Weird Oil Leak Just up and Vanished??

[brian2sun]

Weird Oil Leak Just Up and Vanished??

Yesterday, I go out to my truck in the morning and there's a 6" puddle of motor oil on the ground and my oil pan, steering rack and crossmembers were saturated with oil and dripping. I could also see where the oil ran down the underside of my skid plates and it was enough to splatter all over the rear axle (from the wind while I was driving before I noticed the leak).

So I wiped it all off and could see it was either coming from the rear of the oil pan or possibly from the rear main seal and running down. It's hard to say for sure because the view is pretty limited down there. After I cleaned it all up, I checked the oil level and it was about a 1/2 a quart low so I topped it off to full again and it hasn't leaked a drop since.

At first, I though maybe it had to do with the heat and maybe the seal(s) swelled or the oil expanded or something, but it's even hotter outside today and after driving about 100 miles this afternoon, it still hasn't leaked another drop.

I just got my engine rebuilt about 4 months ago, so if the leak comes back it'll be fixed under warranty so I'm not worried about the cost to repair. Worst case, I might just have to be without my truck for a couple of days. But I just thought it was weird. Anyone have any ideas why it puked out almost a 1/2 quart in one night and now it's dry as a bone? I know it wasn't leaking before Sunday either because I didn't have any oil stains on my driveway on Saturday. I'm sure it wasn't gear oil or tranny fluid either, definitely motor oil.

 

[JWaldz]

maybe it's just a 'Brian" thing

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/91950-fluid-leak-went-away.html

watch out everyone.. All the Brians are going nuts!!

 

[brian2sun]

maybe it's just a 'Brian" thing

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/91950-fluid-leak-went-away.html

watch out everyone.. All the Brians are going nuts!!

Unfortunately, his didn't go away. It milkshaked in the strawberry flavor. I have a towel covered in oil to prove I'm not crazy, lol!

 

[BrianSD_42]

this sounds like an interesting one. subscribed!


:girl:

 

[LittleCaesar]

Check to make sure the oil filter is on there tight enough. Also check the oil cooler O-ring.

The second oil change I ever did back on the 4runner in 06 I removed the used oil filter but the old oil filter gasket remained on the block. I screwed on a new filter without looking, and alas, two oil filter gaskets do not seal well I found out the hard way after starting the 4runner and watching oil spew down the driveway.

My tranny on the 4runner once puked 1/2 qt of ATF at a BP after changing to Redline D4. Why? I have no clue.

 

[brian2sun]

Check to make sure the oil filter is on there tight enough.

Did that

Also check the oil cooler O-ring.

Thanks for the suggestions, but I don't think it's that either. The entire front and both sides of the block are dry. And the intake and valve covers are dry too. The oil was definitely coming out of the rear of the engine near the top of the oil pan where the tranny bolts to the engine.

The second oil change I ever did back on the 4runner in 06 I removed the used oil filter but the old oil filter gasket remained on the block. I screwed on a new filter without looking, and alas, two oil filter gaskets do not seal well I found out the hard way after starting the 4runner and watching oil spew down the driveway.

My tranny on the 4runner once puked 1/2 qt of ATF at a BP after changing to Redline D4. Why? I have no clue.

It's funny you say that. I worked at a marina for several years and that was one of the first things they taught us when we changed the oil on the boats we worked on - stick your hand in there and scratch the surface with your fingernail to make sure it's metal and not rubber.

 

[Nunyabiz]

If its under warrantee I would take that sucker right back immediately and tell them what happened. They may know or have an idea, if not then at least you have contacted them in case it shows back up after warrantee, then you could have a leg to stand on to have them repair it under warrantee.

 

[IanB]

If its under warrantee I would take that sucker right back immediately and tell them what happened. They may know or have an idea, if not then at least you have contacted them in case it shows back up after warrantee, then you could have a leg to stand on to have them repair it under warrantee.

Agreed, in the interest of preserving your warranty, document everything with the repair shop, so they have every opportunity to deal with the problem. As capable as you may be, you are not a shop in the eyes of the warranty/insurance provider.

 

[brian2sun]

If its under warrantee I would take that sucker right back immediately and tell them what happened. They may know or have an idea, if not then at least you have contacted them in case it shows back up after warrantee, then you could have a leg to stand on to have them repair it under warrantee.

Agreed, in the interest of preserving your warranty, document everything with the repair shop, so they have every opportunity to deal with the problem. As capable as you may be, you are not a shop in the eyes of the warranty/insurance provider.

I agree. I called them this morning and let them know about it. They were just as puzzled as me as to why.?? But, it's documented now, so if happens again they know it was leaking before the warranty expires and they told me they would cover it if and whenever it came back.

 

[brian2sun]

UPDATE: The leak came back. It's the rear main. It's going back to the engine builder on Monday under warranty. Not real happy, but at least I don't have to pay anything.

 

[J-money$$$]

Had to just be on monday tooo.... good luck man. hope its back in your hands by thursday

 

[Victor]

I'm getting the rear main done at the dealer as we speak. It was really wierd, it was leaking pretty steadily earlier this week. Yesterday and today and not a drop at all.

 

[brian2sun]

Had to just be on monday tooo.... good luck man. hope its back in your hands by thursday

Me too.

I'm getting the rear main done at the dealer as we speak. It was really wierd, it was leaking pretty steadily earlier this week. Yesterday and today and not a drop at all.

I guess that's what they do.. leak, seal up, leak, etc.. I'll loose 1/2 quart one day and 1/2 drop the next.

 

[JWaldz]

reminds me of the j**p cherokee I USE to have (hate). Except the rear main seal on that thing went out like every 8 or so months. The last time it did, it was almost un-repairable so I got rid of the headache and bought what I have now

Hope you get it back soon, good thing it's covered!

 

[brian2sun]

Got my truck back yesterday and the rear main is fixed.