Oil leak diagnosis

[nikE Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nikE]

Hi PP,

I was going to conduct an oil change today but crawled under to find this,

http://i.imgur.com/UTBNgbW.jpg

I'm guessing it is a sump gasket leak, however the oil above the sump has me concerned. Or has it made its way up there during driving. It's not a high grade leak based on the dip stick, but it might become one and cause further problems later on. Preventative service trumps a high cost repair. I haven't conducted the oil change, will wait out until I can fix this.

Is it the sump seal leaking? - It looks like the gasket is aluminum. If it requires replacement, should I replace with similar or use a permatex sealant?

If it is not the sump seal, what else could it be?

I'm probably over-thinking this, but thought I'd throw it out to the brain trust.

[oceanrunner Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close oceanrunner]

its hard to see in the picture , but is it a leaking rear main seal?

[nikE Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nikE]

I would hope not, car has 155k on it...although I have heard of them going earlier. Based on the oil on the sump nuts, I'm hedging bets on that being the issue - perhaps a little optimistic.I was unable to find any pictures of a leaking seal to make a comparison.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Hard to say but I would be suspecting the rear main seal. Clean it all off and for for a drive and check it, it might give a bit better indication of where it is coming from.

Cheers Andrew

[nikE Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nikE]

I'll do as you've recommended AJ and report back in a few days. If it is the rear main seal, what am I looking at for a repair cost?

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

No idea on cost, it won't be a cheap fix though.

Cheers Andrew

[oceanrunner Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close oceanrunner]

the seal itself wont cost you to much. But if your handy at swinging a few spanners - you will save a few dollars.

[chimma Member Find all posts View Profile Close chimma]

I'll do as you've recommended AJ and report back in a few days. If it is the rear main seal, what am I looking at for a repair cost?

Had the same issue with my manual 120 at 180,000kms. Cost from memory was around $900.00, that was early 2014. The seal was around $30 :-| I was going to also replace the clutch at the same time, but decided it was time to upgrade.

[nikE Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nikE]

It seems like a common issue. I just dug up your old thread chimma,

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...elp-amp-Advice

Looks exactly like my problem.

[chimma Member Find all posts View Profile Close chimma]

It seems like a common issue. I just dug up your old thread chimma,

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...elp-amp-Advice

Looks exactly like my problem.

Sure does, how many kms are you at? Thanks for finding the post, I was unable to find it against my profile :/

[Walky88 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Walky88]

Being a mechanic first thing to check is to make sure its not a rocker cover leak!

Check the rear corners of your rocker cover. Or visually check to see if you can see any oil higher.

Next would be a very good degrease. Then i would run the vehicle on the hoist for half an hour or so checking it every 5 mins (in between other jobs).

If no oil present go for a drive and check.

If still no oil i would recommend to monitor it until you see oil present. May be a tiny weap. (I have seen a rear main seal take 3 years from a weap that once cleaned returned after approx 1 week, to turn into a leak that was an oil drop forming every day).

If it is only a weap i wouldn't repair until the oil leak turned bad but up to you.

On your picture i can see an oil drip formed but how long did it take to form that???

That is what i would do to try and save a penny.

[nikE Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nikE]

I crawled under today but there is no oil after the degrease and hose. I also went ahead and changed the engine oil as I first intended.

Walky88, I'll check to see if the leak is coming from elsewhere if it re-appears. As of right now, one would be hard pressed to believe there was a problem. I couldn't answer how long it would have taken for that drip to form, but I had crawled under for a 5k oil change.

I'll update this thread when/if this leak returns.

[Walky88 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Walky88]

I crawled under today but there is no oil after the degrease and hose. I also went ahead and changed the engine oil as I first intended.

Walky88, I'll check to see if the leak is coming from elsewhere if it re-appears. As of right now, one would be hard pressed to believe there was a problem. I couldn't answer how long it would have taken for that drip to form, but I had crawled under for a 5k oil change.

I'll update this thread when/if this leak returns.

That is the best option i reckon!

[nikE Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nikE]

5 days later, still no sign of an oil leak near the rear main.

Although the thorough examinations that have taken place as a result of this has led me to discover a possible leak near the timing cover, directly behind the power steering pump. Which seems, much like a rear main, a common occurrence for 1GR-FE's - A lot of guys on the American forums also having the same issues. Cheap parts but lots of labour.

Sorry Chimma, must have missed your comment earlier, the car is a 2003 Grande with 155k on it. And I found your thread through Google, PP search didn't help.

[Alex_P Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Alex_P]

Looks like rear main seal. Like Walky88 said - "If it is only a weap i wouldn't repair until the oil leak turned bad". I would not bother to do anything about it, unless you are going to cross Simpson desert or like...