Oil leak

I had no idea where else to out this. I have a slow dripping oil leak. About a quarter size every day or two on my drive way. It’s such a small leak it doesn’t even register on the dip stuck between oil changes. But my skid and passengers side of my engine is wet with oil. I think it’s from the front timing chain cover but I can’t tell. How do I track this down to know what needs to get fixed?

 

About the only thing to do is drop the skid plate and wash everything down. Leave the skid plate off for a day or two so you can see where leak is coming from.

 

That was going to be my idea. Just degrease everything and go from there. Most annoying part is one of my skid plate bolts is stuck and just spins but won’t come out.

 

Probably valve cover gasket especially if the leak is towards the rear of the engine.

 

I replaced that at 190k. The leak doesn't seem to be around the top of the engine either. I checked the moons the other day and they look okay as well.

 

Clean everything and monitor. If it seems like it's coming from behind the alternator or anywhere near the front of the engine. It's most likely the timing cover. Although it has been done inframe best results and Toyota procedure calls for engine removal to do it

 

Good to know. Which, is it even worth it at that point? I dont see a major dip between oil changes its mostly just annoying as it makes my engine dirty over time and drips on the driveway from time to time.

 

Timing chain cover leak. Got a scare from my regular mechanic regarding a timing chain leak. He mentioned that the factory install covered is only held on by glue and a couple of bolts. Its leaking but quoted a $ 2,000.00 price tag. He also mentioned this may be covered under warranty? Anybody else have the same experience? Is this a common Taco issue? Help. Can't afford a 2g repair. 2016 Tacoma Off Road

 

Nah not worth it. Mines leaking too, still a class 1 leak. Yours sounds like a mild class 2 leak.

Once it (if ever) turns into a class 3, that's when it's time to pay the piper and get it replaced

Are you still under warranty tho?

 

Different class oil leaks, I like it!

 

sometimes when you change the oil filter some oil will spray on the engine block and dribble to the ground making it look like a leak

 

After having 2 3RZ engines I learned there's an o ring behind the crank shaft pulley and it's for the oil pump and that's held in by three Phillips head screws. Have to pull the crank pulley to get to it, that means new front main seal too. I usually pull the radiator and fan off for more room.

 

I was able to remove the skid plates. So I’ll take some pictures today before I degrease everything.

 

Okay I got some pics. All the oil is on the right side of the engine and it looks like it’s splashing backwards on stuff. It weird because I saw this stuff caked where the back of the oil pan os in one of the pictures as well and I took it off with my fingers and it flaked off. Is it a gasket?

hopefully the pics are good enough. It’s hard to snap them under the truck.

 

Here’s a few more pics as well.

 

Is there any oil from up top it would be a freeze plug or block off plate in the left front of the head itself. some heads have a hole there for other vehicles that use that head. I had one that leaked there too.

 

where should I look at from up top? The oil is on the passengers side.

 

It would probably help to get a long handled brush and some engine degreaser and giving it a good clean to help you narrow it down where it is coming from.

 

yeah. That’s the plan. I bought some degreaser from autozone I have to find a good brush then go from there

 

You'll see the coil pack bracket and a thin piece of metal there behind it. Usually a freeze plug but this one wouldn't seal up so out came the plug and I used right stuff and a piece of metal to cap it.