PCV Valve or bad head gasket?

[duendeverde]

Hey guys i noticed a little oil buildup on the engine in the passenger side. The location of the buildup is at front near the alternator and in the back lets say middle of the engine block

My car is running great, the only thing that comes to my mind is Synthetic oil, i started using synthetic oil 9000 miles ago (1-2 months ago) and i have read about synthetic oil (chemicals, etc) been able to infiltrate gasket crack

I'm also curious about the pvc valve, i have never clean it, in fact i was trying to find it, no luck at all :/

[bronsin]

If its not dripping after warm up with the engine running I don't worry about it.

[duendeverde]

It's not dripping but i'm not waiting for it 2 start dripping, I want 2 change/or fix something quickly before something happens. I travel 100-150 miles daily

[CrankyOldMan]

The PCV valve is on the other side of the valve cover: back right, as you face the engine from the front. I've got a similar leak, but I haven't found the source yet.

[duendeverde]

I bought an oil dye + ultra violet light. I'm planning on doing it monday and checking tuesday or wednesday. The feedbacks about the dye are really good since it will show you the location of the leak and from that point you can assume if the head gasket, bolt, valve gasket or another seal is the culprit

I also watch some videos on youtube about a head gasket test in which you buy a small tube and put it in the radiator, put some blue liquid inside the tube. The color of the liquid turn like green-yellow if monoxide carbon is leaking which means a blown head gasket (I don't know if this is effective)

[tmontague]

Clean your PCV incase it is clogged and causing a build up of pressure in valve cover.

I had the exact same leak when I reinstalled my valve cover after checking valve clearance of buckets. It didn't start until about 10,000km after I put cover back on. Checked the bolts in that area and try we're pretty loose. Tightened them an cleaned oil with brake cleaner. Haven't had a leak since an it's been 3,000km. FWIW I run synthetic and always have since I got the car 45,000km ago.

Safe to say it's not head gasket, likely a clogged pcv and/or loose valve cover bolts.

[duendeverde]

Ok, will do today and i'm gonna stay with synthetic oil, its a lot more cheaper for me since i drive 100-150 miles a day, with normal oil that would be to much oil changes = $$$$

[duendeverde]

Hey guys, i found the source of the oil leak, I don't know if it is a sensor, but is located upside the alternator, is like a long tube with a black connector. Any ideas if i'm right about it?

I'm trying to post a picture but the page doesn't let me, I think is too big the format (5MB)

Note: Never mind, i found the name camshaft oil timing valve, thats the thing that is leaking oil and from time to time is reaching the back of the engine block, i thought it was the head gasket but a closer look confirms that the oil is from the OCV

[bronsin]

Any chance of a DIY?

[tmontague]

I have noticed some oil in that part of my engine as well. I haven't gotten around to cleaning it bit it hasn't gotten any worse. I'll clean it this spring and see if it builds up again.

I assumed it was from my valve cover when it was loose. Is there a seal around the OCV that could go bad? I find it weird that oil would leak from there unless damaged

[duendeverde]

1+ DIY

....Apparently there's no seal from what i've seen :/ I cleaned it (just the outside) about 4-5 hours ago and a little while a touch the ocv, it wasn't clean, oil was beginning to build up through it. I haven't take it off yet

Perhaps i damage the ocv while changing the belt tension pulley :/ (the part that you have to move the alternator tight enough)

[CTScott]

The OCV does have an o-ring seal on it. The DIY is remove the bolt with a 10mm socket and pull the valve out.

[duendeverde]

Nice, will do :thumbup:

[mario98c]

Hey guys, i found the source of the oil leak, I don't know if it is a sensor, but is located upside the alternator, is like a long tube with a black connector. Any ideas if i'm right about it?

I'm trying to post a picture but the page doesn't let me, I think is too big the format (5MB)

Note: Never mind, i found the name camshaft oil timing valve, thats the thing that is leaking oil and from time to time is reaching the back of the engine block, i thought it was the head gasket but a closer look confirms that the oil is from the OCV

Eso es el sensor del vvti. Tiene unos orings que por eso puede ser que este liqueando. Metele un poco de silicon gris como un resuelve o ve a la toyota a ver si te venden los orings solos.

[duendeverde]

Eso es el sensor del vvti. Tiene unos orings que por eso puede ser que este liqueando. Metele un poco de silicon gris como un resuelve o ve a la toyota a ver si te venden los orings solos.

Mario, le estoy cambiando las piezas full ya que lo compre usado, yo creo que yo mismo lo dañe al hacer presión para poner la correa-polea, a lo mejor le di

[tmontague]

Hey Scott, is there a filter around the OCV for the 1NZ engines like there is for the 1ZZ's? I never thought about this part needing to be cleaned and now I'm wondering if this may be why there is oil around the OCV? Not too sure what else would cause that

[CTScott]

Hey Scott, is there a filter around the OCV for the 1NZ engines like there is for the 1ZZ's? I never thought about this part needing to be cleaned and now I'm wondering if this may be why there is oil around the OCV? Not too sure what else would cause that

The filter is not around it - It is mounted into the block below it. The 1ZZs have two, where the 1NZs just have one. The leaking issue above is either a bad o-ring or a dented valve assembly.

[duendeverde]

The filter is not around it - It is mounted into the block below it. The 1ZZs have two, where the 1NZs just have one. The leaking issue above is either a bad o-ring or a dented valve assembly.

In my case it was a dented valve, I put 2 much pressure unintentionally while tightening the pulley belt (newbie process xD)

[tmontague]

The filter is not around it - It is mounted into the block below it. The 1ZZs have two, where the 1NZs just have one. The leaking issue above is either a bad o-ring or a dented valve assembly.

Thanks, is it possible to clean the filter/screen on a 1nz? I'll have to clean the oil around it and see if it comes back again or stays clean. I may be in the same boat at the op.

[CTScott]

Thanks, is it possible to clean the filter/screen on a 1nz? I'll have to clean the oil around it and see if it comes back again or stays clean. I may be in the same boat at the op.

The filter only costs a couple of dollars, but if you remove it you can easily clean it with degreaser. The filter is very fine mesh with a plastic support frame.

[tmontague]

And I'm assuming it is accessible to remove once the OCV is removed, or would one need to remove the valve cover?

[CTScott]

Again, it is "below" the OCV. You can remove it with or without removing the OCV.

[CrankyOldMan]

Looks like CT is talking about the parts in circle 1, the OCV itself is in circle 2.

[tmontague]

Thanks for that, makes it a little more clear

[duendeverde]

The filter is not around it - It is mounted into the block below it. The 1ZZs have two, where the 1NZs just have one. The leaking issue above is either a bad o-ring or a dented valve assembly.

I just noticed that the oil that was dripping from the pcv valve reached A/C compressor, actually it passed through the alternator until it reached the compressor near the belt. Can it be affected both the compressor and alternator? I'm going to take out the front bumper to have a clear look this saturday

[CTScott]

I just noticed that the oil that was dripping from the pcv valve reached A/C compressor, actually it passed through the alternator until it reached the compressor near the belt. Can it be affected both the compressor and alternator? I'm going to take out the front bumper to have a clear look this saturday

The compressor is sealed, so other than making the clutch slip it would not have an effect. The alternator is wide open, but it should not effect anything, other than maybe burning off a bit.

[duendeverde]

The compressor is sealed, so other than making the clutch slip it would not have an effect. The alternator is wide open, but it should not effect anything, other than maybe burning off a bit.

Mmmm ok, kind of ought :/

Today, I was parked for about 1-2 hour inside the car with the a/c on and the a/c for some reason the output of air was 2 low and the temperature was warm. When I got home and checked under the hood, the oil that was leaking from the ocv valve reached the top of the alternator near the pulley

[tmontague]

Mmmm ok, kind of ought :/

Today, I was parked for about 1-2 hour inside the car with the a/c on and the a/c for some reason the output of air was 2 low and the temperature was warm. When I got home and checked under the hood, the oil that was leaking from the ocv valve reached the top of the alternator near the pulley

I have heard other Yaris owners state that the a/c while no moving does not work nearly as well. I have yet to be stopped long enough (nor do I run my a/c enough) to notice this myself, but something to think about depending on how warm the air was coming out and how hot the ambient temp was of the outside air.

As a side note. After 150km of driving since I cleaned off the oil on the outside of the OCV it has yet to build back up. Likely it was just there from when my valve cover became loose. With that said if your's is leaking that much then definitely change it out as soon as you can as it's obviously damaged to be leaking that bad.

[duendeverde]

I have heard other Yaris owners state that the a/c while no moving does not work nearly as well. I have yet to be stopped long enough (nor do I run my a/c enough) to notice this myself, but something to think about depending on how warm the air was coming out and how hot the ambient temp was of the outside air.

As a side note. After 150km of driving since I cleaned off the oil on the outside of the OCV it has yet to build back up. Likely it was just there from when my valve cover became loose. With that said if your's is leaking that much then definitely change it out as soon as you can as it's obviously damaged to be leaking that bad.

Yep, just bought a couple of hours ago the OCV valve, In Puerto Rico temperatures fluctuates between 80-95 not very helpful LOL I'm gonna try and do a DIY of changing the OCV for purposes of Yaris Forum

[duendeverde]

Quick update:

I changed today the OCV valve and guess what? It was broken in half and another surprise, it was sealed with a strong "industrial" sealant in the middle of the OCV valve