Timing cover leak

Hello,
I have a 2000 tacoma 2.7l with a oil leak around the dipstick union. I have just replaced the o ring on the dipstick tube so I'm confident the leak is not coming from that connection point. Could be coming from where the union mates to the timing chain cover. There is also a cover bolt to the right of the union which could be causing the oil leak. Has anyone had a oil leak in this area before?

 

Got pics? Check your oil pump cover they are notorious for leaks. The gasket in mine was absolutely fried.

 

dito on the oil pump cover......mine went out about 130K...


pia to get those 8 or 9 screws out.....

If thats order the allen screws and gasket kit from lc engineering...

Oil Pump O-Ring 2RZ/3RZ OEM Toyota P/N: 15188-75021 (lceperformance.com)

Oil Pump Cover Allen Head Hardware Kit - 2RZ/3RZ (lceperformance.com)

 

I got 2 questions
-To take a leaking T chain cover off do you need to take off oil pan?
Manual steps say so but motor out of truck
-says 3 gaskets needed
Any chance someone has prt#’s?
2.4L 2RZ-LE
Thanks Steven

 

Oil pan comes off no way around it, the pickup screen is bolted to the cover. Get a new gasket for that... I've got a list of parts when I did my cover here. I'd also replace things like water pump and every gasket that comes out a new goes in. One area I made a big mistake was not replacing the crankshaft pulley it looked *ok* but has a wobble now so it all has to come off again. Also the "starter bump" method while sketchy, worked great. I've got a video of when I did mine if it would help.

 

Well hells bells
Engine has to come out to fix T chain cover AND oil pan leaks?

(I bought OP gasket with 1st round of parts)

discovered while wrenching on several Subarus…..able to unbolt engine mounts/tranny mount….and gain access to RI oil pan(AM oil pickup installed)
Gained 4-5inches of clearance

anyway this could be a solution to NOT take out motor?
Thanks

 

Thanks for part list!

A firm on CS pulley

Have done both the sketch bump method and 5th gear method for CS pulley
This is automatic
Maybe pry bar on fly wheel?
Unknown if there is even an inspection window on this taco

Preciate You

 

Motor stays in I never even took the radiator out just worked with it all there. I’m a prerunner though so easy access to the pan. Also automatic as well and bump start method worked great just unplug your fuel pump fuse or coil pack whatever works. I had a breaker bar sit on top of the frame on the driver side.

putting it back together that’s a different story you 100% need a bracket to brace against the other side of the frame while you torque. 187ft/lbs something crazy ended up putting both feet on the tire and pulling the torque wrench hard.

All I’m not a terrible job. Budget a couple days of working slow.

LC Engineering has the crank pulley I was planning on getting the replacement there.

 

Oh yeah man^^^
Budgeting 2-3 days(depends on racing friends extra wrenching hands)
Will happen, but Sunday was hottest day in Houston ever recorded 107….not heat indexed. Likely lil later when/if it cools down

saw that front X-member to get oil pan out…..thank the lord.

going to start accumulating parts

Q:
The head gasket…….saw that TC cover extends over HG. That worries me.
If that thing rips, ewe.

Of course race friends saying (and I somewhat agree)
‘If your in there RR everything’
I.E. T chain/sprockets/oil pump/HG/head bolts…etc
Water pump is getting RR’d 100%

Jeez, lot of work, decent Q parts aren’t that cheap nowadays……especially if job done right the first time
Lmk your opinion
Would love to see that vid as well
Cheers

 

So you thought it was oil pump gasket.....now its the whole timing cover...

shouldnt you find the leak point first....


And you dont have to take the whole pan off.....
just have to break the seal where it attaches to bottom of the time cover....

two bolts there and two bolts under the valve cover...


take a box .....draw a pic of the front of the engine and stab those bolts exactly where they go back...

 

Well O’Silver
Lil background on taco
Willed to friends Dad
Dad drove and drove it
Some maintenance done (suspension mainly) nothing done to engine except oil changes
Original FF just replaced by me!

knew valve cover leaking….that done
But fresh oil drops (and caked oil) all around T chain cover presently
I’m sure oil pump gasket AND T chain cover gaskets are perished(worst case scenario)
I already have oil pan gasket as well
And the oil pan is disgusting….caked with 4mils of dried oil

understood about box/bolt diagram then replace the same positions

what about fear of damaging HG when removing T cover?

 

Well on these trucks the timing gasket never fails....it just gets replaced because of other failures...

Its that stupid cookie cutter gasket on the oil pump housing.....its like its designed to fail at about 80k+....
its a weak design that gets cooked to death from the engine heat/oil after a while......turns into a cray.....

I've looked for a synthetic alternative with no success......

 

As far as the head gasket.....the head just sits on top of the block over hanging in the front...

The time cover just slides right in.....If I remember correctly two pins on top slide into bottom of head overhang...
never even messed with the head gasket.....

All those triple contact areas need a little dab of that black high temp rtv...
as well as the half moons......


Unfortunately when you break the oil pan gasket to get time cover off...
now to be 100% sure....have to pull pan...clean....and new gasket......

or use the fig cream........fipg.......

 

As O'silver said... pull the pan completely and the head does not come off. There are 2 bolts under the valve cover. It slides out. When I pulled mine it did take some of the head gasket with it but have had no issues, so long as it seals further back.

I wanted to replace the timing chain and all that, but it looked near brand new still after 215k that I figured I was more likely to cause problems by replacing rather than just leaving it. Bump method was very simple, just unplug you wires/coils or something beforehand.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zwOoN6jg9GA

 

awesome....thanks guys^^^

mine 215k
guessing i will look at manual to test T chain play (im thinking will be fine too)

whats yalls opinion about oil pump replacement?
i have never seen a OP go bad(gears i mean)

water pump getting replaced fur sure

 

Every engine is little bit different.....but by examining the chain guides you should be able to determine whats best...

you will see discoloration.....but you should feel no groove......

if you do .....replace everything ....including the cam sprockets...



One thing Scotty says and he sees where some go in and replace oem engine parts....and they get less reliable in the new parts these days....just a fact..


a lot of times better to of left it alone....

 

ONly reason I'd ever dick with one of these ...is to run engine cleaner....
.....to free up that old gritty, sticky chain tensioner...


ATS Chemical - ATS Chemical Official Site of 505 Pour-Ins (atschemicals.com)

 

"One thing Scotty says and he sees where some go in and replace oem engine parts....and they get less reliable in the new parts these days....just a fact..


a lot of times better to of left it alone...."

that is so hilarious....................and true.

 

I replaced my oil pump and cover just cuz there was no reason why I had to. LC engineering sells Allen screws for the pump cover those are worth every penny.

it’s like $60 for the gears, might as well if it’s in the budget. I also threw a whole new aisin timing cover on too because I hate money.

 

That cookie gasket on mine was shot and leaking when I bought mine....

And same here......I went ahead and splurged for a new aisin pump......like $60...

that gear seals itself on each end by riding on a layer of oil......
very tight tolerances.....



I've heard of some who put their motors back together...
and find out the old oil pump is now making a racket.....

with the 4 runners.....there are alot info/experiences with these engines....

pretty much multiple videos on any and everything......