found engine oil leak but not sure where it's from

The third photo seems to show the oil leak is coming from a point at least as high as the exhaust manifold. Who changes the engine oil, and is it possible that person spilled some oil during the process, which dripped down the back side of the engine?

You can apply some degreaser to the area, wash off with water, and see if the oil stain reappears.

Or, if you are sure the oil stain is not due to a maintenance error, and assuming your car is still covered under the 5 year/60K mile powertrain warranty, let your local Toyota dealer figure it out.

 

It could be from one of the sensors there or it could be the seal for the timing chain cover.

 

OK, since you would have to pay for the repair yourself I suggest you start by cleaning off the oil stain with engine degreaser and hose down with water. Then see how long it takes for the oil stain to reappear, maybe it will be easier for you to locate its source when you start fresh.

 

no warranty. are you getting any oil on the ground where you park overnight?

 

Does the car use much oil in between changes?

 

Sounds very similar:

Sudden engine oil loss | PriusChat

 

No noticeable loss of oil, car is out of warranty, there doesn't seem to be any driving issues....I would just continue on my day.

 

From the pictures I can tell it is not coming from the engine block or cylinder head or valve cover. I am pretty sure that it is coming from the seal between the timing cover and the block/cylinder head.
I will attach some photo's so you can see what exactly I mean.

I doubt it that it is from the two sensors on the timing cover. The bottom one has an o-ring inside the timing cover. The other bigger one on top of it is for the crank position which has a metal gasket.

That timing cover is sealed with some kind of brown/grey silicone not with a gasket. I was pretty worried when I was planning to close it.

Oil leak forum member

 

Check the area around the timing cover, that may be the leak.

If that's the case, I would probably turn a blind eye to it. It's not a cheap fix as it requires the engine to come out.

 

Is the black connector the crankshaft sensor?
Leaks at that sensor are not uncommon.
If timing cover suspect, get a socket wrench
and check the bolts in that area. See if any
are egregiously loose.

 

I'm at the dealer right now and they discovered oil on the same spots you described - they said mine is a leak from the timing chain cover and the quoted $980 for the work.

My background: I haven't seen any leaks on my driveway, haven't noticed oil consumption between changes, and had the transmission oil changed about six months ago.

Working1, what did you do about yours?

 

I would refer to post #10

 

Are you within your 5 yr/60,000 mile powertrain warranty? If so, it's covered, if it's the timing chain cover seal.

My dealer quoted $1700 for the job, but I had it done no charge after I reminded them that it is under warranty.

 

FWIW, there was someone else here with a leak from that cover, the dealership was asking $1700 (US), to reseal it. Ended up no charge, under warranty.

But yeah, minor leakage out of warranty, I'd just keep an eye on it.

 

Speak of the devil.

 

Book time to reseal the timing cover is 14.2 hours, $980 to do it is a screamin' deal. I would take it.


iPhone ?

 

I had a similar leak on a Prius v wagon that uses the same engine, at around 40K miles. in my case the leak came from the timing chain tensioner cover gasket, which is the diamond-shaped rusty-looking cover secured with two nuts, visible in pictures 1 and 3 of the OP's first comment. in those pictures the cover is partially obscured by the blue tape on the sensor wire.

This cover is at the same level as the exhaust manifold, which could be why no sign of oil leak existed above this height on the OP's engine, as was in my case. the gasket on my car was replaced under the 60K mile powertrain warranty, and the leak has not returned now at 47K miles.