I just look at it myself and you can’t see in the picture but it starts right where the circle is also I think Is leaking from the back where cam housing plug is
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Tranny fluid or coolant
- Thread starter cgalloni
- Start date
I just look at it myself and you can’t see in the picture but it starts right where the circle is also I think Is leaking from the back where cam housing plug is
brillo_76
Elite Member
I believe there is a misprint in the FSM and it says ft/lbs instead of inch pounds for the torque of the valve pan gaskets bolts.
The cam shaft half moons and valve pan gaskets are notorious for seeping and if whoever changed them didn't know enough to not overtighten the valve pan they probably didn't do the cam seals like bad luck suggested.
Looks like you found your leak as I didn't think it was the transmission or power steering.
Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk
The cam shaft half moons and valve pan gaskets are notorious for seeping and if whoever changed them didn't know enough to not overtighten the valve pan they probably didn't do the cam seals like bad luck suggested.
Looks like you found your leak as I didn't think it was the transmission or power steering.
Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk
As others have indicated, several potential sources for the leak but sure looks like valve cover gaskets to me as well.
Sorry guys.....missed the 2nd page of responses when I added these comments.
Didn’t see comment about the cracked valve cover, makes sense.
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I believe there is a misprint in the FSM and it says ft/lbs instead of inch pounds for the torque of the valve pan gaskets bolts.
The cam shaft half moons and valve pan gaskets are notorious for seeping and if whoever changed them didn't know enough to not overtighten the valve pan they probably didn't do the cam seals like bad luck suggested.
Looks like you found your leak as I didn't think it was the transmission or power steering.
Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk
I think the misprint on torque values in the FSM is the rear differential studs. I think the valve cover numbers are accurate.
brillo_76
Elite Member
I stand corrected. I checked both 2001 FSM and 1997 FSM and the Torque is 6 N m or 53 in lbf so no reason on earth to overtighten and crank the cover. I thought I read somewhere there was a misprint in a FSM on the covers.
So the people cracking these covers by over tightening them really shouldn't be turning wrenches. :/
Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk
I still don't see this valve cover crack you're talking about. To clarify I'm looking for a crack in the valve cover in the photos. Not a crack in the valve cover gasket.
phattyduck
Elite Member
The crack runs from the red circle to just above the bolt in the photo. Most of the crack is hidden by the oil cap.
-Charlie
I give up. Thanks for trying
Guys,
I'm back. Changed the valve gaskets both sides, changed the valve cover that was cracked and also resealed the half moons and replaced the cam plugs, pcv valve and spark plugs. The truck was given back to me yesterday but i still see a little drip over the bell housing, granted this could've have happened before the work was done and that is just oil residue before the job.
Quick question for the experts here , how would you differentiate or know if it was the valve gaskets/covers or the rear main seal? They both use the same oil so it is hard to differentiate.
I am hoping the leak was from the valve gaskets and covers and i cleaned the oil around the bell last night.
I am really hoping is not the rear main seal since that would mean that i have to lower the transmission and i just don't have the money for that
Also, If i start the truck and let it seat in idle for 15-20 minutes if is the rear main seal should i see dripping from the bell housing or anywhere around?.
I would appreciate your input once again!
I'm back. Changed the valve gaskets both sides, changed the valve cover that was cracked and also resealed the half moons and replaced the cam plugs, pcv valve and spark plugs. The truck was given back to me yesterday but i still see a little drip over the bell housing, granted this could've have happened before the work was done and that is just oil residue before the job.
Quick question for the experts here , how would you differentiate or know if it was the valve gaskets/covers or the rear main seal? They both use the same oil so it is hard to differentiate.
I am hoping the leak was from the valve gaskets and covers and i cleaned the oil around the bell last night.
I am really hoping is not the rear main seal since that would mean that i have to lower the transmission and i just don't have the money for that
Also, If i start the truck and let it seat in idle for 15-20 minutes if is the rear main seal should i see dripping from the bell housing or anywhere around?.
I would appreciate your input once again!
Not the rear main seal
Just continue to drive and see slow disappearance of the leak. There are some oil that leaked prior to the job.
Facts: Toyota OEM oil seals especially cam, crank and rear seals are truly lasts 250K miles or beyond.
My friends Tacoma 03 (160K miles) got the same engine and a shop told them the truck has a leak in the rear oil seal. They called me and I said it is impossible based on my experience with toyotas since 1990. They drove the truck to visit me from Louisiana to West TX and I got the valve cover gasket replaced (tiwh OEM) and yesterday they said no leaks after that.
I have 216K mile 97 4runner with factory rear seal; 00 LC with 237K miles with factory seals cam, crank and rear.
I once replaced the valve cover gaskets on my 4R with non-oem and that only lasted 6K miles.
Just continue to drive and see slow disappearance of the leak. There are some oil that leaked prior to the job.
Facts: Toyota OEM oil seals especially cam, crank and rear seals are truly lasts 250K miles or beyond.
My friends Tacoma 03 (160K miles) got the same engine and a shop told them the truck has a leak in the rear oil seal. They called me and I said it is impossible based on my experience with toyotas since 1990. They drove the truck to visit me from Louisiana to West TX and I got the valve cover gasket replaced (tiwh OEM) and yesterday they said no leaks after that.
I have 216K mile 97 4runner with factory rear seal; 00 LC with 237K miles with factory seals cam, crank and rear.
I once replaced the valve cover gaskets on my 4R with non-oem and that only lasted 6K miles.
@nissahnh , thank you for your reply. I am really hoping your expertise speaks for itself and is not the rear main seal. I have put a lot into this rig since i bought it and i really want to enjoy it now for a while but I am not ready to spend that kind of money on the tranny.
Hopefully this will be the end of it.
One thing if i let it idle for 15-20 minutes should i See any leaks from the rear main seal or around it? or just would leak by driving it?
Thanks
phattyduck
Elite Member
If you see oil on the sides or top of the transmission bellhousing, it is not the rear main seal. Rear main oil seal leaks will come out of the inspection plate on the front/bottom of the transmission.
Give that engine a good clean (simple green and a sprayer will be enough) and see if anything new shows up.
-Charlie
ok , thanks
I guess I have no other choice but to drive the truck and see how it behaves. I will try to clean it again with the pressure washer this weekend and try to keep an eye on it. Hopefully like many have stated is just the valve Gaskets that cause that leak.
I will let the truck sit idle for 15 minutes when i get home to see if it leaks
Will keep you posted
Thanks
I guess I have no other choice but to drive the truck and see how it behaves. I will try to clean it again with the pressure washer this weekend and try to keep an eye on it. Hopefully like many have stated is just the valve Gaskets that cause that leak.
I will let the truck sit idle for 15 minutes when i get home to see if it leaks
Will keep you posted
Thanks
phattyduck
Elite Member
If it is leaking enough to see in 15 minutes, you have a serious leak. Clean it and drive it for a while (like, just daily drive it for a week) - then check it.
-Charlie
-Charlie
Wedgy
New member
Please clean that dirty, oil soaked engine. I would charge you extra to work on it if it was that dirty. Get this Super Clean stuff from Walmart in the auto department. It works much better than Simple Green and washes off better than the foaming kind and doesn't stink when you are done. No need to pressure wash. Don't get it in your eyes. Comes in quart sprayer or gallon jug.
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Ok I will try it this weekend. Actually the truck does not look like the original pictures when I bought it. I pressure washed it about 2 weeks ago until I checked it yesterday after getting the valve gaskets done and saw the oil on the bell housing and on top of it too. I will use this this weekend and keep checking on the leak to see if it went away
I replaced my valve cover and spark plug tube gaskets with non OEM about two years ago (~18k miles) and about 4 months (~3k miles) ago they started to leak again. One spark plug gasket on the passenger side closest to the fire wall and the valve cover on the driver side. After market gaskets...no bueno. That or I need to fire...my(shade tree mechanic)...my(self).
