Camry Oil Leak

[Retrospekt]

My Camry has a leak. I wasn't sure until I put cardboard under the car yesterday and it had about 4 big splotches of oil on it. I checked the oil level and it's still at full, but it was overfilled when I bought the car.

The leak is coming from the right side, near the wheel. Is there any common place that i4 Camry's leak that I should look at?

Thanks.

;(

[Retrospekt]

I think I might have answered my own question. Timing belt hasn't been changed on this car in 148,000 miles. I'm guessing it's the camshaft seal?

[dz63]

My guess is that your leak is from the oil pump gasket. If you decide to change the timing belt, I would recommend that you replace the crankshaft seal, the oil pump seal and camshaft seal at the same time. Only an extra $5-10/seal and less than 1/2 hour extra labour.

[Retrospekt]

Originally Posted by dz63

My guess is that your leak is from the oil pump gasket. If you decide to change the timing belt, I would recommend that you replace the crankshaft seal, the oil pump seal and camshaft seal at the same time. Only an extra $5-10/seal and less than 1/2 hour extra labour.

My uncle just came over and he took a quick look without really digging inside. He said the fluid looks to be power steering fluid and not oil. I checked the levels and the oil level is still above full (how it was 1 month ago), but the power steering level is below minimum.

He had me sit in the car and turn the steering wheel for a few minutes. We put cardboard under the engine. When we took it out it was splotched with spray. He's guessing there is a large leak or a few leaks in the power steering hose, or in the pump itself. The pressure from turning the wheel made it spray all over the cardboard.

[dz63]

I haven't had any power steering leaks with my 96 Camry, so I can't offer any advice on this. Please post back once you isolate the leak and describe how you fixed it.

[Mike Gerber]

Retorspekt,

If you or your uncle decide to tackle this job yourself, there are Toyota factory service manuals stickied at the top of the Camry forum over at AutomotiveForums.com. Download the generation 3 manual. It should help you with the repair.

PS: It's usually one of the hoses that go, not the pump itself; but anything is possible.

Mike