5S-FE oil leak - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

tez · 06-21-2008, 11:18 PM

Hi everyone,

Is it common for the 5S-FE motor to leak via the rear main seal or crank seal? I have a slight leak at the front and rear of the engine and am trying to pin point if its the sump or rear main.

Ive only just noticed it as the oil is dripping onto the exhaust so I can smell it every now and then.

Thanks

Update, pics added, refer to post further down

1996camry · 06-22-2008, 08:43 AM

Two possible leaks can be...

1) check distrubutor O-Ring by touching (your hand) underneath the distrubutor when the engine is cold to see if leaks... Toyota cars are know to know distrubutor O-Ring get harder and leaks occur.. the distrubutor leaks,....you know when you're driving...the leak hit exhaust pipe..the smell burn occur....the best way to know...jack the car up and make sure everything SAFE before you get under your car to inspect (look up the distrubutor to see if leaks occur)... you need light when u go underneath, so you can see...

2) the front leaks possible the head gasket (where spark plugs go in the hold) ...

xtremeskier97 · 06-22-2008, 03:17 PM

If oil is dripping onto the exhaust pipe, it could very well be the oil filter pedestal o-ring that is leaking. That's where it's leaking on my XLE in my sig. From the dealer, the o-ring is less than $10.

kenken325 · 06-23-2008, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tez

Hi everyone,

Is it common for the 5S-FE motor to leak via the rear main seal or crank seal? I have a slight leak at the front and rear of the engine and am trying to pin point if its the sump or rear main.

Ive only just noticed it as the oil is dripping onto the exhaust so I can smell it every now and then.

Thanks

i found the same concern for my gen 3.5 seems to be leaking from where the inspection cover from the flex plate. i got to take it off and see if it start leaking from there

as well as my engine oil pan gasket seems to be wet a little bit too. i may need to re-seal that soon

tez · 06-23-2008, 03:32 AM

Its not my distributor oring as its nice and clean up the top of the motor.

I tightened the sump bolts slightly (the ones I could access) and degreased the engine so I'll monitor it for the next few weeks and see what happens. Hopefully its just the sump gasket.

1996camry · 06-23-2008, 06:32 AM

please updated what you find out the copra cause oil leaks

Twix · 06-25-2008, 01:34 AM

for the rear it is most probably (rear) main oil seal like you said....I changed mine month ago (I have 320000KM's on my Camry....don't know how much miles is that)....

Mine started dripping, and was dripping slowly on exhaust pipe, which created like a burnt smell...that how I noticed it...

Now to replace it is a pain....Hood out, engine out, automatic gearbox on the side....that is the proper way, cause you can then also replace all the seals on gearbox and everywhere since everything is out...
Once done, you are peaceful for quite a few thousands of kilometers (miles)

SmartedPanda · 06-25-2008, 01:41 AM

[quote=1996camry;2381266]Two possible leaks can be...

1) check distrubutor O-Ring by touching (your hand) underneath the distrubutor when the engine is cold to see if leaks... Toyota cars are know to know distrubutor O-Ring get harder and leaks occur.. the distrubutor leaks,....you know when you're driving...the leak hit exhaust pipe..the smell burn occur....the best way to know...jack the car up and make sure everything SAFE before you get under your car to inspect (look up the distrubutor to see if leaks occur)... you need light when u go underneath, so you can see...

OMFG! I made three posts, with no answers, and now I know wtf is wrong, I wanna have your babies.

tez · 06-29-2008, 02:30 AM

If the rear main is leaking, would it cause oil to go onto the clutch plate and cause clutch sudder as that is what mine has been doing since I bought it?

Also, for the front, Ive done a search and the leaks can be from:

- oil pump o ring, gear
- front crank seal
- cam seal

Any others?

Looking at the front of my engine, the front has oil on the sides so its hard to tell if its coming from the oil pump or cam / crank seals. Would it be obvious once the timing cover / belts are removed?

Thanks

tez · 06-30-2008, 04:39 AM

Well just did a clean of the bottom end and then took it for a half hour drive. Jacked it up and there is oil around the front where the sump mates onto the block and also between the transmission and rear of the engine.

Here are some pictures

BEFORE CLEANING

The front of the engine is pretty oily, and its all over the front, so for this leak, Im guessing its a combination of the oil pump seal, crank and camshaft seal.

AFTER CLEANING

After cleaning the bottom end and driving it for about half an hour, the area between the transmission and rear of the engine has oil coming down. Possibly could be the sump gasket seal in this area, although Im guessing its the rear main seal. The front area has slight oil around where the sump mates onto the engine block. Oil pump housing has slight weeping where it joins to the block (is that job the o-ring does?)
1.

2.

3.

4.

Any comments? Thanks.

ghettosled · 06-30-2008, 11:53 AM

the front side does look like the oil pump area. i did a quick how-to and included photos (link below) if you are curious to see what the o-ring looks like. you have to pop-off the timing belt cover to see for sure. might as replace teh other seals there if they are starting to leak.

oil pump o-ring and pulley instructions