When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Has anyone experienced an oil leak in this area? I bought the car used last year and it runs fine, but a few drops of oil are always underneath the car daily. I checked and the oil pan area definitely has oil dripping. The gasket looks like silicone though, is this normal?
Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I can answer your question about the oil pan gasket/silicone. It looks pretty ugly. I looked at my repair manual and they mention that a seal packing should be used. They referenced part number 08826-00080 or equivalent.
It is difficult to tell from the photos, but it looks like you may have oil leaking above the oil pan. That flex hose is pretty oily. It looks a little like mine. My oil leak is coming from the valve cover gasket. Next spring I will be changing the gaskets.
II second the leaky valve cover gasket. It is a semi common problem. As the seal dries it shrinks. an easy tightening solves the problem. I say "Easy" because the torque spec on the valve cover gasket is super low.
And with that said, dont forget that you have TWO oil pans. An upper and a lower. And yes, the grey silicone looking stuff is the proper sealant. The valve covers as noted should ALWAYS be the first place to look. I recently purchased a 03, GS430 (that's where I disappeared to😁 and have been going through it. I thought I had an oil pan leak. Two bolts can't be reached without lifting the engine so I took it to a transmission shop because that's what they do. Normal shop wouldn't touch it. Now I'm no dummy. And I had been all over these engines from top to bottom. I never saw the leak which was my drivers side valve cover. Made a mess. All done now. 53" lbs. That's 53 Inch Pounds is the torque spec for the valve covers. Another sign to look for is oil inside the Ignition Coil Tubes. Dead giveaway. But it's not difficult. 10mm socket, ratchet and extension, Inch Pound Torque Wrech. Let's see, loosen two large screw clamps to on hose to throttle body and airbox. Remove one 10mm bolt on left side of emmisions box, remove the 3 emmisions hoses (1 small front, 1 large middle, 1 small back), and one sensor plug. Lift out emmisions box. Takes five minutes and gives you access to all the hardware on the ps. Drivers side is pretty open. But a set of "Wobbly" extensions sure come in handy. Good luck.
II second the leaky valve cover gasket. It is a semi common problem. As the seal dries it shrinks. an easy tightening solves the problem. I say "Easy" because the torque spec on the valve cover gasket is super low.
It might be the valve covers as they do tend to leak. However, from the pics, my guess is the power steering fluid hoses.
I finally replaced my 22-year-old valve cover gaskets on my Tundra's 2UZ-FE, and replaced the spark plug tube seals in the process, as well as the PCV grommet and dipstick tube seal. The only reason I got 22 years out of the original valve cover gaskets is because I re-torqued them many times over the years. I'm doing the same on my 2008 SC, and no leaks yet! The torque spec is 53 inch pounds. I purchase a great inch pound torque wrench for this:
11-25-22, 01:09 PM
Oil leak above/near the oil pan
and have been going through it. I thought I had an oil pan leak. Two bolts can't be reached without lifting the engine so I took it to a transmission shop because that's what they do. Normal shop wouldn't touch it. Now I'm no dummy. And I had been all over these engines from top to bottom. I never saw the leak which was my drivers side valve cover. Made a mess. All done now. 53" lbs. That's 53 Inch Pounds is the torque spec for the valve covers. Another sign to look for is oil inside the Ignition Coil Tubes. Dead giveaway. But it's not difficult. 10mm socket, ratchet and extension, Inch Pound Torque Wrech. Let's see, loosen two large screw clamps to on hose to throttle body and airbox. Remove one 10mm bolt on left side of emmisions box, remove the 3 emmisions hoses (1 small front, 1 large middle, 1 small back), and one sensor plug. Lift out emmisions box. Takes five minutes and gives you access to all the hardware on the ps. Drivers side is pretty open. But a set of "Wobbly" extensions sure come in handy. Good luck.
