What would leak oil ONLY while the engine was running?

[auxitrooper]

My car used to leak oil like a sieve. After 8-12 hours of sitting in the lot at work there would be an oil spot about 8 inches or more across. I replaced the valve cover gasket and that seemed to stop most of it. Now the spot is about the size of a quarter and it's no longer hitting the exhaust (causing the fun smell when the heat is on).

I assume that now it only leaks this quarter when the engine is running. I came out to my car and there were no whet spots, just a small one where it looked like it had long since dried.

I started the car, it ran about 5 minutes and there was the quarter-sized spot under the car. I can see nothing coming from the gasket that was just replaced, pcv valve was replaced and nothing coming from it. Looking at the engine from the front of the car, this is the passenger side near the firewall, or at least that's where it's hitting the ground.

Is this something simple? As in hopefully not the main seal?

I know I would probably know more if I could look under the car, but I haven't/can't yet. Hoping for some idea that this is a small fix that I can do myself.

[BamZipPow]

What year is yer Camry? V6 or I4? Auto or manual transmission?

When you replaced the valve cover gasket...did you use RTV in the cam corners? If you did, did you clean the surface off with some brake cleaner so the RTV would seal? Look on top of the intake manifold. Is there any oil pooled on there? If there is, yer valve cover is still leaking.

If it's not there, yer gonna have to clean off the engine really well and then see where it's leaking from. Using yer digital camera to snap piccies of areas you can't see will be a useful tool.

[fenixus]

if it leaks on the passenger side then it could be coming from the timing belt area... crankshaft seal, camshaft seal, oil pump, etc.

[auxitrooper]

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

What year is yer Camry? V6 or I4? Auto or manual transmission?

When you replaced the valve cover gasket...did you use RTV in the cam corners?

95, I4, automatic

No, I didn't use RTV or anything else when I replaced the gasket. Both books said to but the gasket specifically said not to.

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by auxitrooper

95, I4, automatic

No, I didn't use RTV or anything else when I replaced the gasket. Both books said to but the gasket specifically said not to.

Then I would guess that's where yer leaks are coming from. Look at the top of the intake manifold where it goes into the head. You'll probably see some oil pooling up on the runners. You'll have to replace the valve cover gasket and clean off the head where the cam corners are with some brake cleaner really well. Make sure you clean the valve cover cam areas with brake cleaner, too. You want that RTV to stick in those corners so it doesn't leak out.

You might want to check the cam seals to make sure those aren't leaking...

You can read up on the DIY sticky on the valve covers...it's at the top of the page.

[auxitrooper]

I cleaned really well using carb cleaner, only just a couple days ago. I could probably just pull it back open and use RTX?

[ghettosled]

track down to know for sure where the leak is coming from. i agree with others saying you should use RTV in the corners and by the half-moons. if it's coming from the timing belt area, it could be the oil pump. but again, anywhere it's leaking there should be a trail.

[gr91]

Are you sure its an oil leak? These vehicles are notorious for leaking differential fluid if the seals are bad. Also check your oil pan gasket, that thing goes out too. Use 2 cans of degreaser, get car ramps place them in a dry area get your car on the ramps (after driving around a bit.) And check to see where its leaking from. That was a helpful tips in finding out that myy fuel filter was leaking. And in figuring out that my oil pan was and is still leaking! -_- I just don't havethe energy to remove the effin muffler!

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