do so and live with the synthetic oil benefits.

 

[T4R2014]

Synthetic oil didn't cause any leaks. You simply have a bad seal somewhere. Change out the seal.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I'd just give what you have in there time and see if the leak begins to let up or stops altogether. If not, try a synthetic blend HM oil. Maxlife comes to mind.

Forgo using any more of the Lucas.

 

[ARC]

I always use high mileage synthetics which contain larger molecules to help with this sort of thing.

 

[JayRolla]

Fix the leak.

 

[drewm]

Think of it this way, now you actually are using an oil that is obviously penetrating which is now actually lubricating your bearings, cam surfaces and seeping into places that were previously unlubricated. I'd replace your oil pan gasket and get a new bolt gasket.

All it means is your old oil sucks.

Also, high mileage oils are as bad as running dino, you might as well run the crappiest oil you can find.

I swapped my 4th gen over at 170k miles with no issues.

 

[ARC]

Also, high mileage oils are as bad as running dino, you might as well run the crappiest oil you can find.

Got anything to back that statement up?

 

[BlackCat914]

Got anything to back that statement up?

ya, or any of the other nonsense he spewed in his post.

and [MENTION=71030]T4R2014[/MENTION] hit the nail right on the head. Synthetic oil didn't cause any of your problems.

 

[scrap metal]

How bout try tightening your oil pan gasket bolts to see if you can get away with that for a while? Don't crank the crap out of them.. youll either squish the seal too much or break the little 10mm bolts...

The oil drain bolt... all it needs is a new washer... if its not too much leaking from there just wait till your next oil change

 

[Amirocassar]

Synthetic oil didn't cause any leaks. You simply have a bad seal somewhere. Change out the seal.

Sigh... I said this and I'll say it again, I was not saying this..... It's just the detergents probably cleaned up everything and now yhe hidden leak is present. This is not saying that synthetic caused the leak, more like it made it presentable.

 

[RedSled]

Sigh... I said this and I'll say it again, I was not saying this..... It's just the detergents probably cleaned up everything and now yhe hidden leak is present. This is not saying that synthetic caused the leak, more like it made it presentable.

Yes, i saw that in your post, evidently some did not..

 

[T4R2014]

Sigh... I said this and I'll say it again, I was not saying this..... It's just the detergents probably cleaned up everything and now yhe hidden leak is present. This is not saying that synthetic caused the leak, more like it made it presentable.

Then what were you saying? Your original post says that you were contemplating on going back to dino oil or dumping in that crap stop-leak nonsense. Your leaking oil drain bolt needs a new washer which is something that no synthetic oil would cause. Might as do another oil change now to drain out that stop-leak garbage and change the drain washer. As for the leaking seal; there is no way around it. It needs to be changed.

 

[MarkinWMich]

Synthetic Oil vs Non-Synthetic Oil

Demystifying Oil: Synthetic Oil Versus Non-Synthetic Oil - The Car Connection

Some key statements:

"...They offer better high-temperature resistance and better low-temperature flow, and they leave nearly no deposits..."

"...Because synthetics flow and penetrate much better than regular oils, a change to synthetic oil will sometimes reveal leaks you didn't know existed..."

"...As you car ages and becomes a high-mileage vehicle, many experts recommend that you change to a thicker oil than is normally used. Over time, gaps between parts in the engine become larger, enabling less oil to reach critical parts..."

 

[piecesparts]

Believe it or not, the leak was already there. The finer molecule structure of a full synthetic oil will flow through some areas, that the rough tough old dino goo would not. That is why the synthetics are able to protect parts better.

 

[ARC]

Demystifying Oil: Synthetic Oil Versus Non-Synthetic Oil - The Car Connection

Some key statements:

"...They offer better high-temperature resistance and better low-temperature flow, and they leave nearly no deposits..."

"...Because synthetics flow and penetrate much better than regular oils, a change to synthetic oil will sometimes reveal leaks you didn't know existed..."

"...As you car ages and becomes a high-mileage vehicle, many experts recommend that you change to a thicker oil than is normally used. Over time, gaps between parts in the engine become larger, enabling less oil to reach critical parts..."

Thanks for posting something useful

 

[Amirocassar]

Believe it or not, the leak was already there. The finer molecule structure of a full synthetic oil will flow through some areas, that the rough tough old dino goo would not. That is why the synthetics are able to protect parts better.

Yeah obviously, but what I was stating is that the synthetic just made it presentable. I didn't say it caused it. It seems people misread what I posted, I don't know how since I even included a PS to clarify.

It's been a day now with Lucas oil stopper an the leak actually stopped. Seeing as it was obviously leaking since Saturday (since I lost .5quarts about), it seems apparent that the Lucas oil stopper actually worked. Coincidence? Yeah some might say that. People say oil stoppers don't work, but you know it's everybody's opinion. There's people who argue synthetics aren't worth it. Or that Seafoam doesn't work. Everybody's got their opinion, and until they try it they won't know.

Also, as of today my engine is running a lot quieter compared to the conventional oil and even synthetic. Apparently the oil leak stopper isn't just for leaks, but it cleans your engine as well. I've done seafoam treatments and haven't even seen this big of an improvement.

 

[Nunyabiz]

Yeah obviously, but what I was stating is that the synthetic just made it presentable. I didn't say it caused it. It seems people misread what I posted, I don't know how since I even included a PS to clarify.

It's been a day now with Lucas oil stopper an the leak actually stopped. Seeing as it was obviously leaking since Saturday (since I lost .5quarts about), it seems apparent that the Lucas oil stopper actually worked. Coincidence? Yeah some might say that. People say oil stoppers don't work, but you know it's everybody's opinion. There's people who argue synthetics aren't worth it. Or that Seafoam doesn't work. Everybody's got their opinion, and until they try it they won't know.

Also, as of today my engine is running a lot quieter compared to the conventional oil and even synthetic. Apparently the oil leak stopper isn't just for leaks, but it cleans your engine as well. I've done seafoam treatments and haven't even seen this big of an improvement.

Seems to me that everyone on this thread is in total agreement on the fact that synthetic oil isn't the problem.
But there is really only one good solution.


I have no doubts that the "Stop leak" stopped the leak but in my experience ANY kind of stop leak be it for the radiator, power steering, or oil is always a bad idea.
They "work" alright, but they have mucked up the properties of the fluid that they have been added to.

I would drain that manure out of your system asap and replace the gasket with Toyota Black RTV or Permatex Ultra Black RTV. Get a new washer for the drain bolt.

I would drain the oil, drop the pan, clean it out, check the magnets at the bottom for metal.
Clean the old gasket/RTV off completely, lay on a nice bead of just RTV no need for an actual gasket and tighten properly with a torque wrench.
Get some cheap "sorta synthetic" that has a good detergent package in it and use that for about 2000 miles to help clean out more of that stop leak, drain and replace with "real synthetic" like Red Line or Amsoil.

Should not cost more than about $10 total (to fix leaks) and about 1 hour of your time.
If you do not have the place to work on it then probably cost you about $75 for a mechanic to do exactly that.

"

as of today my engine is running a lot quieter compared to the conventional oil and even synthetic

"

I am sure it does, you know what also would do that, SAWDUST or Super High Viscosity oil like old used car shysters used to do and probably still do to make the engine or trans sounds better for a short period, long enough to sell it to a sucker.

 

[Amirocassar]

Seems to me that everyone on this thread is in total agreement on the fact that synthetic oil isn't the problem.
But there is really only one good solution.


I have no doubts that the "Stop leak" stopped the leak but in my experience ANY kind of stop leak be it for the radiator, power steering, or oil is always a bad idea.
They "work" alright, but they have mucked up the properties of the fluid that they have been added to.

I would drain that manure out of your system asap and replace the gasket with Toyota Black RTV or Permatex Ultra Black RTV. Get a new washer for the drain bolt.

I would drain the oil, drop the pan, clean it out, check the magnets at the bottom for metal.
Clean the old gasket/RTV off completely, lay on a nice bead of just RTV no need for an actual gasket and tighten properly with a torque wrench.
Get some cheap "sorta synthetic" that has a good detergent package in it and use that for about 2000 miles to help clean out more of that stop leak, drain and replace with "real synthetic" like Red Line or Amsoil.

Should not cost more than about $10 total (to fix leaks) and about 1 hour of your time.
If you do not have the place to work on it then probably cost you about $75 for a mechanic to do exactly that.

" "

I am sure it does, you know what also would do that, SAWDUST or Super High Viscosity oil like old used car shysters used to do and probably still do to make the engine or trans sounds better for a short period, long enough to sell it to a sucker.

It's quite possible, but i just look at it as people usually are in denial or refuse to believe something could work. I.e when sea foam was invented, apparently people just thought it was a scam(some still apparently do). I'm thinking of doing that fix anyway, and I never said or implied that synthetic caused leak. If you were one of the few to read it correctly you'll see me state several times that I wasn't saying it was synthetics fault, I was saying that because of synthetics properties of cleaning better that the leak became noticed. Basically synthetic oil was the magician that took the rabbit out of the hat, the rabbit was always there but I couldn't see it. I hope that clarifies it for everybody flaming me..