Hey fellas
I got a 86 2.4L diesel Hiace Im going to fix it up but it seems to be losing a fair amount of oil from the lower front of the engine some of which is coming to rest on the top of the oil sump.

I dont have access to a manual but wanted to ask is there any gaskets that I might be able to replace to troubleshoot this and is this common with overheated engines.

Its been having cooling issues, but Ive just serviced the cooling system and Im hoping they are no more, Any preventative maintenance that people carry out when servicing the cooling system, Im changing the thermostat.

The head seems to be fine. Looks like it could be that front plate gasket maybe? Any input appreciated first time working on a hiace. Thanks

actually in the paperwork it says they replaced the timing belt 3000klms ago maybe they just screwed up the gasket to the timing cover.

Yes - I had exactly this problem with my 1989 Hiace GL. There was oil leaking out and I couldn't see from where.
Eventually we traced it down to a gasket that is up the top of the engine at the front. This was 8 years ago so the memory is a little hazy, but I remember pulling the timing belt cover off, removing the cam belt and it was in that area up the top somewhere...
There are only a couple of places that oil can leak out around there, so wash the area down with a mix of diesel/petrol, dry it out - then start the engine and watch for leaks.

You WILL see it!

Ahh thanks. I cleaned her all up and I found the bottom of the timing cover gasket was a disgrace still have to take the harmonic balancer off though so Im not sure how the other gaskets inside look.

Im a bit worried there might be a bit of coolant getting into the cylinders though. It was overheating about every 30 klms on the way home 120klm trip and twice of those times the water boiled. When I drove slower she cooled down though... When I got home I flushed the cooling system, bled it and didnt notice too many unusual bubbles, (very slight oil residue... not much and its an auto so it may have come from the oil cooler part of the radiator) then took her for a drive.

probably about 20-30 klms and thought that I must have screwed the thermostat because the temperature gauge didnt even move after the flush so I got a new one and it turned out there was no thermostat installed in the first place. Ive installed the new one but havent driven it since.

Im having the radiator fixed up, but are these full on head problem symptoms or something I might get away with just fixing up the cooling system...

After checking behind the timing cover and finding SFA, I did your trick and gave her a few quick turnovers. It looks like it might be the drain pan thats leaking now. Ive ordered a gasket and Im going to start pulling her apart tommorrow. Does anyone know a torque for these bolts?

On the other hand Ive found that the reason for my overheating was definately a fucked radiator, gettin a new core installed. Not sure but thinking I might have got away lucky without any real head damage but wont know 100% for certain until shes all back together.

Looks like the drain pan bolts werent even tight not sure exactly what the torque is on these but they werent tight with no gasket sealant either... Do these drain pans crack often? It looks like its going to be next to impossible to get her out with the engine in so I guess a torch check will have to do.

bad news ends up lookin like she needs new rings. can you change these when the engines in the car?

just to wrap this up for anyone who was followin it turns out the engine had just been slapped together after going around and checking all of the gaskets on the block it looks like at some point the oil cooler gasket has started letting oil into the coolant which has eventually blocked the radiator up with crap which has cooked the rings not getting any issues from the head after fixing everything and shes not leaving a drop of anything on the floor now but never really know what its going to be like till we take it off. hopefully we get lucky and shes ok.

Guess you really just got to be careful when you buy a diesel cause they can burn so much oil in the cylinders you are never actually going to know if the rings are gone until you start driving the **** thing home... wish I knew that a bit earlier.

I am so glad I found this post. I was lying awake trying to think how to sort out the problems I am having. THANKYOU!!!!!
I have a 1986 Hiace 2.4L (2L) diesel 5 spd van that is dropping a bundle of oil (i can't get lost as I just follow the trail of oil home...), she's also overheating & generally falling apart from lack of love.
It is time to fix her (on the cheap of course) before she is forced off the road to become either an excellent chicken coup or budget backpacker accommodation.

Was it hard to replace the timing cover gasket? I am cool with removing the fanbelts, radiator fan, radiator, cover etc to get in there but I am unsure with removing any timing type belts & stuff.
What else will I need to remove to get the gasket in?
Has anyone a site address for detailed drawings of this engine?

Also feeling the gearing in the diff is a llittle high (thinking 4.11 as pulling about 3200rpm @ 110km/h). Has anyone changed the gearing (& if so how best to go about it)?

Thanks again for the topic!!!!

hay . thanks very much for the info. im having the same probs wiv oil n sump. i got a 1995 2.4deisel hiace,camper. so going to take ya advice on board, il let ya know how it goes, again thanks.