Bad Oil Leak -Driver's side

My 2006 - 390,000Km 4.0L 4x4 taco has sprung a leak. Noticed an oil patch on the driveway all of a sudden.. There was about 2L of oil missing when I did the oil change. Oil all over the engine bay and surround parts on the driver's side. It's always had a slight seep from the timing chain area on the passenger side, but this is new and on the driver's side.

Anyone else had this? What was the verdict? All my local shops are backed up, debating bringing it to Toyota rather than my regular shop.

 

My guess is the valve cover gasket. Do an engine degreaser/cleaner and see if you can pinpoint fresh oil leak after cleaning.

 

Thanks for the info. Will try that.

 

Is it remotely possible the oil filter didn’t seat 100% upon last oil change?

 

There’s a lot of possible leak sites. Before anything else you need to clean the engine and determine where the leak is coming from. Until then everything is just a guess.

 

Ok.. 2nd generation tacoma are known for timing chain cover leaks from passenger's side right where the power steering mount once the engine pass 100k give or take, its the point where the engine block, camshaft cover meets with least amount of seal maker, less torque applied by bolts in comparison to the driver side that's first, second the timing chain tensioner sits right at the weak spot render it a leathal design giving The fact that the whole spot is under continuous impact by the moving chain,with time the seal maker deteriorate and oil starts to leak. Once you over 200k the other side will start behave the same way. I just finished an overhaul of that crazy TCcover leak..it was painful

 

Couple guys on YouTube doing the job .. they are very good, unfortunately they only showing how to take it off and install the new chain components but they won't show how to reinstall.. re-intsallation process is as difficult and delicate as the break down.. first time I installed the time chain cover I got po606 right after I started the engine... I forgot or put too little seal maker to one of the three holes at the center of the engine and one of them starts to leak oil to the exhaust and start to have a lot of smoke coming from under the hood right at the of sensors

 

As others have said, and based on the timing you suggested above, maybe make sure that the old filter seal did not stay when you removed the old filter, and you maybe put the new filter over that old rubber seal? That seems like a lot of oil to suggenly appear without it being related to your recent action.

 

Mattcowsmasher..thanks for the suggestion, I checked it.. wasn't loose.. my problem is that the coolant is seeping to the oil .. my guess is when I applied the seal maker some how wasn't enough to seal the waterpump inlet on the engine block and coolant is finding its way to mix with oil... pcm is crazy because it senses coolant in system and keep throwing po606 code and my catalytic conv. Smoking coolant... I guess am going need to redo the whole god dam job.. will post some pictures..thanks for the input

 

Dang dude that sucks was hoping the best for ya at least you got it diagnosed.

 

Soo it was an oil pressure switch. $70 part. No big deal.

 

Thank you for posting the fix. So many ppl just leave after they figure it out and its like reading a book with no ending haha

 

Whole point of this website is to be a resource for other Tacoma owners. Hopefully it saves someone else with a high mileage tacoma some money.

 

I just had this happen to me too, it was also my oil pressure switch. Under $100 parts and labour to fix and clean up the mess.
Pretty scary shit to find a puddle of oil on my driveway, open the hood to find oil all over EVERYTHING! (Got on the fan and belt). I caught it fairly early too, only lost about 1/2 a litre.

 

I second this ^^^^^^

 

No worries. It's still going strong a month later. No new oil leaks in the driveway. Phew