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Oil Leak, Front of 3.4L V6 Engine, Came on Fast. Opinions Please!

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by mltitlntd, Jan 25, 2017.

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  1. Jan 25, 2017 at 8:18 PM
    #1
    mltitlntd

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    mltitlntd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hello All,

    My '99 3.4L 4WD Tacoma, A/T, with 220k miles developed a leak that's flowing pretty good. Front of engine. Oil level in engine is down half a quart, and she's never burned oil. Hard to tell where exactly, but it's dripping around front of oil pan and the plastic wire guide there, so SEEMS like either oil pan or somewhere above it. I changed the water pump and front main seal about six months ago, so I DOUBT that's it. Cam seals have also been changed, like maybe 4 years ago. The skid plates been off for a while, but I haven't hit anything with the pan, I don't think. Do oil pan gaskets just start leaking like that? I'll try to get some pics tomorrow

    Thanks. Any input greatly appreciated!
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2017
    mltitlntd, Jan 25, 2017
    #1
  2. Jan 25, 2017 at 11:25 PM
    #2
    mechanicjon

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    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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    Oil pump or front crank seal.
    upload pdf of removal
     

    Attached Files:

    mechanicjon, Jan 25, 2017
    #2
    cruiserguy likes this.
  3. Jan 26, 2017 at 6:32 AM
    #3
    Xbeaus

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    Xbeaus Well-Known Member

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    check your oil pressure switch as well. Mine was leaking like a sum-b when that went. Easy fix to. It's right by the oil filter.
     
    Xbeaus, Jan 26, 2017
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  4. Jan 26, 2017 at 6:36 AM
    #4
    mltitlntd

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    mltitlntd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Jon... Not looking forward to dropping the front differential to pull the pan I did change the front main seal several months ago. This leak developed quickly. Assuming for the moment it's the oil pump, does that type of leak grow quickly?

    Thanks again!

    Other input?
     
    mltitlntd, Jan 26, 2017
    #4
  5. Jan 26, 2017 at 6:43 AM
    #5
    mltitlntd

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    mltitlntd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Xbeau, I will look at that. Didn't even think of it!
     
    mltitlntd, Jan 26, 2017
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  6. Jan 26, 2017 at 7:07 AM
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    mechanicjon

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    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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    Forgot about that one myself.
     
    mechanicjon, Jan 26, 2017
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  7. Jan 26, 2017 at 7:09 AM
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    mechanicjon

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    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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    Haven't had an oil leak on a V6 to compare, other then VC gaskets. The old 22R 4cyl motors would develop a leak from their similar designed oil pump pretty quick.
     
    mechanicjon, Jan 26, 2017
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  8. Jan 26, 2017 at 7:13 AM
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    20tacoma17

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    20tacoma17 Well-Known Member

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    Had similar problem on 4 runner. Front crank seal actually pushed out. A lot of work for $15 part.
     
    20tacoma17, Jan 26, 2017
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  9. Jan 26, 2017 at 8:50 AM
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    Big#2

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    Big#2 Well-Known Member

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    I second this ^ Mine recntly sprung a leak and was making a huge mess before I fixed it. Cheap plastic is the only thing holding that stuff back in that switch.
     
    Big#2, Jan 26, 2017
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  10. Jan 26, 2017 at 9:00 AM
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    mltitlntd

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    mltitlntd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Guys! Oil pressure switch is good. Could be that the main seal has slipped, but of course, I can't see that. It *DOES APPEAR*, looking from below, that there *MIGHT BE* seepage from BEHIND the aluminum, external portion of the oil pressure module that surrounds the main crank and seal. Again, Difficult to see. A few pics of the offending area...

    IMG_20170126_103537745.jpg IMG_20170126_105614615.jpg IMG_20170126_105640990.jpg
     
    mltitlntd, Jan 26, 2017
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  11. Jan 26, 2017 at 9:01 AM
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    mechanicjon

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    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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    ooohhh yuck.
     
    mechanicjon, Jan 26, 2017
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  12. Jan 26, 2017 at 9:05 AM
    #12
    mltitlntd

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    mltitlntd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, but those Mitsubishi belts look good, don't they???
     
    mltitlntd, Jan 26, 2017
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  13. Jan 26, 2017 at 9:11 AM
    #13
    Dirty Pool

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    Dirty Pool FLIES ON THE FRIES, KETCHUPS WATERED DOWN

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    Clean it and find out what is leaking first.
    I had a leak that looked as if it was the front crank seal. When I got the lower timing cover off the area around the seal proper was dry. Turned out the o-ring/seal on the bottom of the dip stick tube had just given up out of the blue. The oil had traveled all over the lower front of the engine. I was about 10 minutes ahead of ordering the crank seal.
     
    Dirty Pool, Jan 26, 2017
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  14. Jan 26, 2017 at 9:17 AM
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    mltitlntd

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    mltitlntd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Good idea. I've pulled that tube a few times, and that o-ring was getting a little long in the tooth. For some reason, your post also reminds me that my pic does not show the oil pump cover itself, but the outer water pump/timing belt/oil pump cover. The oil pump is behind that, up against the block.
     
    mltitlntd, Jan 26, 2017
    #14
  15. Jan 26, 2017 at 9:28 AM
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    cruiserguy

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    cruiserguy Well-Known Member

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    Lol, same exact thought crossed my mind... Mitsuboshi makes very good quality belts.
     
    cruiserguy, Jan 26, 2017
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  16. Jan 30, 2017 at 2:40 PM
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    mltitlntd

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    mltitlntd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I looked at the areas around the dipstick tube. No leakage, as far as I could see. That would have been too easy, I guess :(

    I need to clean the engine as suggested above, so I have a better idea of where the oil is coming from. Right now, my investigation leads me to think, that the oil is emanating from behind the timing cover. If that were true, it would be either the main seal or oil pump, I believe.
     
    mltitlntd, Jan 30, 2017
    #16
  17. Jan 31, 2017 at 9:43 AM
    #17
    mltitlntd

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    mltitlntd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Update: I cleaned the engine and the oil is definitely coming from behind the timing cover.

    IMG_20170131_113810285.jpg
     
    mltitlntd, Jan 31, 2017
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  18. Jan 31, 2017 at 9:44 AM
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    Big#2

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    Big#2 Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like a P.I.T.A.
     
    Big#2, Jan 31, 2017
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  19. Jan 31, 2017 at 9:46 AM
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    mechanicjon

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    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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    DITTO
     
    mechanicjon, Jan 31, 2017
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  20. Jan 31, 2017 at 10:01 AM
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    mltitlntd

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    mltitlntd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    True Dat! :sadviolin:

    Does anyone know if the oil has to be drained, to change the main seal? :fingerscrossed:
     
    mltitlntd, Jan 31, 2017
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