Ok, while I was driving today I heard a noise like a pop. Then it sounded like there was some sort of pressure loss. I pulled over to find oil spraying from the engine. Here's a pic...

<img src="http://members.cox.net/malice1/engine.jpg" alt=" - " />

What could it be? Head gasket?

<small>[ December 07, 2002, 04:54 PM: Message edited by: DieselUV ]</small>

Pic doesnt work.

I don't know what it is, but it sure doesn't look good <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" />

any more pics? this one dies not show enough, I find it hard to figure out which part of the engine it is...

OK, well, that is not a good thing at all.

It looks to me like the PCV valve popped out of the cam cover. You see that hose just inside the timing belt cover?? Follow that to the cam cover and I'll bet you will find that the PCV valve popped out. If that is the case you have a bigger problem.

The valve or the vent line is clogged and is not drawing out gasses from the crank case. Pressure will build until something lets go, usually a seal, an expensive seal.

You are lucky it was just your PCV valve that popped. That is an easy fix. You will need to remove that whole hose and clean it out or replace it along with the valve.

Once you get the new valve in place, disconnect the hose from the valve with the engine running and there should be a lot of vacuum in that hose. If not go to where the that hose joins or Ts into another hose and check for vacuum there. Then keep going to the supercharger plenum and see if you have vacuum there. If not do something to unclog that port and get it drawing air.

Next thing you have to check is the large crank case vent hose. That goes from the main air induction tube in front of the throttle body to the rear of the driver's side cam cover. That must be clear of crap also. With the the PCV system connected unplug the vent hose from the main air induction tube and put your thumb over hole in the main air induction tube. There should be good vacuum and lots of air being drawn through that vent hose. I'll bet there is not and you will need to clear it out. Pressure will never build up in the crank case if that vent hose is open. Worse case you may need to pull the supercharger and remove both cam covers and really flush out the oil baffles in the vent system in both cam covers.

You definately have a serious clog in the crank case vent system and if you do not correct it right away you will have a sludged engine as the oil will quickly turn to Jello and your engine will die. You are luck that you got that advanced warning with the PCV valve popping out.

Toyota does have a serious problem with the crank case ventilation system on many of their engines and Toyota engines are sludging all over the world as I type this.

Once you do all of that and get good vacuum to the PCV hose and vent hose you should be OK.

Gadget

Give in... take it to a dealer. And carry a fire extinguisher whenever you run it, if some of that oil hits the exhaust manifold... you have problems.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Lunchbox:
<strong>Give in... take it to a dealer. And carry a fire extinguisher whenever you run it, if some of that oil hits the exhaust manifold... you have problems.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Why would you recommend anyone do that for simple problem?

Gadget

Thanks Gadget, I'll see what I can do.

I wouldn't call the engine spraying oil a simple problem... seems to me, better safe than sorry.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Lunchbox:
<strong>I wouldn't call the engine spraying oil a simple problem... seems to me, better safe than sorry.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Yea, I guess you are right. He would be much better off going to the dealer so they can tell him he needs a new engine.

Gadget