Oil leaks everywhere
#1
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Oil leaks everywhere
My 2001 LS430 with 128,000 miles has numerous oil leaks but all are slow and have not started dripping on the driveway floor or garage. I've been watching them for almost 4 months and placed dye in the engine oil to diagnose the oil pan leak. That one is coming from the dip stick tube seal and oil level sender seal. I also have a very slow rear main seal leak as well as 2 tranmission leaks one of which is coming from the linkage on the side. My dilemma is this. Even at an Indy shop, to fix all the leaks will cost a pretty penny as the rear main and the trans linkage require the trans to be removed. I haven't done anything yet because the leaks are so slow. Do I fix the dip stick tube seal and oil level sender seal only to wait for the rear main to get worse? I'm ok for now but am not sure how to proceed once the leaks get worse. PS....I am not ok with oil on my driveway and garage floor as well as anyone else's so that is not an option to let it drip on the ground once it gets worse.
#2
Lexus Fanatic
hate to hear it....I wonder if it would be prudent to wait and see....meaning if it's not a lot and it's something you can live with, maybe 12 mos. from now, nothing has changed....or you go all out and get it fixed. I'm thinking all or nothing....
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Bocatrip (03-14-17)
#3
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
. The lower oil pan leaks can be repaired for a reasonable sum ($300-$400). If that becomes the worst of the leaks I may proceed as rear mains can sometimes leak slowly for years before getting bad. Yes now it's just waiting to see how it progresses. I've been using as of my last oil change (Mobile 1 High Mileage). Not sure it will slow things down but it can't hurt or make things any worse.
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Bocatrip (03-14-17)
#5
Lead Lap
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#6
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iTrader: (6)
Depends what your intended time frame is to drive the car. For a year, I would say no. If aiming for the 200K mile mark then yes. This balances what a replacement car will cost and factoring the repair on a known condition. Provided the car functions reliably in other aspects to keep it. A RMS is The transmission shaft selector seals do wear and the fix isn't big $. I had them done in ours along with the valve cover gaskets and dip stick O-ring.
#7
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Depends what your intended time frame is to drive the car. For a year, I would say no. If aiming for the 200K mile mark then yes. This balances what a replacement car will cost and factoring the repair on a known condition. Provided the car functions reliably in other aspects to keep it. A RMS is The transmission shaft selector seals do wear and the fix isn't big $. I had them done in ours along with the valve cover gaskets and dip stick O-ring.
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#8
How much total oil are we talking about?
Like a teaspoon every couple months? Or is it more serious?
If putting a drip pan underneath is not an acceptable solution, my honest advice would just be to sell the car and move on as you're probably approaching the value of the car outright if you take it to any shop to fix.
I will say this, and I'm sure some people will vocally disagree, I have used motor oil "seal conditioners/stop leak" on beater cars in the past and it did make a noticeable difference in how much oil would weep out and had no bad side effects. Motor oil off the shelf have these sort of additives, its basically more of it in a concentrated form. maybe try Lucas?
Like a teaspoon every couple months? Or is it more serious?
If putting a drip pan underneath is not an acceptable solution, my honest advice would just be to sell the car and move on as you're probably approaching the value of the car outright if you take it to any shop to fix.
I will say this, and I'm sure some people will vocally disagree, I have used motor oil "seal conditioners/stop leak" on beater cars in the past and it did make a noticeable difference in how much oil would weep out and had no bad side effects. Motor oil off the shelf have these sort of additives, its basically more of it in a concentrated form. maybe try Lucas?
#9
Moderator
You have a tough decision that we will all likely be faced with at some point with these cars since they are aging despite being well cared for. Any LS, even those in mint condition can start seeping oil as the car ages especially when past the 15 years in service mark. Its a tough call for me because I honestly don't want any other car. If they were still making brand new LS430s I'd buy a new one in a heartbeat. With my 2006 LS I'm trying to make it to 2026 when I should be able to buy a 3 year old used plug in hybrid that will see me through another 15 or so years to when I likely will stop driving. So if I had an 2001 LS in great shape I'd likely get the oil leaks fixed and then drive it until 2021 - so at least 4 more years. If the repairs cost you $2k, that's only $500/year to keep driving your LS430. That's a reasonable investment/deal in my opinion especial since there isn't much out there right now to match an LS430 without spending serious $$$.
#10
I hope I'm describing the correct trans leak from the passenger side of the trans. I believe my tech said it was the selector seal but not positive. He did say that the trans had to be removed to get to it. He was the service manager at Lexus before partnering up with the present Indy shop. It's also leaking from the other side of the trans which most likely is at the pan. Was your trans repair for your LS400 pictured or an LS430? I don't do much driving (maybe 7,000 miles a year) but replacing the car would be expensive and of course I won't know what I'm getting. The only cars I'm considering is a 2006 LS430, but will have to repair everything I've repaired already on my 01 or an Infiniti M35 or M37 either 2008-10 or 2011-12. I still like my car's design better, but I want reliability and the VQ engines are pretty bullet proof. Not sure I'm going 200,000 miles with this car, but I can see keeping it for a few more years. Body is straight as an arrow with no paint work, dings, or scratches. Interior is like new. Just had the front and rear bumpers painted and replaced a front wheel bearing hub. Car is great, and I don't want to sell it. That's my dilemma!
#11
Lexus Fanatic
You have a tough decision that we will all likely be faced with at some point with these cars since they are aging despite being well cared for. Any LS, even those in mint condition can start seeping oil as the car ages especially when past the 15 years in service mark. Its a tough call for me because I honestly don't want any other car. If they were still making brand new LS430s I'd buy a new one in a heartbeat. With my 2006 LS I'm trying to make it to 2026 when I should be able to buy a 3 year old used plug in hybrid that will see me through another 15 or so years to when I likely will stop driving. So if I had an 2001 LS in great shape I'd likely get the oil leaks fixed and then drive it until 2021 - so at least 4 more years. If the repairs cost you $2k, that's only $500/year to keep driving your LS430. That's a reasonable investment/deal in my opinion especial since there isn't much out there right now to match an LS430 without spending serious $$$.
#14
Super Moderator
iTrader: (6)
The repairs were for the 400. The engine and transmissions are relatively stable components in the LS's so those are good odds. Some samples can yield very long lifespans with minimal maintenance, others will constantly chew on the wallet. Managing the wear issues will be a growing situation with age. I also concur with jabberwock and tallcaguy's thoughts. Having a car that suits the reliability factors as well as balance of what the wallet is willing.
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