545iMike

Any idea where this is coming from?

toyota2bmw

100% Alternator bracket gasket! The more miles you have more prone it is to leak.

545iMike

Damn it! I was hoping it wasn't that. Does the power steering pump have to be removed? If so can it just hang in position with the lines still connected? 138000kms (86000 miles). Someone should make aftermarket gaskets that last more than 100,000 miles.

DavidF

Yes, PS pump has to be removed and can hang on lines. Alternator has to be completly removed. Left side engine mount and bracket have to be removed. Access is then still tight. Lots of work for a $0.25 profile gasket. Misc. other small stuff has to be removed (heat sheilds, etc).

stoic1

I have the same problem. Car takes a quart of oil every 1 1/2 to to 2 months. Car is sitting at 85,000 or so.

545iMike

Sounds like a job I'll do on my holidays considering its my daily driver.


Mines not quite that bad. Changed the oil January and only needed to add 1 quart since then.

toyota2bmw

This DIY is a PITA!!! Takes about 6 hours to change a $3 gasket. I did this with a help of a friend (also a member here) over a couple of weekends because we had to figure things out as we went. Basically, the radiator cover, fan, alternator have to be removed and out of the way. Then, the fun really starts, once you remove the power steering pump and hang it out of the way, you need to undo you motor mount on the driver side and raise the engine a bit. The bracket sits behind the motor mount using the motor mount bolts to hold everything in along with a handful of bolts for the bracket itself.

Look up the DIY that Heathservices did here (I think it's titled Leaks Leaks! ...). He's also a friend of mine who helped me get through everything and also recommended that I change the valve cover gaskets and upper timing chain covers while I was at it. Be warned, you need to have a good selection of tools before you start on this. Also, it's makes a world of difference if you have access to a lift. You will have saved yourself $1600-1800 afterwards. Good luck.

545iMike

Thanks for the info. I'll be sure to bring my tools home from work. Any tools that are out of the ordinary? I.E. the 5-point security torx I needed to remove the MAF.

pjinca

Yes, you have to remember that the bolts holding the alternator bracket to the engine are different. When Toyota2BMW and I did his there was that one bolt at the behind the power steering pump that drove us NUTS!!!! Turned out it was a hex bit (5 mm as I recall) and be careful, we ended up stripping it and he had to go get the LAST one available on the west coast!!! Once we got through that though the rest wasn't too bad, a lot of work, and luckily a lot of beer

e60oholic

Do it ASAP! mine started leaking and a few days later it was dumping oil out of the bottom on the thruway. Smoke coming from the vents etc it was almost fatal