oil leaks won't go away - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

algernonsidney · 05-24-2005, 10:49 PM

I have not been having much fun lately with my Tercel. A few years ago, I noticed that the light for "low oil pressure" came on. I soon began the process of refilling it. I would refill it maybe every 1500 miles or so. It did't seem like a big deal.

March of last year, a guy at a Jiffy Lube says that I have a lot of leaks underneath. He changes the oil. I began to notice an increase in my freuqency of re-fills.

On 26 April, I pay about $440 to get the seals around the crankshift fixed. They also mention that the rear main seal should be fixed, but it would cost much more. The very next day, the oil light comes on. I guess that should have been a signal that the dealer didn't know what they were doing. They obviously didn't check it before I left.

I take to an independent shop. They mention that the head gasket may need replaced. I do some research on-line and decide that the rear main seal and the oil pan make more sense. Last Thursday 19 May, I pay another $950 to get this fixed.

Over the weekend, I take a trip. I have since put about 1000 miles on the car. This evening, the oil light came on again. I refilled the oil.

So here is what has been done. The oil pan has been replaced. The seals on the crankshaft have been replaced. The rear main seal has been replaced. What else needs to be done?

I am definitely not taking it back to this dealer again.

Thanks.

shogun6684 · 05-25-2005, 04:26 PM

$950 to fix the rear main oil seal, oh my God! I replaced that before and you have to remove the transmission to get to it, but $950 is still rough. But anyway, check the camshaft seal on the timing belt side, sometimes that leaks and drips all the way down to the bottom so it appears that its a bottom side leak. You have to remove the timing belt cover to look and might also have to take off the valve cover.

karugs · 05-25-2005, 05:00 PM

Have you tried checking if the oil light is faulty? My best advise would be to clean the engine (degreaser, scrubbing, etc...search on engine cleaning) and then once clean look around for leaks. You will find it that way. Keep in mind that wind and inertia will push oil leaks downwards and to the rear...

Dewyd · 05-25-2005, 08:42 PM

Hey man!!!
I have the same problem..they told me they have to take out half of the engine to change the oil tank, bcuz that what is it broken....i have to refill every 3rd day

)) U R luckier

DAve

Quote:

Originally Posted by algernonsidney

I have not been having much fun lately with my Tercel. A few years ago, I noticed that the light for "low oil pressure" came on. I soon began the process of refilling it. I would refill it maybe every 1500 miles or so. It did't seem like a big deal.

March of last year, a guy at a Jiffy Lube says that I have a lot of leaks underneath. He changes the oil. I began to notice an increase in my freuqency of re-fills.

On 26 April, I pay about $440 to get the seals around the crankshift fixed. They also mention that the rear main seal should be fixed, but it would cost much more. The very next day, the oil light comes on. I guess that should have been a signal that the dealer didn't know what they were doing. They obviously didn't check it before I left.

I take to an independent shop. They mention that the head gasket may need replaced. I do some research on-line and decide that the rear main seal and the oil pan make more sense. Last Thursday 19 May, I pay another $950 to get this fixed.

Over the weekend, I take a trip. I have since put about 1000 miles on the car. This evening, the oil light came on again. I refilled the oil.

So here is what has been done. The oil pan has been replaced. The seals on the crankshaft have been replaced. The rear main seal has been replaced. What else needs to be done?

I am definitely not taking it back to this dealer again.

Thanks.

algernonsidney · 05-28-2005, 04:19 PM

The last time the light came on, I checked the oil. The oil was low. The light could be faulty, but it was right this time.

The crankshaft seals were replaced a month ago. Is the camshaft seal different?

During that, the timing belt was also replaced. If there is a leak near the timing belt, I would hope that the repair people would have seen it. They also found that the valve cover gasket needed replaced.

I am going to watch it closely. It still runs and really doesn't show any signs of dying. I am also considering the possibility that it may be burning oil up. I refilled the coolant. With the Texas summer coming up, heat could be an even greater issue.

Unfortunately, someone at the local Advance Auto Parts advised me to stay away from this particular Toyota dealer. It so happened that the battery also died recently.

Shakes · 05-29-2005, 11:45 AM

Your mechanic(s) are raping you cell block D style. You could have had an engine swap or a complete rebuild done for less. Find a new mechanic. Sorry to hear that! Check out 3ee engines on e-bay, or maybe you shouldn't ,you will be pissed, they usually go between $300 and $700 somtimes up to $1200 depending on if it's a long block or a full front clip.

piggyfinndude · 05-29-2005, 08:16 PM

ya man you got screwed! I'm getting my engine swapped for the 5-efe Paseo engine with 60000kms on it for 850$ CAD!

I hate stealerships....i had a BAD experience with a chrysler dealership once and never again!

take it easy!

smilesHawaii · 05-30-2005, 09:56 PM

I have a 91 Tercel, 3E engine. I would put in 1 qt per wk. Jacked up the front and started the engine. Oil pouring from the oil pump area. Removed the timing covers and ran engine. Removed the oil pump housing and changed the o-ring. Changed all the other seals since everything was apart: crankshaft, camshaft, oil pump shaft. No more leaks.

SmilesHawaii

Shakes · 05-31-2005, 12:45 AM

I'd like to see a pic of that 5-efe post swap? This is one thing I'm considering. Good damn deal $850 CAD.

algernonsidney · 06-03-2005, 06:26 AM

smiles,

So there is an O ring in the oil pump housing? Maybe that's the problem. Thank you.

Nobody has to tell me that I have been screwed. Unfortunately I know that. I went to a dealer because I am basically new in town and didn't really know where to go.

Thnak you for all the opinions. It's a 1995 with over 227,000 miles by the way. I love my car and drive a lot.

algernonsidney · 06-04-2005, 09:55 PM

I had another dealer shop look at the car today. He believed that the engine is burning oil and then gave me an estimate that it would have to be rebuilt.

After I drove back home, I noticed that my hood was a little crooked. I opened it and saw that the mechanic had left a pair of needle nose pliers under the hood.

You guys are right dealers. They don't do any better, just cost more money.

Shakes · 06-06-2005, 01:15 PM

I feel your pain! Makes you want to go uot and take some classes just to get the damm job done right!

jeffs94 · 07-03-2005, 10:59 AM

Has anybody considered the dipstick tube O-ring? This little bastard of an oil leak plagued me for several weeks.

TercelFix · 07-07-2005, 05:59 AM

The 3rd post said "clean the outside of your engine" That is the starting place. Then you will know where it is leaking now.

Parkman · 01-12-2011, 06:48 AM

The oil pump mount 0-ring is where 80% of these leak oil from, it is very hard to find without removeing the timeing belt covers and running it awhile, I know from exp.