MikeLex

Six months ago I replaced my rear valve cover gasket due to an oil leak. It solved the problem and those annoying oil stains on my driveway were gone. However, my timing belt tensioner never got dried and still looks like kind of soaked in oil (not dripping yet). Any idea where this oil may be coming from? Could it be from the tensioner itself? If so, how hard is to replace it? The point here is that I wouldn't like to tackle a full timing belt job on a such a low mileage car unless it is strictly necessary. Any advice would be appreciated.

randal

The tensioner itself is very easy to change. You just take the passenger tire off and unbolt old, install new and pull the pin.
However, your leak could be coming from a cam seal or crank seal. Different story (and much harder) changing those items.

LeX2K

There is not much oil in the tensioner, and if it did leak all the fluid out, then the belt will flop around and probably skip around or even fall off. A few pics would be helpful.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

I had the exact same problem on my car. I thought the oil was coming from my poorly done rear valve cover job or the power steering pump. I wasn't sure until I did my timing belt. It ended up being a bad camshaft seal. Both of them were dry and leaking oil. The crankshaft/oil pump seal was still good, but we replaced it too.

p.s.: my rear valve cover turned out to be just fine

BDSL

The problem is that you have to make sure the belt doesn't skip a tooth. And the only way to know is to remove the timing belt covers (top and bottom)....so it does take some time.

randal

If the timing belt has skipped by even one tooth, the engine will be running poorly. You will know w/o an inspection.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

In short, you have to do your timing belt and replace the camshaft seals. Even though the miles are low, the heat and the age of the car have both contributed to your oil leak.

MikeLex

That's what I was afraid of, MrBooby, but I guess that's the way to go....Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions!

BDSL

You made it sound like replacing the tensioner is very easy. In fact, the tensioner is very easy to replace. But as soon as you release the tension on the belt, the belt is very likely to slip a tooth. I have replaced timing belt a few times on my ES300. As soon as the tensioner is almost loosen, the belt slips off the mark.

randal

Really? I just did it on my '92 and it did not slip at all. I have also done it on my '98 LS400 and no slip there either. In fact, even with the tensioner removed, you have to really work at it to get the belt to move off of the gears. In my experience, the belt teeth are still very well meshed with the crankshaft and both cam gears even with the tensioner removed.

LeX2K

Agreed. The tensioner is the last step when doing a timing belt job, and the belt does not slip off when installing it. If it was me I would pull the upper cover to verify the belt did not move, removing the upper cover is not difficult.

BDSL

You will also have to remove the bottom cover to verify the belt didn't slip on the crank sprocket....which is more work.

LeX2K

No you don't, line up the timing mark on the crank pulley, if the cams are lined up, all good.

BDSL

I guess you can do it that way as well. Sometimes it is hard to read the "V" notches.