Just bought a 95 camry for $250 with a nasty oil leak coming from above the pan and behind the timing cover. Ive heard of oil pump seals going bad but never done one. Is this the most likely culprit or am i overlooking something? Anything i should know when i tear into it? Thanks.

 

If oil pump seal the leakage will be on the firewall side of the cover and upwards from crank pulley area. The seal is under oil pressure when the engine is running and the leak will occur during this time and can be a steady drip.

Leakage from the cam and crank pulley tend to be much less severe and not increase dramatically when the engine is running as they are not under oil pressure.

When taking the engine apart use the procedure outlined for changing the timing belt.

Suggest you replace the timing belt if miles on it are unknown. If not make sure you mark the belt as to direction of movement and reinstall the belt in the same direction.

At this time also check the cam and crank seals for leakage if these were not the problem and the timing belt idler pulleys for excess bearing wear.

If buying a new pump make sure you also get the preformed O-ring that goes between the pump body and housing behind it that bolts to the block.

The pump seal can also be replaced by itself. The pump needs to be taken apart. To do this grip the oil pump drive rotor gear in a vice having soft jaws or use boards, etc to protect the gear from vice jaw damage.

Remove the nut holding the timing belt pulley to the drive rotor shift then remove the shaft. The nut has a standard RH thread direction.

Remove and replace the seal (grease seal lips) then reinstall shaft, pulley and nut. Torque to 21 ft-lbs.

Install the outer pump rotor into housing bolted to engine making sure the dot on the face of rotor will face in the same direction as the dot on the oil pump drive shaft rotor.

Install preformed O-ring then pump housing with making sure to install correct length bolt in each hole and torque to around 80 in-lbs.

 

Thats where its coming from. Thanks for the info toyomoho. Very much appreciated. Will update soon.

 

I did about 2 beers worth of work last night and got it all torn down. Oil was leaking down the nice little passage way in the timing area and out by the pan. Removed timing covers and brake cleaned the living **** out of it and ran it to find the leak, since it was only when under pressure. Found the oil pump seal (cheesy little o ring style gasket) was dried out and broke in 2 spots. Will make some more headway tonight and hopefully have it on the road to its new home.