[CST]

so my engine leaks lots of oil around the front of it, it drenched the timing belt so it's just all nasty and I'm afraid it's gonna snap in the cold weather. I believe it's leaking from the cam seals. Any way I'd be able to tell if that is really where it's coming from besides taking it to get checked for $50?

And when I put new seals on it, would it be worth my time to do some other work to get a few extra hp? I wanna be able to scorch my friends '87 5.0 he's buying, haha, I toasted his old 84 5.0 and now that thing died, the 87 has a little more power though.

 

[SilverMk2]

Pull the upper timing cover off and look??? Seems kinda obvious or maybe its just me :scratch:

 

[AJ]

If you burning oil on the exhaust manifold then its cam(s) seals, if not crank seal. If you got lots of miles then probably both.

so my engine leaks lots of oil around the front of it, it drenched the timing belt so it's just all nasty and I'm afraid it's gonna snap in the cold weather. I believe it's leaking from the cam seals. Any way I'd be able to tell if that is really where it's coming from besides taking it to get checked for $50?

And when I put new seals on it, would it be worth my time to do some other work to get a few extra hp? I wanna be able to scorch my friends '87 5.0 he's buying, haha, I toasted his old 84 5.0 and now that thing died, the 87 has a little more power though.

 

[CJSREDPRA]

If the timing belt is soaked in oil, then it won't snap due to the cold weather, since oil does not really freeze. However, as you may know, the timing belt is supposed to be dry period!!!! A oil soaked belt will shorten it's lifespan & won't quite make it to 60K miles. I would plan on replace at LEAST all 4 of the front motor seals & the timing belt. Also plan on replacing the timing belt tension pulley. All that oil flying around the timing belt housing has probably dissolved all of the grease that inside the pulley (it's nothing but a giant sealed bearing). If that pulley seizes due to lack of lubrication, then you're really screwed.

And as others have mentioned, look around on the outside of the block to see if your cam tower seals are leaking also.

 

[fstsupra]

Sounds like the same problem I had. Had a really bad oil leak coming from the front of the motor. Changed the cam seals, main seal, cam tower gaskets, valve cover gaskets, basically everything except the rear main. Nothing helped. Then after a few hours of choice words and tracking the leak down the motor I figured it out. If you take the tension pully off you will notice a sort of 'pin' about a quarter inch in size below it. From this 'pin' is where the oil was leaking, leaking being an understatement. It was pretty much a continuious flow of oil. Anyways, fixed with a peice of wood dowl and some high temp silicone. If you take the timing cover off and watch right under the tension pully you should be able to watch it 'flow' down the case.

Dunno if this is where your leak is coming from but take a look and see.

Goodluck,
fstsupra

 

[ash1]

oil leakage also

I went to check the oil today and found that the alternator had oil on the front of it. I just replaced the alternator about a month ago so I know that the oil is fairly new. I've replaced the valve cover gaskets and the car doesn't seem to smoke at all. It has 113,000 miles on it and runs well. I switched over to Mobile 1. Could that be part of the problem? It looks like there is a small amount of leakage around the base of the head in spots but I don't know if I need to replace the head gasket as well. If so is it a waste of time to do head work? The oil and antifreeze look fine.
Thanks,
Juan

 

[StanS]

Try using "Stop Leak". Use STP brand. This should swell your
seals for another 70-80Kmi.

 

[CJSREDPRA]

Head gasket should be fine. Pretty rare that it craps out due to a oil leak, it's usually coolant.

Am betting it may be both your cam tower seals AND the front end seals. You say the odometer has 113K miles on it??? If the front seals have never been changed, then it's definitely time for new ones.

 

[SilverMk2]

You should probably just change the timing belt and buy the 4 seals (2 cams, 1 oil pump, and front main) in the area and change them all. If you order the parts from Jeff they should be under $40 altogether. You can spot the cam tower gasket by looking along the base and see if you see any oil dropping from the gasket, it should be nice and dry. They are relatively easy to change as well (especially the exhaust side). If you do change them you should change the rear o-ring and front seal while you're in the area. Camtower gasket unfortunately aren't that cheap from Toyota like $40 each IIRC. Better to buy a HG set and use that.

 

[DKJones96]

the timing belt and seals replacement plan on it taking all day if you haven't done it on the car yet and need to run to the store a couple times lol. a garuntee if they are the origional seals they are cracking and dried out. my car had oil leaking form all 4 of those front seals and now nothing since i replaced them. i need to replace the oilpan gasket but oh well. the engine will prolly get taken out in a lile while anyways even tho it has perfect compression and hardly any oil leaks at all.

 

[ash1]

You should probably just change the timing belt and buy the 4 seals (2 cams, 1 oil pump, and front main) in the area and change them all. If you order the parts from Jeff they should be under $40 altogether. You can spot the cam tower gasket by looking along the base and see if you see any oil dropping from the gasket, it should be nice and dry. They are relatively easy to change as well (especially the exhaust side). If you do change them you should change the rear o-ring and front seal while you're in the area. Camtower gasket unfortunately aren't that cheap from Toyota like $40 each IIRC. Better to buy a HG set and use that.

Who is Jeff and how do I get a hold of him?
Thanks,
Juan

 

[CJSREDPRA]

Jeff Watson @ Champion Toyota in Houston, TX. See the contact link over at cs.com.