ID an Oil Leak...

[BlakJak]

Went out to my car about an hour after getting home this afternoon and spotted this:



Closer inspection:



Dark spot shows one of the drips...



This is the Transmission side of my 3SGE powered ST195 Caldy; anyone got any thoughts on what the source of the leak is likely to be? Its somewhat concerning...

I did get an oil pressure warning today, but Ive had a minor oil leak from the other side of the thing (cambelt side) since I got it, so that wasn't that unusual. I topped it back up and that leak hasn't gotten significantly worse. This stuff is all new, not spotted before today...

[Alex B]

The warning light came on??? Jeus you realise thats like a 7psi switch, how much oil did you put back in it? Have a look under the dizzy, SW leaks a bit out of there.

As you will most likley know, 3s + no oil is doom.

[BlakJak]

Had it come on solid i'd have just stopped cold on SH2 KGB.
It came on very briefly during engine braking.

I have (disturbingly enough) been through this on numerous 3S's.

I dont know how much I put in (I keep the leftovers from the 4L bottle in the boot for just this purpose... I used all I had left and put it well back into the green - could've been quite a bit... as much as 500mL?) - this is however a new leak, am quite familiar with the old one - it usually gives me a warning right on oil change time (its due now, after about 9000km, but i was hoping to put it off until after I move house next weekend...)

Notwithstanding that, I need to identify if ive gotten a new, big leak...

[Rick]

There arnt too many places where engine oil can leak from, looks to me like the rear engine seal, but could also be multiple leaks.

[Mr Revhead]

3S's leak:
cam cover
cam seals
crank seals
oil pump seals
rear main
dizzy
they are the leakiest engine toyota has ever built!!

btw... im not impressed to hear you have had a leak from the cambelt area since you have had it! oil is very bad for cambelts!!

its hard to tell from that pic, could be rear main, but could also be an axle seal

[Rick]

Possible places on motor:


Sump pan
Sump plug
Cam seals
cam covers
Oil filter
Oil pump gasket
Front and rear crankshaft seals
Dip stick oring
Oil cooler lines/fittings (if fitted)

edit dam warwick you bet me to it

[BlakJak]

3S's leak:
cam cover
cam seals
crank seals
oil pump seals
rear main
dizzy
they are the leakiest engine toyota has ever built!!

btw... im not impressed to hear you have had a leak from the cambelt area since you have had it! oil is very bad for cambelts!!

its hard to tell from that pic, could be rear main, but could also be an axle seal

what i mean is, its on the cambelt side, but I dont believe its from the cambelt area itself.... fwappage indeed.

Hmm, looks like i might have to put it in for its next big service a bit early, that is teh suck..

[Lloyd]

Maybe you need to waterblast/steamclean it a bit and run it for a short trip to try and see where the leak comes back from.


If its from between engine and box then its rear main most likely.

If its from cambelt area then you should really get it done now as that will not be good for the cambelt for one thing. As mentioned that will either be cam, crank or oil seals, or all of the above.

Check oil filter is and sump plug are tight. See how wet it is around cam covers as 3S's ALL leak out there at some stage. Not usually like that though. Distributor seals also, though you can usually see most of the bottom of the dizzy will be wet.


Clean it and see where you're at

[BlakJak]

Ok note, this is two leaks..

The smaller one i've had for ages, is on the cambelt-SIDE Of the car but I dont believe its the cambelt area specifically... cam seals a possibility I guess.

The new one, i dunno, seems to have eased off a crapload over the last few hours; took it for a short run to the chippy and back, havnt noticed any problems.. will see what its like in the morning.

Its not the sump plug or the filter... i know about filters, nearly had one work its way entirely off on me once

Re steam clean etc, agreed thats probably smart - anyone know what this costs and where I can get it done? Upper Hutt or Porirua...

[Lloyd]

Just ask at a workshop. Only really a 10 min job to get under there and hit it with a waterblaster essentially

Just drop it off to them and ask them to deterrmine where the leak is from and a rough idea on price to fix it?

[BlakJak]

Ok fair enough. Will probly have to do that. Not that I can afford a big repair right now

Weddings are expensive...


Cheers everyone

BJ

[ChaosAD]

Id get under there with some brakeclean and try track the leak while th engines running

[BlakJak]

For the record I noticed today that one of the steering rack boots has come away. I'm guessing thats the likely cause.

Gonna reattach it tomorrow after getting an appropriate cable tie and then keep an eye on it... Revvy suspects the steering rack may be leaking...

[Alex B]

The boots are to keep the dust out, not the oil in. In the PS fluid down??

[BlakJak]

not really no.
When I looked the car was jacked, so the fluid level wasn't quite right. Also it was sorta half way between hot and cold, however it was well in the green.
(All of my 3S's have had Power Steering issues in one way or the other, so I know to look there! heh)

[ee904age]

Thats not P/S fluid on the floor (unless it comes is colours other than red).

[BlakJak]

It comes in Grey too.

But nah its definately Oil, i cleaned it up tonight

I identified a problem with the steering rack boot, Revvy had a look and decided its faulty, so gonna have to replace it.

Also given all my typical 3S leaks (still suspect rear main, cant see it behind all the usual crap though) gonna have to bring forward a major planned service, get the cambelt done and a few other things checked.

Byebye $$

However cheers everyone for their input, has been useful food for thought as this isnt really my expertise area.