The age old leak question

Great forum! Learning alot from this. Recent owner of 98 4runner with 169k . Want to use it for car camping and light towing. I have no mechanical skills or tools, just a love of Toyotas. Brought in to Toyota specialist for post purchase inspection. Recommended new tires and said valve gasket seals leaking. Never saw any signs of leak, but he said they probably cleaned it up before sale. Put on new Michelins LTX ( ouch$$) first. Planning on having VG fixed in near future, but now I see two small drip spots on my driveway. Looks like one spot from yesterday and one from today.Took pics of under front where I see a drip. It has yellowish color with a thin oily feel. Is this possibly the VG leak? Thanks for any helpful tips...

 

The valve gaskets can leak pretty badly. Not a big job but easier to do when you do the Timing Belt. Pretty sure I was losing half a quart a month. I fixed them and seems like I don't have to add oil now. Mine were so bad...I couldn't tell if I had a leaking rear main seal or not.

Regardless..the only issue is make sure you have oil in the engine. Check it often.

 

So I've learned through this forum and other sundry sites. Timing belt was replaced around 100k so it's going back to shop for VG work to the tune of $700. I should have stopped by a nursery & picked up a money tree on my way home after purchase.

 

Well, leaky Valve Gaskets won't hurt anything. You can get to 200k easy. Mine started leaking at 150k...and I didn't change them until 250k lol.