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Oil leak. Possible cause?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by miso03, Nov 11, 2017.

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  1. miso03

    miso03 Junior Member

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    Hello everyone,

    during last oil change there was oil visible on the oil filter and the area (see attachment) around it.
    As I replace the oil by myself at first I thought that I didn't tighten the oil filter correctly (I you just my hand to tighten it, but that shouldnt be a problem). I've cleaned the area and this time I used proper socket to tighten the oil filter. After two weeks I looked under the car to see if there is any oil leak. Unfortunatelly, there was a drop of oil on the oil filter again that was about to drop on the floor. It looks like it is coming from the bolt around which most of the leaked oil could be found. Could you confirm it from your experience? Or is there any other place which could be source of the leak?

    Thank you for your answers!
     

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  2. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    Are you sure there isn't any crack around the lower aluminum where you have the 12mm bolts?

    If that checks OK, ensure that the stud in which the oil filter is tied to, isn't worn

    PS: Another option is if the oil filter rubber seal on the filter is weak, due to the oil filter bring on the shelve for long.
     
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Looks more like this bolt that's leaking?

    upload_2017-11-11_10-4-6.png
     
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  4. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    That's the 12mm/14mm bolts in talking about.
    But those shouldn't leak. If it's leaking around that region, there must be a crack, or the bolt isn't properly torqued
     
  5. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    If its a crack, JB Weld works. Used it many times, even on a crack in an exhaust manifold.
     
  6. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    But the problem is, if its a crack on that section if the lower oil pan, I don't think the JB weld is gonna work. I'm just concerned about the high oil pressures distribution in there. But if you've tried it, then that's cool. But that would be a short term fix. Isn't it?
     
  7. miso03

    miso03 Junior Member

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    I'm afraid that you are right and there is some crack :(
    Is it even possible that oil would leak through that (Mendel Leisk pointed on it correctly) bolt?
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just for giggles, put a socket on it and make sure it's tight. Maybe it was removed in past and someone snugged it but neglected to torque? (n)
     
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  9. miso03

    miso03 Junior Member

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    It was tight, but I gave it a quarter turn. Hope I didn't over-tightened it...
     
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  10. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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  11. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    That's y you need a torque wrench, and a repair manual.
     
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  12. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    The other thing you could do that would permanently solve this is to aluminum weld it, when that part is removed. Tedious job though. Or you can have that part replaced
     
  13. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Am I the only one who gets annoyed when people don't use a torque wrench, and wonder if they under/over tightened something?

    Per Toyota service manual:
    • Oil Filter is 13ft-lb. A genuine OEM Toyota oil filter will say 3/4turn when oil filter gasket comes into contact with the oil filter seat of the engine block.
    • The oil leak, dirt-greased, bolt in question is 18ft-lb.
    Although the picture suggests an oil leak at the bolt area, I would replace the Bosch oil filter with a new OEM Toyota oil filter. Why?
    For $4USD, the OP (Original Poster) might be able to rule out the bolt in question by using a new OEM Toyota oil filter. OP would have to clean up the dirty grease again as well. I have experienced a few cases where a new oil filter had a unknown bad o-ring, or the o-ring became bad, or maybe unseen debris came into contact with the o-ring.

    Logic would say a bad oil filter o-ring would cause oil to leak to go DOWN the oil filter. Because of aerodynamics, and where the oil filter sits, at the end of the splash shield, it might be possible that some wind might be making its way UP into the engine compartment. This wind might drive some leaking oil from the oil filter to go UP and toward the suspect bolt near the oil filter.

    If OP does this, and the oil leaking bolt goes away, the oil filter was the source of the leak.

    If the oil leaking bolt reappears, then the bolt area is the likely source. OP is out $4USD for a new OEM Toyota oil filter and a few ounces of oil to replenish what was lost from the oil filter change.

    Just dawned on me. OP could clean the dirt grease area now. Lower the car back to level ground. Force the engine into maintenance mode, so the engine is running; maybe let it run for an hour to ensure plenty of oil has been circulated. Jack-up the car and see where there is oil. If the oil filter, then the oil filter o-ring is bad. If the suspect bolt, then that area is bad, and maybe there is a hairline crack somewhere.
     
    #13 exstudent, Nov 12, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 12, 2017
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  14. miso03

    miso03 Junior Member

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    Sorry, I've completely forgotten about this thread, but here is the update. ;)

    After I tightened the bolt in November previous year, there is no sign of oil leak!
    I even didn't have to fill the oil between oil changes, which was about 0.4 quart.
    Couldn't be happier :)
     
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