A few months back I discovered that I had a PS pressure line leak. It took me a few months to get to it because of some training schedules at work. I noticed it because I had initially suspected an oil leak after a fresh oil change. The amber color and viscosity of fresh oil and PS fluid were so close that I believed one to be the other.

After fixing the leak, I wasn't surprised to see a few drips near the bottom of my oil pan because the PS fluid was dripping all down the side of the engine before collecting there and I believed it was just residual.

I was under my car again recently and noticed that most of the oil pan area was just soaked in oil—definitely engine oil this time. So I cleaned the entire underside of the car and drove it for a day to see exactly where the oil might be coming from. It appears to be in the front right corner of the oil pan, kinda near the oil filter assembly and the mounting bracket for the A/C compressor pump.

Any ideas what might be leaking? Maybe similar to this thread? https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-problems-fixes-117/oil-pump-leaking-2000-tl-906179/

 

Sounds like the oil pump seal to me

 

Id start with changing out the pcv valve (if never changed) then check for leaks, Post pictures if possible.

 

Yeah, try the PCV valve, and then clean up the top areas of motor.
Could possibly be the oil pump or VTEC seals above oil filter which can seep oil.

 

PCV valve replaced. Monitoring for leaks—will check in with updates.

 

Definitely still leaking. Before the PS leak I did replace the oil pan because the threads for the drain bolt were shot. I'm beginning to wonder if the gasket sealant didn't take at the front corner. It was hard to if the gasket was sealing because of the PS leak. Now that I've solved that problem I'm closing in on this leak.

I figure that it's either the gasket of or the oil pump seal, as suggested. Anybody know what's involved in getting to the oil pump seal? If I'm suspecting the oil pump seal and the pan has to come off to get to it, that's a no-brainer. Even if it's not the oil pump seal I'm still going to replace it since the TL is already at 150K and 15 years old.

Tips for the oil pump seal?

 

I think I'll got for the oil filter assembly gasket first, actually.

 

Clean the area well, as there are several things in that small area that can leak oil. If you isolate it to the oil pump seal, you have to take off the timing belt, crank pulley, etc. I don't think you have to take off the oil pan.

 

I would use brake cleaner to clean the affected area and wait for it to seep out to then be able to pin point the leak. Only when the engine is cold to avoid the risk of fire.

 

Yeah, how's it going with what you've tried so far ? Let us know !!!

 

Haven't had any time to get anything done because of my work schedule and new house. Still has a slow leak that nags at me everyday.

 

Replaced the VTEC filter/seal last week; it definitely needed it. I expected to have some residual drip from areas around the pan in the following days. I've been watching it a couple days and while it definitely seems like there is less leaking, however there's still some leaking going on. Any other suggestions? I'm close to just pulling off the oilpan and re-doing my gasket seal I did about a year ago...maybe that's the culprit.

 

This is excellent advice, as there's alot of potential areas which can possibly be leaking other than the oilpan's gasket......especially considering that it was just recently done.