'97 3rz oil leak near oil filter

as title says, I got an oil leak on the passenger side of engine near the oil filter but can't see where its comin from. All around the filter mount area and slightly forward of it is caked with crud and it will leave a few drops in the drive way. The filter itself is dry so its not the filter itself, just wondering if anyone had any ideas or if there is a common cause for an oil leak in this area. Thanks for any help

 

check the timing chain cover......I have the same sort of leak and Im 99% sure it is the timing chain cover leaking (thought it was the oil pan at first but it is higher than that)

 

Have you recently changed the oil (filter not tight)

I think theres a gasket between the filter holder and the block...

pull the skids and steam clean the area then watch for leaks

 

I was wondering if it might be the timing cover, but it appears the crud lessons the farther you go forward but I haven't really investigated real hard.

filter is tight, that was the first thing I checked when I noticed the leakage. I was wondering about the filter mount to block connection, I did throw a wrench on the filter mount bolts and they were tight but that don't mean the gasket isn't bad. I've been meaning to clean it up to get a better look but haven't got around to it. I'll have to try and find some time if the weather clears up this week to get here cleaned up.

 

On the toyota 4runner .org forum user mom lists possible causes of leaks. I contacted him and he said his leak was oil filter bracket that you also mention. However, he had not changed his.

I have 97 4runner 5 speed manual.

I took off my skid plate to inspect. Looked liked the oil filter housing could be the problem he mentioned. Ordered 2 o-rings the next day. (I had spent months trying to identify source of leak)
Had some nice weather today. Was able to change o-rings, oil in few hours.

Trick was to access bracket from both under suv and right side fender depending on bolts nuts being removed. To access from wheel well I took off splash guard between tire and engine. Took off heat shield to access two bolts and nut holding oil bracket on.

I did not have to remove union. However to get o-ring off of union had to use a sharp utility knife and cut at a diagonal. original o-ring on union was a hard plastic or nylon and did not stretch.(or it hardened so much that I could not use a screwdriver to pry off).

Put oil on new o-ring and slipped right back on union. Put on other o-ring on bracket and mounted. From time I got o-ring off reassembly took less than 30 minutes. Very easy to get things back together.

Almost a year later and no oil from that location

 

replaced the o-rings on mine a while back, been good since.