sputtering dipstick? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

holtskie · 05-11-2005, 07:10 AM

I have a 93 Camry with a 4cyl. I just bought it with 162 K. Replaced the water pump, oil pump,timing belt and valve cover gasket. My problem is 2 fold. The damn thing is still leaking oil and I can't find it. I took it to a shop and they did the dye thing and told hubby he had put the valve cover nuts on upside down. Told him they ran it for and hour and no leak. I got it home and it started leaking again. It drips on to the exhaust flex pipe so I'm afraid to drive it. Then when a friend of mine went to check the oil level there was oil all over the dipstick when the car is running. I looked down the hole (where the dipstick goes) and you can see droplets sputtering all over the place. We drained out the oil that was in there, hoping it had been overfilled. Added the right amount and still the oil was up on the dipstick and the sputtering. It does not appear to be using up coolant. What the heck do you think is going on?
Any thoughts? Thanks!

karazy · 05-11-2005, 07:15 AM

Don't remove the dipstick when the engine is running. It will do the same thing to the filler cap if you remove that as well.

Meisner · 05-11-2005, 07:23 AM

From the symptoms, it sounds very similar to a problem I encountered.

I have added a turbo charger to my '96 5SFE. Right behind the turbo is a plug that goes into the block. For you without the turbo, it should be right there on the front of the block toward the right side (as you stand in front of the car looking into the engine bay).

It took me forever to find that leak, but mainly because it was hidden by the turbo. Your's may be behind the exhaust pieces. But it's right there. Try to locate it and check to be sure it hasn't started leaking.

Mine would not do it consistently, making it even harder to find. But it would quietly drip down to the oil pan and spread out. Eventually it would drip onto the front exhaust pipe and stink.

holtskie · 05-11-2005, 07:28 AM

Are you talking about the oil pressure sending unit? Or something tlike that? It's on the front and not leaking.

Thanks for the hint on the sputtering, so I should never check the oil with the car running right?

Meisner · 05-11-2005, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holtskie

Are you talking about the oil pressure sending unit? Or something tlike that? It's on the front and not leaking.

No, the sending unit is in the head. What I am talking about is just a hex-head plug that is in the side of the block...near cylinder 3 or 4.

Meisner · 05-11-2005, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holtskie

Thanks for the hint on the sputtering, so I should never check the oil with the car running right?

Correct!

Always wait a little while for the oil to return to the pan before checking.

holtskie · 05-11-2005, 07:34 AM

Thanks! I'll look for that. It's making me nuts!

Okay, so I don't have to pull out the Chilton's when I'm in front of the car what side am I going to look at. I know I'm novice at trying to repair my car but I can't afford to take it to the shop right now.

Please use the button.

skewe · 05-11-2005, 08:20 AM

I had the same problems with u. Oil dripping on the exhause. if the leak gets really bad, u will think that your engine is on fire as the oil will touch the exhause and it smokes like hell.

I think this might be the rear main seal.

As far as I know, i replaced my valve cover and also distributor seal. That did not fix the problem.

Had my rear main seal replaced and the dripping on the exhaust went away. Still drips a bit but I am not able to pinpoint the area, but it's just a minor drip and I can live with it.

Check the rear main seal, those tend to give away for gen3.

karazy · 05-11-2005, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meisner

From the symptoms, it sounds very similar to a problem I encountered.

it should be right there on the front of the block toward the right side (as you stand in front of the car looking into the engine bay).

Your's may be behind the exhaust pieces. But it's right there. Try to locate it and check to be sure it hasn't started leaking.

Did they use a fluorescent or colored dye? Either way, you should be able to get them to recheck it for free.

Meisner · 05-11-2005, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skewe

Check the rear main seal, those tend to give away for gen3.

Since she's already brought it to a mechanic, I figured that would be one of the obvious things that would have been checked.

holtskie · 05-11-2005, 07:58 PM

Just got back from work. The mechanic used flourescent dye. I think he should have checked the main seal myself. Have not had time to call him to ask. I think it might be the main seal as well. It seems to be seeping around the bottom of what another nice man in a parking lot told me was the rear main seal. He said he towed trucks for a living, so I'm assuming he might know what he's talking about. Hell how much should that cost to fix?

skewe · 05-11-2005, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meisner

Since she's already brought it to a mechanic, I figured that would be one of the obvious things that would have been checked.

Yeah rite!

Brought it to ASE mechanic and they did not catch it. no kidding. Firestone and Charbill.
Took it to a mom pops store and they caught it after fiddling around.

skewe · 05-11-2005, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holtskie

Just got back from work. The mechanic used flourescent dye. I think he should have checked the main seal myself. Have not had time to call him to ask. I think it might be the main seal as well. It seems to be seeping around the bottom of what another nice man in a parking lot told me was the rear main seal. He said he towed trucks for a living, so I'm assuming he might know what he's talking about. Hell how much should that cost to fix?

seal is cheap. labor is expensive as he has to drop the transmission.

I think about 200-300$.
I changed the rear main seal and another seal which was around there. Ran me 350$ i think.