Oil leak nightmare

[dwhealon]

Hey, my 91 V6 has developed an oil leak that I just can't find!!!
Power steering pump is wet and dripping off two or three places. Its also running down the back of the block and pan. It really looks land feels ike engine oil. I had the power steering pump off and rebuilt it and replaced all the seals. (Didn't change the leak at all) Installed new Toyota valve cover gaskets. It leaks about a 3 inch spot every night.

Any ideas other than head gasket would be greatly appreciated.

[cam2Xrunner]

Oil sending unit maybe?

[userlain]

Did you add or change in some synthetic oil? The detergents in the synthetic could have cleaned out the grime that is holding back a leak.

Maybe an intake manifold gasket? Maybe Valve cover gasket?

[dwhealon]

I just went out there and crawled under it again, dried everything off and ran it a while. Its definitely above the power steering pump on that side of the motor. I haven't run synthetic at all. The sending unit is on the front and that's dry. The valve cover gaskets are new and look dry all the way around. Are there oil passages in the intake manifold? It doesn't seem like there would be.

Could it be that back cam seal? Has anybody had one of these go bad? Maybe leaking inside the timing belt cover and out the bottom of it, which is above the power steering pump.

I gotta fix this before the snow flies.

Thanks for your help.

[97camryman]

Head gasket? There are no oil passages in the intake manifold. On the passenger side of the engine, PWR steering pump side, there are only a few places it could leak from. The headgasket, the valve cover, and the oil seals on the shafts which are by the steering pump. Try some ultraviolent dye testing kits. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding where the oil comes from if you move some stuff out of the way...

[dwhealon]

Yeah, I gotta move some stuff. I put a timing belt in it last year and I really hate going in that side of the motor! Looks like its gotta be done, though.

I wish you wouldn't have said headgasket.

[ArmyofOne]

headgaskets do nt typically leak oil out, but rather coolant in. i would lean towards the Oil Pump Seal (sending unit seal). mine leaks from there, about a full quart a month.

[userlain]

Originally posted by dwhealon
Yeah, I gotta move some stuff. I put a timing belt in it last year and I really hate going in that side of the motor! Looks like its gotta be done, though.

I wish you wouldn't have said headgasket.

Are you sure it is oil and not coolant or petrol?

[ArmyofOne]

look at your coolant, if its not brown/grey with the consistency of thick mud, you dont have a blown headgasket

[dwhealon]

Its definitely oil. Coolant is green and clear and it hasn't gone down at all. I thinik I'll tear the right side of the motor apart tonight and get a look at the cam seal.

I'll keep you posted.