Oil leak bringing me down - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

inzel · 02-12-2011, 07:44 PM

Hey guys,

I have a 1998 Camry 2.2 and I have an oil leak. There is nothing leaking in the front of the block but there is a lot of oil behind the block. I was thinking that it was the oil pan gasket so I put in a new one today. It appears that that wasnt the problem because it is still leaking pretty much the exact same amount of oil. I talked to the dealership that I bought the car from and the guy was telling me to check the oil sending unit but did not know exactly where it was on my car. Do you guys know where it is? Have any ideas on the leak location? I can see the timing belt cover and didnt see any oil leaking around there to make me think it is the oil pump.... But I am not sure that the oil pump is even located there haha. Anyways, I am looking for all suggestions. I would put up pictures but it is dark now and you can basically see oil everywhere behind the block. It is on the cv axles and pretty much everything else you can see.

Thanks in advance

Yuko · 02-12-2011, 07:52 PM

Have you check the back of the valve cover? Many of these motor leaks there at the gasket. Might as well reseal the spark plug tubes if it's bad. As for the oil pump, it's located behind the lower timing cover.

redgtxdi · 02-12-2011, 09:45 PM

inzel,

I was going to suggest the exact same thing. It appears that our (at least 98's) do leak from the back of the valve cover. I've gone thru 2 valve covers in the last 5 years. (that's one too many, imho)

I don't know why but I might change my own this time & see if I can pinpoint the place.

Look at the back & see if you notice oil all over the heater hoses & such back there. I'll bet you do.

That's another thing I'm considering too is that if there's been oil sitting all over those friggin' hoses back there for so long, I hope they're not gettin' ready to pop. Those suckers are hard to reach!!!

***JohnGD*** · 02-12-2011, 10:04 PM

Like others said, check the valve cover gasket on the firewall side. Toyota tilted this engine backward and the spark plug tube nuts have the tendency to come loose. The oil pools at about the same spot of the poorly designed valve cover gasket.

If the gasket is the problem, check borrow a free loaner 30mm socket and a torque wrench. Torque the tube nuts from the center out. It can be a temporary fix until you clean and reseal the thing. See if you can turn the nut with your hand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by inzel

Hey guys,

I have a 1998 Camry 2.2 and I have an oil leak. There is nothing leaking in the front of the block but there is a lot of oil behind the block. I was thinking that it was the oil pan gasket so I put in a new one today. It appears that that wasnt the problem because it is still leaking pretty much the exact same amount of oil. I talked to the dealership that I bought the car from and the guy was telling me to check the oil sending unit but did not know exactly where it was on my car. Do you guys know where it is? Have any ideas on the leak location? I can see the timing belt cover and didnt see any oil leaking around there to make me think it is the oil pump.... But I am not sure that the oil pump is even located there haha. Anyways, I am looking for all suggestions. I would put up pictures but it is dark now and you can basically see oil everywhere behind the block. It is on the cv axles and pretty much everything else you can see.

Thanks in advance

mazdaverx7 · 02-13-2011, 12:56 AM

also, another commonly overlooked failure spot is the distributor o-ring. check around the base of the distributor for any oil leakage.

i can tell you that on my 92 Camry SE with the 3VZ-FE, i have gone through two sets of valve cover gaskets. you need to make sure they are properly installed and make sure the gasket sealer is placed in the correct spots on the inner and outer corners of the humped area where the camshafts reside.

bdy0003 · 02-13-2011, 02:57 AM

There are no distributors in a 98 Camry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazdaverx7

also, another commonly overlooked failure spot is the distributor o-ring. check around the base of the distributor for any oil leakage.

i can tell you that on my 92 Camry SE with the 3VZ-FE, i have gone through two sets of valve cover gaskets. you need to make sure they are properly installed and make sure the gasket sealer is placed in the correct spots on the inner and outer corners of the humped area where the camshafts reside.

bronzemaxell · 02-13-2011, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdy0003

There are no distributors in a 98 Camry.

all 4 cylinder 92 to 2001 camry has distributor hole on the valve cover, from 97 to 2001 has distributorless design, the hole is still there, toyota engineers just decided to cover the distributor hole with a plastic cap and it can leak when the rtv silicone harden/worm out.
both half moons and distributor hole can leak oil and easily overlooked.
and the engine oil will make the engine and transmission wet.

dave1811 · 02-13-2011, 09:52 AM

+1 on the valve covers leaking. Both of my 99's leaked there. My 2nd 99 was finger tight only on the tube nuts. Bought a new Toyota VCG and stuck it on and did like John said, tightened it from the middle out. No leaks since. That is the easy fix first. Just clean it off real good with degreaser and go from there.

inzel · 02-13-2011, 11:07 AM

Wow! Thanks for all the quick responses. I will check that for sure. Ill post back in a little bit.

Thanks!

inzel · 02-13-2011, 11:58 AM

I dont really see a bunch of oil or anything behind the valve cover. What I did find tho, appears to be a gathering of liquid behind the valve cover on the intake on the passenger side.

The picture was taken with my cell phone so the quality is pretty bad. I took this picture from the passenger side. It is the intake and there is a nice little puddle of some liquid. Is this an indicator of what you guys are talking about?

Sorry for the long description. I just want to give as much info as I can.

Thanks

Also, the round thing that looks like a whole, is actually just the light from my flashlight I was using to take the pic lol

***Mister_Perkins*** · 02-13-2011, 12:01 PM

ide say its leaking. lol

inzel · 02-13-2011, 12:12 PM

haha fair enough. So if it the valve cover gasket thats leaking... where are the nuts/bolts to tighten? I didnt really see any. Hopefully they are there! haha

Thanks for all of your help everyone. I really appreciate it. Is there a good guide somewhere with some pics or something like that?

***Mister_Perkins*** · 02-13-2011, 12:16 PM

The nuts that hold it in place are actually under the spark plug wires. you remove them.

You want to be very careful to not over-tighten them though, because it will flex/warp the cover.

inzel · 02-13-2011, 12:23 PM

Ah gotcha. Now I understand why I couldnt see them haha. I should be able to just pull them right off of the top of the valve cover then and see if they are loose. Ill let you know how it goes.

Thanks again

***Mister_Perkins*** · 02-13-2011, 12:38 PM

yeah they should be tight. If they are finger tight they need re-torqued

They should only have 17ft-lbs torque