Chasing Oil leaks, cooling issues, and rough ide - what am I missing?

[hollowpw]

Team, I've done a good bit of research here on some of my point issues I'm experiencing on my FJ60, but can't figure out a reason as to why or if they all may be related

Context / History:
- I took my 60 series to a local shop to replace rear pinion seal and do a 'look-over' the truck as someone hadn't looked at it since I bought it. Local shop was recommended by a guy in my neighborhood who has 4 cruisers in his driveway and sources all mechanical needs.
- When shop looked at the truck, they mentioned the oil pan was leaking slightly (I'd known this but it wasn't a bad leak so hadn't touched it yet), so I obliged and asked them to do it.
- After a few tries at doing the oil pan, it kept leaking so I ordered a new OE pan and gasket from Cruiser Outfitters. After the oil pan was complete, an oil leak sprung up from the front end plate. The shop took care of this free of charge since it wasn't an issue before I had brought the truck into them.
- The front end plate is not fixed - it's leaking (dripping) much worse now, and a coolant leak had also sprung up the last time they did the front end plate.
- Had new aluminum radiator, hoses, fan, and belts all installed since there was a leak (figured I'd get it all done as it'd been 10 years). Also had AC recharged.

Just picked up the truck over the weekend and the Front End plate is still leaking oil. When driving it around the neighborhood this weekened the oil pressure dipped below threshold and temperature started to rise. Additionally, it's idling low (~500 rpms). When I turned ignition off, the truck wouldn't cut off / die (had to stall it out to get motor off)

Questions (where I could seek some input):
1) Front end plate leak sounds like he's just not putting the bolts back correctly - anything else I'm missing here?
2) If all new cooling system, what could be reason truck is running hot? I have the alumnium radiator from Cruiser Corps and all new hoses but even when cooling system was leaking it wasn't running hot according to t-stat.
3) What would be cause of truck not turning off correctly? Is this something in conjunction with the idle being off (i.e., not the right fuel / air mix)? Is this caused by any of the work my mechanic did on cooling system or front end plate?
4) Is this all somewhat connected and related? Trying to pin it down to why these additional things keep popping up. Feels like I'm chasing one problem and then another continues to emerge.

FWIW - will go to see Goode's offroad or Black Dog Traders in the future, but trying to at least get this oil leak stopped in the interim so I can drive it while I wait on their availability.

Appreciate any insight!

 

[bcolvin]

Team, I've done a good bit of research here on some of my point issues I'm experiencing on my FJ60, but can't figure out a reason as to why or if they all may be related

Context / History:
- I took my 60 series to a local shop to replace rear pinion seal and do a 'look-over' the truck as someone hadn't looked at it since I bought it. Local shop was recommended by a guy in my neighborhood who has 4 cruisers in his driveway and sources all mechanical needs.
- When shop looked at the truck, they mentioned the oil pan was leaking slightly (I'd known this but it wasn't a bad leak so hadn't touched it yet), so I obliged and asked them to do it.
- After a few tries at doing the oil pan, it kept leaking so I ordered a new OE pan and gasket from Cruiser Outfitters. After the oil pan was complete, an oil leak sprung up from the front end plate. The shop took care of this free of charge since it wasn't an issue before I had brought the truck into them.
- The front end plate is not fixed - it's leaking (dripping) much worse now, and a coolant leak had also sprung up the last time they did the front end plate.
- Had new aluminum radiator, hoses, fan, and belts all installed since there was a leak (figured I'd get it all done as it'd been 10 years). Also had AC recharged.

Just picked up the truck over the weekend and the Front End plate is still leaking oil. When driving it around the neighborhood this weekened the oil pressure dipped below threshold and temperature started to rise. Additionally, it's idling low (~500 rpms). When I turned ignition off, the truck wouldn't cut off / die (had to stall it out to get motor off)

Questions (where I could seek some input):
1) Front end plate leak sounds like he's just not putting the bolts back correctly - anything else I'm missing here?
2) If all new cooling system, what could be reason truck is running hot? I have the alumnium radiator from Cruiser Corps and all new hoses but even when cooling system was leaking it wasn't running hot according to t-stat.
3) What would be cause of truck not turning off correctly? Is this something in conjunction with the idle being off (i.e., not the right fuel / air mix)? Is this caused by any of the work my mechanic did on cooling system or front end plate?
4) Is this all somewhat connected and related? Trying to pin it down to why these additional things keep popping up. Feels like I'm chasing one problem and then another continues to emerge.

FWIW - will go to see Goode's offroad or Black Dog Traders in the future, but trying to at least get this oil leak stopped in the interim so I can drive it while I wait on their availability.

Appreciate any insight!

I’m not exactly sure what you mean by the front end plate. Is this the timing cover? If it is then tightening the bolts slightly might work. For me I needed to take the timing cover off, get a new gasket, and reseal it.

Mine was a pain but eventually got it right. There are a few tricks that would be worth exploring in some of the threads here.

 

[hollowpw]

I’m not exactly sure what you mean by the front end plate. Is this the timing cover? If it is then tightening the bolts slightly might work. For me I needed to take the timing cover off, get a new gasket, and reseal it.

Mine was a pain but eventually got it right. There are a few tricks that would be worth exploring in some of the threads here.

yes - right behind timing cover. Attaching media for reference. Would it perhaps compound to the additional problems mentioned above?

 

[g-man]

The timing cover bolts are different sizes and must be put back correctly. There is a plate behind the cover and that may need to be removed and new gasket there as well to stop an oil leak. Most oil leaks around the oil pan are from the rear main seal leaking down the backside. This can only be corrected by pulling the transmission/transfer case and replacing the rear seal on the engine.

 

[g-man]

nothing but the fuel gauge looks right in that image. The oil pressure is low, the engine is hot, and the voltage is LOW. You have some work to do. But your first most immediate need is to resolve the overheating. Then the voltage and then the oil pressure. One thing I did to help my oil pressure was to clean the oil pick-up screen in the oil pan. Mine was covered with sludge. The low voltage could be bad or cruddy terminals at the battery or the battery ground points or possibly just a bad battery. It could also be a bad alternator but you'd be having issues charging and keeping batteries charged if that were the case. I doubt the overheating is caused by the oil....More likely low coolant, sticking thermostat or faulty gauge.

 

[g-man]

If you just recently had the radiator replaced it's possibly you have to burp the air from the system to correct the overheating.

 

[roadstr6]

Also be aware that to get to the gasket on the plate behind the timing cover that @g-man is speaking of, you will need to pull the camshaft. It's a big job. My suggestion (and what many folks do) is to re-seal the timing cover itself, cross your fingers and hope that takes care of the front side leak...and if it doesn't, live with it.

 

[hollowpw]

Thanks for the help and input team. A few quick updates:
- Battery was bunk. Was drawing too much from it when I started using the A/C this year. Easy fix.
- Haven't had an issue with overheating again. I did notice when the new radiator was installed, the shop didn't hook the overflow tube onto it. It seems they lost the fitting that connects the rubber hose to the area below the radiator cap but I will look to find a piece that can work
- Picked it up at the shop last week and the oil leak appeared to be fine at the time. However, the last few times I've driven the truck the oil continues to drip from the same area. Found this link and think this might be culprit? Seems to really only leak after having run for a while and warming up

Getting frustrated with the mechanic not being able to stop the oil leak and thinking about attempting to wrench it myself instead of him trying it again.