Can't Find the Darn Engine Oil Leak!!

[stephenson]

1999 Camry with 2.2 ...

Have looked for YEARS for the darn leak ... this from under a lift with lots of clearance and light ... just can't find it.

During T belt replacement did crank seal, cam seal, etc... was dry prior to this though. Pulled pan, valve cover, etc and replaced gaskets, extra care on the cam humps with lots of sealant, etc. Still leaks.

Oil drops are always on the underside of the intake manifold - but not the edge above them, nor the head gasket, nor the valve cover. When parked overnight the floor marks are a tiny drop from driver side (presuming it is coming from the drips on underside of the intake manifold), and larger drops from passenger side intake manifold. It was this way prior to T belt work, prior to replacing the pan gasket, prior to replacing the valve cover gasket, etc.

Examining from underneath on the lift, the passenger CV joint shaft is always oily and passenger side frame from air flow while driving.

Any ideas?

[carsrus]

There are two slugs on the head to valve cover mating surface. Theye are on each side toward the from on the head. Look closely and youll notice them. Pop them out with a flathead and clean everything up and reseal them.

Also there is a plastic plug under the drivers side "hump" of the head. Unscrew the 2 10mm bolts and reseal the plastic plug. It is where a distributor was on the pre 97 engines.

Ill bet thats your problem.

[abew330]

first, i would spend a nice afternoon cleaning the engine bay...
then, wait...

after a week or day (depending on how bad leak is) you should be able to locate the oil leak

[donhuynh]

Is it from the coner pass side of the engine. Check it out If it is i am for sure it is from the oil pump RUBBER SEAL. You can but the kit from AUTOZONE for $7 it includes front crank seal, oil pump seal, oil pump RUBBER SEAL and the oil pump housing gasket. You dont have to replaced the oil pump housing gasket. Because you replace it you have to drop the oil pan. The original oil pump housing gasket on the car is steel gasket and it wont leak after you lose some housing bolt. so far i have to replace the oil pump RUBBER seal on my 3 97 camrys. good luck

[stephenson]

Thanks for comments ... I did replace the oil pump seal and gasket when I did the T belt service - entire area was dry so don't think it was the oil leak then. Even if it was from there, not sure how it could migrate to the driver's side underneath the intake manifold ... btw, I have cleaned and check numerous time - on lift with lights, etc.

Now, the plastic plug on the driver's side head (where drive for distributor was on previous gen) could leak in a way that would be very hard to see since current coil pack is sitting there ... could it run all the way to the passenger side and drip down onto the passenger side CV joint driveshaft? I swear

Could I confirm leak from the plastic plug by removing the coil pack prior to pulling the valve cover, again? I'll double check passenger side plug area (I swear it is clean of oil but I'll look again!) ....

[stephenson]

Update

Pulled valve cover - pulled the half moons left and right side - still couldn't see much of anything that looked like a leak.

Cleaned and resealed the half moons and let sit for an hour while prepping the valve cover. Used a bit more RTV sealant than last time where the cam saddle corners, etc ... also did sealant from saddles to front edge to make sure I completely covered the half moon slugs (both aluminum- I said plastic earlier) and ran a bit along back edge of the head, just for grins.

Wiped leaks off so can check tomorrow - will let sit overnight and try it.

Did compression check while had it open ... had never done one. 209, 208, 205, 206. Oil has always "disappeared" but probably was the leak. get a bit of smoke on startup - always figured this was valve stem seals ...

[LynchburgCSI]

+1 On the leak coming from the distributor. Common on the 5s-fe.

[stephenson]

Lynchburg ... it's a Gen 4 - no mechanically driven distributor.

[stephenson]

STILL LEAKING!!!!

Every seal on passenger side was replaced - no indication during timing belt job that any old seal was leaking. Valve cover gasket replaced. Half moon plugs pulled and resealed. Pan removed and gasket replaced.

Can't find any hose leaking.

Definitely is engine oil.

I've looked at driver side end of head, but coils are there so is hard visually confirm anything ... haven't found any threads discussing this seal as one likely to be leaking .... but am out of ideas ....?

[carsrus]

Originally Posted by carsrus

There are two slugs on the head to valve cover mating surface. Theye are on each side toward the from on the head. Look closely and youll notice them. Pop them out with a flathead and clean everything up and reseal them.

Also there is a plastic plug under the drivers side "hump" of the head. Unscrew the 2 10mm bolts and reseal the plastic plug. It is where a distributor was on the pre 97 engines.

Ill bet thats your problem.

[stephenson]

carsrus,

Now I think I'm getting it ... there isn't a camshaft seal on the driver side? The intake cam is held/fixed in place by the bearing caps only on the driver side ... there is only a spacer plug where mech distributor was previously? This is a "duh" for me ... I was focusing on the half moon plugs, clearly erroneously thinking the one on the driver side was where the mech distributor was inserted - duh, clearly wouldn't be driven by anything there!

So, cap holds plastic plug in place ... plastic plug needs to be cleaned and re-RTV, right?

Sigh ...

Thanks!!!

[73sport]

I'm not sure if this is of any value to you, but here are some tips on cleaning and installation of gaskets.

For the most part, its almost impossible to have it "too clean".

Assembly, Start-up and break in of New/rebuilt engines. . .
Assembly, Start-up and break in of New/rebuilt engines. . .

Oh - don't discount the PCV system if this engine blows smoke on startup, it may be building up in the intake plumbing. Seen once here before as an oddity more than a 'reported leak".

Following with that, check the PCV valve/plumbing and make sure all tubing is clear so the engine is not building pressure under acceleration that might cause seals to weep small amounts of oil due to pressure building.

[stephenson]

Thanks 73sport ... agree on sealing processes! PCV is fine and no smoke at any particular start up ...

I retightened the four hold down nuts on the VC today ... will see if makes difference ... if not, I'll pull VC again and reseal the plastic plug as carsrus recommended.

[grandpapa]

any update of your oil leak?