Oil right above oil pump: Need your opinion

[roncruiser]

Noticed oil in this area right behind the oil pipe. Not on the pipe but on the block. Right below the HG. See attached photo. It's not getting any worse or any better and haven't lost any power or anything drastic. So, I don't think the HG is blown. Is it?

Do you guys notice oil in this area as well?

I'm not losing noticeable oil according to the dip stick. Just wanna make sure that I'm not ignoring something that needs attention.

Vehicle Info:
'94 with 93K miles. No engine mods.

What do you think?

 

[Rookie2]

To answer your question, no I don't see any oil there on mine. You might try degreasing that area to see if you can further isolate the source. I think typically the headgasket goes at the no. 6 cylinder, so you might also check that area for oil. To be honest, I'm not sure how the timing chain cover/oil pump seals up to the block. I don't see any gasket shown in the FSM. Maybe others will chime in.


Rookie2

 

[cruiserman]

That's not an oil pipe. That pipe flows coolant. Clean it off and look for a leak.

 

[robbie]

It could be very mcuh like Dan's oil galley plug, but I thought that leaked lower, anything possiable. There is a major oil galley in that area, it feeds the head which feed the tensioner and the valve train. If it leaks in that area, it could be the head gasket, but I have not seen a leak like that yet. So the best suggestion I have is to use brakeleen and clean it well, start and run the engine at or above 3000 rpm to get good oil pressure and see where it leaks. Any how, either timeing cover, galley plug, or head gasket. all bad news. Lots of labor on any of these. One bad thing if it is the oil galley, if it fully goes you could loose lots of oil real quick and screw the engine up fast. I guess the obvious is last, is the tensioner weeping? later robbie

 

[roncruiser]

It's not on the pipe itself. It's behind the pipe from that view on the engine block itself.

 

[Rookie2]

Does it run the entire length of the engine block? You're going to have to do some more investigating and tracing. Clean it good and do what Robbie says... he's the Toy-whisperer.

Can anybody tell me what kind of seal is between the time chain cover and the block? I don't see anything shown in the FSM. Just curious. Also I'd like to better understand the oil flow path. Obviously there's a pick-up at the oil pan and it's pumped somewhere, but what all does it go through from there?

Thanks,
Rookie2

Sorry for the seim-jack Ron.

 

[Beowulf]

Can anybody tell me what kind of seal is between the time chain cover and the block?

FIPG is what Dan used when he replaced his timing chain cover.

-B-

 

[RavenTai]

That is one of the few places where mine does not leak, Couple suspects in the area.

That oval cover with the two bolts is the timing chain tensioner, it is pressurized with oil, from the picture it looks like it is further aft? Hard to tell. Directly behind that is the block/timing cover joint, that gave CDan problems, a little further back is the oil pressure sender, my Nissan had a very similar looking sender (Aisin? Denso?) that developed an internal leak and leaked out the electrical plug could also be the threads where the sender screws into the block, just aft of that is the oil cooler,

As said above oil pump is on the other side of the motor, the water pump/alternator belt idler pulley bolt’s to the oil pump cover witch is bolted one with countersunk screws.

Also I'd like to better understand the oil flow path. Obviously there's a pick-up at the oil pan and it's pumped somewhere, but what all does it go through from there?

Thanks,
Rookie2

Sorry for the seim-jack Ron.

Take a look here shows most of it, the 1FZ oil system is the most overbuilt I have seen on a piston engine,

 

[robbie]

So the oil travels from the oil pick up tube to the NO 2 oil pan(aluminum) to the timing cover where the oil pump is housed. Then from the pump it goes to the oil filter and out in to the main oil passege to the oil cooler (through the block) then out into the engine through the main oil passege on the passenger side of the engine. feeding the bearing, the oil coolers, chain oiler, chain tensioner, valve train. Look in your FSM for more detailed look at the oil system. later robbie

 

[Rookie2]

Excellent flow chart and diagram Raven. Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

[roncruiser]

Good point: Will check if it runs the entire length of the block. Need to grab some brake cleaner on the way home tonight. As I said, not losing any significant amounts of oil. When I bought the LC, had the 90K service done at the Toy dealer. They replaced:
-oil pump gasket
-type T oil seal
-cylinder head gasket
-FIPG oil pan
Not that this information would help any but thinking that they did not clean up properly when changing out the cylinder head gasket. Just a possiblity.

In any case, I will clean it out tonight and keep an eye on it.

 

[cruiserdan]

My leak was lower than that and it POURED out.

 

[Rookie2]

Good point: Will check if it runs the entire length of the block. Need to grab some brake cleaner on the way home tonight. As I said, not losing any significant amounts of oil. When I bought the LC, had the 90K service done at the Toy dealer. They replaced:
-oil pump gasket
-type T oil seal
-cylinder head gasket
-FIPG oil pan
Not that this information would help any but thinking that they did not clean up properly when changing out the cylinder head gasket. Just a possiblity.

In any case, I will clean it out tonight and keep an eye on it.

Well..., didn't know that you just had all this stuff done. That's not your run of the mill 90K service. Personally if I just had this stuff done and was seeing a leak, I'd be taking it back to the dealer, and give'm a little whatsup with this??