mardoc01

new to this forum. my 97 es has 83000 mi and has had small drops of oil on the garage floor for the last two thousand miles. at last oil change, was told "there are minor seal leaks around the valves" no immediate repairs were done and the amount of oil lost appears minimal but enough to notice by next day. i've been monitoring last few days and have noticed comments about rear main seal leaks vs. valve cover gaskets. i am thinking of either giving the car to my sister to use for the next year or so{she lives in a much colder climate} vs. should i just try to sell the car outright now. i fear it may be cost prohib. to spend what could be sev. hundred dollars to repair. current value of car est. 8500. any suggestions and/or recs as to the problems/solutions. thanks

ArmyofOne

if the estimated value of the car is $8500, i would do the rear main if that was indeed what was wrong with it.

will run about $800-$1,000.

the valve covers shouldnt run any more than $400 for both. parts and labor.

lexusk8

Army is right. The rear main seal problem is a more common one on high mileage ES, typically the '97-'01 era. The valve cover gasket leak does not happen as often as the rear main seal, but I've seen it on most older ES. Definitely get the rear main seal fixed soon as you don't want to be losing more and more oil down the road.

mardoc01

thanks for the input. my mileage is actually quite low. i do however only drive short distance to work, ie high wear/tear. only problem thus far was starter replaced at 65000. without the specifix diag. its difficult to say what the expense would be. but if the tech stated 'SLIGHT OIL LEAKS AROUND VALVES' and he did not seem hellbent on pushing me to repair, i wonder if this amount of oilwould be significant and therefore could my sister safely cont to drive the car like this formaybe 1-2 years max. also does the climate she lives in colder winters obviously, affect the 'leak rate' from the valve covers

khhoang

it's possible that your PCV valve is clogged if you're still on the original which may cause the oil leakages. it's a simple $5part DIY. but anyways it may be too late bc the leakings have already occurred. change out the PCV valve when you have the valve cover gaskets replaced. also it makes sense to go ahead and replaced the (platinum/iridium) plugs&wires since they have everything removed for the VC gaskets.

i would have the VC gaskets replaced (if they are for sure leaking) and wait a few days to see if you have any more new oil droplets in the garage before going after the rear main seal. i said this bc my Lexus service may have misdiagnosed my supposedly leaking rear main seal. i didn't see any new oil leaks after just changing the VC gaskets and my car is not consuming any oil inbetween oil changes.

Army gave a pretty good estimate for parts&labor charges. Good luck.