3rz leak

Excuse my ignorance - I know my engine bay well but for the life of me I can’t figure out what this is or WHY there’s oil seeping..

Found some spatter on side of my bell housing where the exhaust downpipe bolts into it and traced it up to this area right above the exhaust manifold at the back of the block where a bracket is holding up a grounded line - circled in red in last pic

Thoughts?

 

Valve cover gasket, very common place to leak on lots of different vehicles, not just toyota

Make sure to get a gasket kit with tube seals included. Also a good time to do spark plugs while you're in there

 

10-4 thank you. PCV valve recommended as well since im right there? Yota1 has a kit, looks all OEM, does a dealer have one too? haven't checked yet.

 

Don't worry about the pcv, they never fail on newer vehicles

I'd just go to a local parts store and buy whatever they have. Fel-pro, Victor Reinz, whatever. Just make sure it has the tube seals

Get oem spark plugs though

 

As stated, look up high first at valve cover area...
If leaking high & running down, oil pan area / trans area will look wet & if you have tunnel vision, you will chase the wrong repair.
Dont play games & source a toyota VG gasket if in fact thats what it is....
Cheap enough & will be better than other options, ive used them all........

 

yup its leaking down on the bell housing (at the exhaust downpipe bolt).

 

Better view with I take tube off

 

Pic off where valve cover gasket is leaking but also curious what these two
Threaded holes are for right next to circled

 

Left hole is for engine hook for hoisting. Other is unused.

 

Thanks for the info gents. So plugs, valve cover gasket, etc were done at 130k by a shop in Reno who the guy I bought it from took it to (have all the service records). I don't trust shops work so I am going to redo everything for peace of mind including the gasket. I'm at 167k right now so may as well do it correctly.

Plugs
Plug wires
Plug tube gaskets
Coil packs (mine has dual side of block)

 

Valve cover probably over torqued by the shop. Get an inch pound torque wrench. Should be about 50 in.–lbf

 

Lineman
On my 96 2rz
Those empty head female holes are for a bracket that holds steel air intake resonator
Bet redesigned for your taco
Good 4U
They are kinda a pita to thread

 

ahh that makes sense! I was really hoping it was a previous platform architecture thing and no crappy shop work lol from previous owner. Thanks for the info!

 

BTW
I had to do VG twice(bc of distributor gasket)
I found that makes job much easier to “set back” that engine harness.(on exhaust side, hugging the VC) I mean loosening all harness bolts so you have slack. Can be done with out doing the extra work, but the extra 10m I spent on harness set back made VC much faster

since your right there
Might be worth RR’ng the CTS on back of head. Super easy if valve cover off. Again, can be done with a contortion body.
I had no start condition, Glasiman helped me discover that my 3month old new CTS failed

my 1st one:


they are not too expensive
Definitely less than complete VC kit
17mm or 19mm deep socket needed

 

BTW
I really like your proactiveness!

Are you airplane mechanic?
lol

best seller of a vehicle is an airplane mechanic…..take that comment to the bank
(Always Maintained)

 

CTS as in Coolant temp sensor?

Nope, lineman. Just hate when things are done wrong on vehicles (paying a shop labor too) or waiting until a problem comes up when I least expect it - hence I do it myself and always ahead of time if I can! Plus, love learning about every inch of this truck. Keeps my mind fresh and "mechanically inclined" if you know what I mean. I'm no expert by any means, but I never grew up around people into these trucks so I'm happy to say I'm self taught, and happy to be on this forum too

 

Yep coolant temp sensor