Is this worth messing with - oil leak?

[FIDO96]

This is the only oil leak I have on my 97 FZJ80. Passenger side oil pressure something seems to seep a little oil on a regular basis…not bad enough to actually drip, but enough for my brain to know it’s there. I’m due for an oil change. I’m guessing this is a simple unplug the wire & thread off the old and spin on the new fixes, but don’t want this to be one of those things that is a known “don’t mess with it” items. (Photo taken from under rig looking up)

What’s the consensus…easy and necessary replacement?

 

[LongDuck]

"Don't mess with it."

Just thinking back on all the times I've looked at similar items, dived into it, and ended up spending $$$ on While-Youre-In-There stuff that balloons quickly.

 

[Kernal]

That's the oil pressure sender (Gage) and is threaded into a port in the oil cooler.

@FIDO96 :

Has that sender ever been replaced (or removed/replaced) and if so when, just before the leak was noticed?

Has anyone previously checked your oil pressure at that location (ie: screw an oil pressure gauge into the port)?

How long does it take for a drop to appear after being cleaned off?

Do you have any leaks higher up on that side of the engine (valve cover, timing chain cover)??

Do you have any major leaks anywhere on the engine including the front lower area??

The leak could be from the sender itself, or from the threaded connection into the cooler (threads appear dry), or coming from above that area, or blown from somewhere else (front of the engine).

Take a couple more photos from above that area showing the right side and front of the engine including any obvious leaks and post them up.

You could wash off that area and watch where/when the leak first reappears. IME it often doesn't take long, even with a small leak,
for a leak to show up again.

 

[JOFS]

I don't see oil on the threads of the oil pressure sender. If it wasn't tight would expect it to migrate down the threads. Replacing the sender isn't hard, but might be prepared for dealing with brittle connectors. I replaced oil pressure sender (83520-60040) recently and replaced the wire as well. (82221-60020)

my bet is it is coming from above somewhere but hard to tell from this one picture,

Good luck.
John

 

[FIDO96]

Taking Kernal’s advice, I popped the hood and looked at the passenger side of the engine…Son of a ……. There it is a small leak at the bottom of the block, below the water pump? Is this a “it’s a just a flesh wound” or “yeah, that’s gonna suck”

 

[FIDO96]

Here a better pic from the underside…you can see oil film on the AC compressor mount and bottom of engine (oil pan?)

 

[bhsdriller]

that's a close the hood and keep driving issue

 

[ajax1]

Taking Kernal’s advice, I popped the hood and looked at the passenger side of the engine…Son of a ……. There it is a small leak at the bottom of the block, below the water pump? Is this a “it’s a just a flesh wound” or “yeah, that’s gonna suck”

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I’d make sure water pump is not leaking, it gets a gasket not sealant

 

[ajax1]

I wouldn’t worry about the sender, if you want add some thread tape to the threads and see if that stops the leak

 

[bicycleagent003]

Dog, your rig is clean. Mine is covered in oil. Close the hood and keep driving.

 

[Kernal]

Agree all above, that's a very clean looking engine.

Having said that and to put the OP at ease, (already discussed) the reddish leak above is radiator coolant, it looks like whomever replaced the water pump used a sealant with or without the thin metal crush-type gasket (hard to tell), either way the leak appears old-ish. Clean the red residue off and watch to see if it reappears.

Worst case scenario (if the coolant leak gets worse) is to pull the water pump, clean off the sealant and reinstall the water pump using an OEM metal gasket
without sealant.

If the OP still wants to chase the oil seep, take a few photos of the engine bay including the top, sides, and front of the engine with one photo looking down toward the belts from a few feet back (not so close).

 

[LongDuck]

Awwwwww,... jeez. You sure you want to go down this road? Don't say I didn't warn you in Post#2!

 

[Mandrake]

I've found over the decades that if you go looking for trouble, you'll likely find it. That said, it does appear to be an exceptionally clean engine and I do understand your desire to keep it that way.

 

[Kernal]

If for example the oil leak is from the oil pressure sender itself, that could turn into a mess if it blew out while on the highway although I don't recall
anyone on the forum ever having that happen to an OEM oil pressure sender??

Same for the water pump ie: if the leak got worse on a trip away from home.

Agree however, those two scenarios are not very likely if you keep your eye on the small leaks/seeps.