Why is my car losing a lot of oil - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

tylerho · 04-21-2011, 09:55 PM

Yesterday I had my oil changed again. I did everything right I used mobil Super high mileage 5w-30 5 quart jug from walmart and a motorcraft 910s oil filter. Today I checked the oil dipstick and it is marked half way between the full and the low markings. Yesterday it was close to full, so i looked under the car and I noticed i had oil drippings under my car. I'm thinking it might be the oil pump gasket. Could someone please help me out that would be great thanks.

here are some pictures of where I saw the oil of dripping from underneath the car

camrtm3 · 04-21-2011, 09:58 PM

This your first time with a synthetic?

Also can we get some better pictures of where these leaks are in reference to other parts on the car?

tylerho · 04-21-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camrtm3

This your first time with a synthetic?

Also can we get some better pictures of where these leaks are in reference to other parts on the car?

Mobil super high mileage is just a synthetic blend. I took these pictures earlier today. I'll post more up tomorrow

bdy0003 · 04-21-2011, 10:13 PM

Is that subframe on the driver's side? If it is, I very much doubt its the oil pump gasket. You might want to check around the valve cover, oil cooler area (where the oil filter is), and around the dist as all of those seem to fail the soonest. All of these are also easy to fix compared to oil pan and oil pump/timing belt area.

1996camry · 04-21-2011, 10:21 PM

oil pump O-ring
cover gasket
half-moon sit side valve cover

crankseal, camseal, can leak oil too. What mile did you change your time belt?

I don't think your oil pan seal cause that... I had the same problem like you it turn out oil pump O-ring, cover gasket, half-moon, and spark plug tubes wore (cause oil leaks into spark plug tube).

Here are the steps, I would do...

1) remove spark plug and look for oil ( do this when the engine is COLD NOT HOT)
2) look at valve cover gasket rear view and around to see oil leaks
3) touch under the distrubotor for oil leaks (O-ring wore)... CAUTION. Have the engine turn off and ENGINE COLD while perform touch w/ your hand under the distrubutor for oil leaks.
4) does the oil leak around the oil pan?
5) did you change camseal and crankseal and oil pump O-ring when you did timebelt?

6) when you remove spark plugs, you see oil on spark plugs... this tell you have oil leaks..and you need to replace all spark plug tubes.... get OEM and cover gasket .

ALL these are problems w/ oil leaks.

tylerho · 04-21-2011, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdy0003

Is that subframe on the driver's side? If it is, I very much doubt its the oil pump gasket.

The oil seems to collect onto the subframe, I'll check it out tomorrow when theres light out. thanks

carsrus · 04-21-2011, 10:23 PM

If your loosing that much oil and its onthe pass. side subframe its the timing belt seals. Replace all of them and the valve cover gasket at the same time.

bdy0003 · 04-21-2011, 10:37 PM

Agreed, unless you just replaced your valve cover gasket and didn't retorque the nuts, which is why my car was leaking oil on the subframe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carsrus

If your loosing that much oil and its onthe pass. side subframe its the timing belt seals. Replace all of them and the valve cover gasket at the same time.

tylerho · 04-21-2011, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carsrus

If your loosing that much oil and its onthe pass. side subframe its the timing belt seals. Replace all of them and the valve cover gasket at the same time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdy0003

Agreed, unless you just replaced your valve cover gasket and didn't retorque the nuts, which is why my car was leaking oil on the subframe.

I bought this car preowned at 120k miles and Im the second owner. the timing belt and water pump were replaced at 90k miles i believe, the dealership that did my first oil change also did a visual inspection and said that I might have a possible valve cover leak. They did that inspection back on november 11th 2010

***fenixus*** · 04-21-2011, 10:50 PM

^ possible that the valve cover gasket went bad totally on the back of engine, it may leak really bad if neglected. most 5s-fe owners (including me) learned it the hard way

however what bothers me is that it sounds like you lost almost 0.5qts of oil while it was parked over night? if so then it's not the VC gasket (it leaks only when engine is running), it would rather point to a place where oil is collecting at (bottom), maybe oil pan, maybe oil pump maybe timing area seals (cam, crank or so) depending on which side it happens. do visually check everything around engine, try to find the highest wet spot on engine and you will know.

tylerho · 04-21-2011, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixus

^ possible that the valve cover gasket went bad totally on the back of engine, it may leak really bad if neglected. most 5s-fe owners (including me) learned it the hard way

however what bothers me is that it sounds like you lost almost 0.5qts of oil while it was parked over night? if so then it's not the VC gasket (it leaks only when engine is running), it would rather point to a place where oil is collecting at (bottom), maybe oil pan, maybe oil pump maybe timing area seals (cam, crank or so) depending on which side it happens. do visually check everything around engine, try to find the highest wet spot on engine and you will know.

The weird thing is that the last oil change I had no leaks. At first I assumed that the dripping oil was because of the filter when I removed it I spilled out a little amount. I did drive the car around today. Tonite I parked my car on the street where there are no oil stains, so I'll find out tomorrow morning if I am leaking oil when the engine is off

***fenixus*** · 04-22-2011, 09:32 AM

well, then, you should wipe it off clean and check later after some local driving?

is the oil level still dropping on dip stick? you should always check it on warmed up car, just shut it down and give it 10 minutes. always check the same way.

***REN69*** · 04-22-2011, 11:53 AM

5w30 is too thin IMO, your seals and gaskets are probably just leaking it out like it's water.

toyfan1 · 04-22-2011, 12:04 PM

Ive always had bad luck when going to a semi/full synthetic oil after miles and miles of dead dino stuff. ALWAYS seem to leak out every pore. i switch back to dead barney stuff and all was good.

tylerho · 04-22-2011, 12:26 PM

Heres an update
-the car is not leaking when it was parked over night and I wiped the sub frame clean.
-I let the car warmup for 10 minutes and the dipstick is now roughly above 3/4 full marking. The subframe is still collecting a little oil
-The previous owner was using full synthetic oil and I didn't know I ended up converting back to conventional
-I went back and looked at the car history it had an oil leak back in 09 and was fixed, I'm now assuming that its the valve cover now.
- Later today I'm gonna let my friend to take a look at it since he works for Toyota as a technician