92 Lexus ES300 oil leak (lower front of engine)

[GaryMarkowski]

I have a 92 Lexus ES300 with an oil leak that took me quite a while to figure out where the oil was leaking from. The view of the front of the engine is blocked by the exhaust manifold, which makes it difficult to see that oil is leaking from the oil filter bracket.

On the 6 cylinder engine, there is an oil filter bracket that offsets the oil filter so that it is not in the way of the exhaust manifold.

There is a rubber o-ring between the oil filter bracket and the front of the engine block that weakens over time, and allows oil to leak down the front of the engine onto the oil pan and exhaust pipes causing the oil to smoke.

If your car has this bracket, then I'd replace this o-ring every 60,000 miles. To replace the o-ring:

1) Drain the oil.

2) Remove the metal cover that covers the exhaust manifold (if there is one). I had to remove the oxygen sensor as well.

3) Remove the oil filter.

4) Remove the four bolts that attach the oil bracket to the engine.

5) Clean the oil bracket flanges and replace the o-ring.

6) Reassemble and refill with fresh oil.

[rheeric]

Awesome I have printed this out and will check mine and replace it Regardless! Thanks