Fluid Leak on rear of engine (1 Viewer)

[lazy]

I've been having a rash of problems....or maybe I've just been ignoring a lot of things and now that I am paying attention, things are coming to a head.

I noticed the back of my 1FZFE in my 96' LX450 (my second cruiser and not my GM conversion) has some sort of fluid leak. Not sure where to start in diagnosing?? The engine has 290k on it and I was planning to rebuild sometime this winter (about to pull the trigger on all the parts and a turbo), so I'm hoping this is just the rear heater piping?? Clean it off and run it?? I did notice that I was low on coolant the other day and the engine burns a quart every 500 miles or so (puff of white smoke on start up). Trying to figure out if I should be driving it or not until I can get to the engine.

 

[voodu3]

It looks like the valve cover gasket is leaking. Clean it off with some degreaser and you should be able to see where it’s coming from. Keep an eye on the oil level and it should be fine to drive. It’s an easy fix to replace the gasket.

 

[REKCUT]

Hard to tell from pic. I would do a good cleaning and then watch closely where it comes from. Also dab some on a clean paper towel as the fluid comes back to get a better idea if its oil or coolant.

 

[Cruzerman]

And I thought my engine was filthy (which it is).

 

[bajaphile]

I would agree, that is just the valve cover gasket. Easy fix. Plan for the following:
- To get the valve cover off, you'll need to remove the throttle body. Good time to clean it. Buy new throttle body gasket while you're at it. Clean and lubricate butterfly valve as well
- With valve cover removed, good time to replace the spark plug O-rings and PCV grommet

 

[lazy]

got it all cleaned off. It did look like oil and I had marked my coolant a month ago and it hasn't budged.

I'm probably going to try and limp it along until thanksgiving....and I should have my other cruiser up and going "full time" soon, so I shouldn't need to drive this one as much. Glad it's potentially a simpler fix than when I felt completely kicked in the nuts yesterday.

And yes, my engine is durdy.

 

[lazy]

Changing valve cover gasket right now....oil on #3 and #4 spark wires. Fipg on the tube thingy?

 

[thatcabledude]

Changing valve cover gasket right now....oil on #3 and #4 spark wires. Fipg on the tube thingy? View attachment 2395805

Should have 6 new grommets for the plug tubes. That will take care of that.

 

[thatcabledude]

And swap that radiator while you’re in there!

 

[Somebodyelse5]

And swap that radiator while you’re in there!

I thought it was a piece of cardboard hahaha

 

[lazy]

well, i got it all done. Ordered an ishito stone kit for $40 delivered to my house. Took 3.5 hrs including my diagnostic victory lap and helping my kids get dinner on the table and a trip to autozone. I just invested in all new hand tools. My dad has a brain injury and my tools keep disappearing and he blames me for being disorganized (which is true), but i can usually find my stuff within 45 mins while after he's around stuff is just straight up missing.

Anyway, me and the new tools are on our first date and i drop the stupid 10mm wrench behind the engine and my luck is it doesn't fall all the way to the ground. I spend about 20 mins trying to get the stupid thing and finally i resign to go to autozone for one of those magnet things. Turns out, it's the best $2 I've ever spent and took 3 seconds to retrieve my wrench. I figured my new wrench was going to end up on the highway somewhere...

Anyway, I'm rambling. I got the valve cover seal fixed, victory lap was good and the wife approved a turbo/oem rebuild on this cruiser, but is dependent on my ls swap getting finished. I finally found someone to work on the stuff i just didn't have the will power to do (exhaust reworked, driveline with 4l80e and my power steering leak). Pretty cool dude, instead of crapping all over my project and pointing out my errors, he's excited about working on it and not trying to fix everything he can, just what I want him to do. So, should be back to me the week after next and then i need to get the ls swap thru emissions and registered, then i can start working the punch list there while this "daily driver" can get rebuilt over winter.

 

[lazy]

Went to run errands and all the sudden my truck won't start. I hear a click, but thats it, not even trying to start. New denso reman starter with about 300 miles on it. Wife is coming with new fusible links. Battery is new (replaced same time as starter). Going to try jumping from my dual battery. Anything else?

 

[lazy]

Battery must be bad? jumped off the 2nd battery just fine. Showing good voltage on the dash. Going to get home and diagnose.

 

[lazy]

Got home fine, shut off vehicle and then go to start right away, starts fine. Shut off, walk into garage snd grab my fusible links that my wife couldn't find, pop hood and truck won't start again. Even if i had some parasitic drain, the battery wouldn't get that depleted in what was literslly been 7 mins and 3 mins. Any ideas?

Pulling battery and taking to advance auto for them to tell me nothing is wrong with it.

Why does this stuff happen when you're trying to leave town for vacation?

 

[lazy]

Battery is good.

Next steps?

Meg starter lead?
How do you bench test starter? I have a 12v power source, but it only goes to 60a....

 

[ppc]

Sounds like a starter solenoid/contacts issue. There have been many instances where remanufactured starters are not problem free. I would pull the starter down open up the solenoid and inspect/reseat/reposition the starter contacts and plunger.

You can use jumper cables from your battery to bench test.

 

[george_tlc]

Since the starter has ~300 miles on it, that means it was recently installed. Before ripping into the starter, I'd check that power cables are securely bolted to the battery and also at the starter end.

cheers,
george.

 

[lazy]

Checked terminal ends, cleaned, retighten, no change. Pulled starter, probably going to take it parts store....

 

[lazy]

Starter is testing fine....make a new power lead, check grounds?

 

[lazy]

Checked resistance in power lead = 0.1 ohms, voltage just under 12v. Continuity at trigger wire when firing trying to crank and 11v.