Author Topic: Strange Oil Leak (Read 1857 times)

Culpeper · « **on:** Oct 05, 2003, 07:19:09 pm »

I've been eliminating multiple oil leaks on my 82 ST. Replaced the rear oil seal and that is no longer leaking. However, I still have oil coming from up high at the rear of the motor when the oil pressure reaches a certain level because it only leaks after I drive it around for awhile. The head gasket isn't leaking. There is something back there called an EGR cooler and it has a gasket but I can't tell if it's leaking or not. Is there anything I'm overlooking? As far as I can tell if the head gasket isn't leaking than it can only be that EGR cooler gasket (but isn't this coolant related?). I'm baffled. Had it on the rack and still can't see where it is coming from. Some days it leaks and some days it doesn't. Shit. This is the last leak I have to fix. My car has 224k miles on it.

wadadlianu · « **Reply #1 on:** Oct 05, 2003, 07:30:47 pm »

Might be the valve cover gasket. I normally give the engine a good cleaning then drive the car around (length of time depends on severity of leak) and then try to trace the route of the leak. Try tightening the rear nut on the valve cover and see howmuch more you can get from it

Culpeper · « **Reply #2 on:** Oct 05, 2003, 07:35:09 pm »

Okay, I'll check that again only this time like you suggest. Never look over the obvious too much. Thanks.

wadadlianu · « **Reply #3 on:** Oct 05, 2003, 07:38:08 pm »

best of luck. I am not too sure about the 22RE but on the back of the 4AGE head is a big bold that if left loose it will leak oil, so you can check for that too. It has a hex head

ToyotaRacingTeam · « **Reply #4 on:** Oct 05, 2003, 08:20:54 pm »

clean up ur engine, goto autozone and get the flourescent dye, its saef for all oiling systems, then go under there with a blacklight and try to locate the oil leak. thats what i have yet to do, but have the stuff to do so with

Culpeper · « **Reply #5 on:** Oct 05, 2003, 10:45:54 pm »

Cool! I'm going to pull off the valve cover and check the head bolts. If that doesn't work than I use the dye. Thanks and I will keep the thread updated.

I'm going to assume the head gasket may be leaking and than go from there. This is a sneaky leak. It's not a serious leak but does leave oil on the ground when parked.

ToyotaRacingTeam · « **Reply #6 on:** Oct 05, 2003, 10:55:10 pm »

id go with jsut the dye dude, that way u can trace any and all oil leaks

Culpeper · « **Reply #7 on:** Oct 05, 2003, 11:10:31 pm »

Quote

id go with jsut the dye dude, that way u can trace any and all oil leaks

I agree but with 224K miles on the motor in the New Mexico dessert I'm afraid it will light up like a freaking christmas tree under a black light. After cleanup around the rear of the head I can see oil seeping along the seam on the left rear corner passenger side.

toynado · « **Reply #8 on:** Oct 06, 2003, 03:13:26 am »

that egr cooler plate contains no oil and covers the water passage of course
only possibilities are:
head or valve cover gasket
cam hole rubber thingy

83CelWA · « **Reply #9 on:** Oct 06, 2003, 04:23:14 am »

Sounds like the same type of leak that my car is having but it is on the front of the engine...

Culpeper · « **Reply #10 on:** Oct 07, 2003, 02:35:01 am »

Quote

that egr cooler plate contains no oil and covers the water passage of course
only possibilities are:
head or valve cover gasket
cam hole rubber thingy

I took the "cam hole rubber thing" off the back while checking the condition of the valve cover gasket. There was oil underneath it. Turned it around and put it back. Tightened down the #7 header bolt just a bite. Put the cover back on. We'll see tomorrow.

Car runs fine. My biggest concern was the rear oil seal leak. It eventually ruined my clutch plate. Fixed that and then discovered this weird leak. It trickles down to the same area the rear oil seal was dripping from the bell housing. That is why I never knew about this second leak. Probably been leaking for the 10 years I've been driving this car. Almost on a daily basis.

Christ, I accidentally reported this post to the admin. My mistake!

I looked up the name of the cam rubber thing. Toyota calls it "Half Circle Seal." Go figure.

Culpeper · « **Reply #11 on:** Oct 07, 2003, 02:36:12 am »

Quote

Sounds like the same type of leak that my car is having but it is on the front of the engine...

Yeah, these things can be a &$#*% to find sometimes. Makes me worry too much

Culpeper · « **Reply #12 on:** Oct 09, 2003, 05:57:51 pm »

UPDATE:

Problem gone without spending a dime. Not that I'm a cheap. Thanks for the suggestions!

Teranfirbt · « **Reply #13 on:** Oct 09, 2003, 08:11:51 pm »

What was the problem exactly?

Culpeper · « **Reply #14 on:** Oct 09, 2003, 10:54:20 pm »

It was either the semicircular seal on the back of the motor or the left rear corner of the head gasket because the only things I did was reverse the position of the seal (turned the outside to the inside of the head) and tighten down the #7 head bolt a little. Probably the head gasket. I'm still a little leary about the leak returning to haunt me again. I keep checking the ground underneath it after it is parked for a while. Neverthless, I'm getting a new gasket and semicircular valve cover kit and double check that all the head bolts are tightened down properly.