? What oil leak is THIS? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

MattInLA · 09-21-2008, 10:48 PM

97 Camry 4 banger. I have hoses being destroyed by an oil leak on the right side upper part of engine. I DID the VC gasket, but there is STILL some small amount of OIL coming from the right under this bracket (attached to the engine) that holds up the spark plug connectors and whatever else. It is Slowly pooling on top of the transmission and dripping on a large modular connector there. Is there ANOTHER gasket on the right besides the VC gasket (which looks Absolutely Dry.) that could be leaking? Oil pan gasket done! What else could it be? Thank you.

***new echo owner*** · 09-21-2008, 10:55 PM

Did you reseal the half moon cam plugs too? They are on the end of the cylinder heads under the valve cover gaskets.

N.E.O.

MattInLA · 09-21-2008, 11:00 PM

No, it was a pep boys special, they just replaced the valve cover gasket, what ARE these "half moon cam plugs" I have never even HEARD of them! Thank you.

MattInLA · 09-21-2008, 11:48 PM

WHAt is involved in replacing CAM PLUGS on rear of engine, 97 camry 4cyl..............Must the valve cover be removed AGAIN?

***new echo owner*** · 09-22-2008, 12:10 AM

I am afraid so. Those plugs are there to fill the cut out where the line-bore machine were used to machine the cam journals in the heads at the factory. It is fairly easy to do when the valve cover is off.

This is the picture of the four cylinder head for the Camry: http://www.strictlyea.com/forum/files/done_245.jpg, the half-moon plugs are on the exhaust cam, or near side of the picture and then there is the round one for the intake cam on the right end of the head, where the bracket is. One more area to look at is where the machine parts come together, sealer should be use in those area along with the gaskets.

N.E.O.

MattInLA · 09-22-2008, 12:25 AM

I looked at it more closely. This appears to be the problem. It is however, a tiny leak. Can it get much bigger?

***new echo owner*** · 09-22-2008, 01:01 AM

It might, but it is difficult to say. You can either clean it up and monitor it, or since you had the valve cover gasket replaced, you can take the car back to the repair shop and show them what you had found. Maybe they will redo the work and seal up those plugs for you.

N.E.O.

MattInLA · 09-22-2008, 01:05 AM

Your help was very much appreciated.

***new echo owner*** · 09-22-2008, 01:17 AM

You are very welcome. That's what this site is for, help each other out.

N.E.O.