95 SC bit of a oil burning smell

[samstrader]

Thanks again PDGIZWIZ... The picture you posted with the distributor on top of the picture and the distributor gear with the hand on it on the bottom of the picture just posted real good and I can see it better. The O Ring part number 90099-14091 is the distributor mounting O Ring. You put that on when you are ready to push the distributor back in the hole. I've changed this one a few times.

I think I'm understanding incorrectly but I thought based on the picture with the guys hand that there was also an O Ring on the shaft just behind the gear. And I was thinking replacing an O Ring here would stop the oil leak I have that is getting oil inside the distributor cap. But I think I'm seeing this wrong and now think there is just one O Ring that seals the distributor when it is mounted.

Tim said in another post that sometimes oil leaks from around the shaft of the distributor but when this happens the engine runs rough. That would mean to me that the bushing or whatever supports the distributor shaft is worn and the shaft is wabbling... But my engine is not running rough. So I'm wondering what to do to stop the oil leak that is leaking oil into the inside of the distributor cap. I think people are saying you just need to replace the distributor when this happens. Is this correct?

I have another question that I've always been curious about. What is the purpose of the two short hoses that are connected to the distributor. I used to think they were cooling water hoses but don't think that now since they are never very hot.

Thanks for all of your help. It's getting pretty hard to get parts and information for my car now. I broke the clip that holds the hood rod up when the hood is down and went to the local dealership to get on and they laughed at me.... I had the part number and they were able to order one and it is sure better than the ultra hard 32 year old clip was. But it is not too easy to get parts anymore.

[pdgizwiz]

samstrader:

"I think people are saying you just need to replace the distributor when this happens. Is this correct?"

Yes. The "distributor housing assembly" with the rotating parts and the base of the distributor isn't designed to be disassembled, so if the bushing (and possibly a seal) in it is worn to the point of wobbling, it is likely to leak oil as well. I've never seen one in this condition, but it's reasonable to expect that it could happen in a van that had seen a lot of miles.

"What is the purpose of the two short hoses that are connected to the distributor. I used to think they were cooling water hoses but don't think that now since they are never very hot."

Good question. As you found, these hoses don't carry cooling water, but since there are two of them it's reasonable to imagine that they carry warm air out and cool air in. Since the distributor is just above the exhaust manifold, Toyota's engineers must have been concerned about the distributor getting too hot. The heat shield on the bottom blocks some of the heat being radiated by the manifold, but passing cool air through the housing could help protect the internal parts. Later engines have no distributor at all, but the Previa engine had not evolved to this point - at least not those sold in the US.
It's sad that your dealer laughed at you. I have replaced that plastic hood-prop clip myself. We live in a 'throw-away' culture and they shamed you for wanting to maintain your van. The auto manufacturers want us all to buy new cars every few years. I have found Toyota better than most at making parts available for their older models, but since Previas are around 30 years old now, it is becoming more and more of a challenge. Those crazy-long wiper blades are a good example!

[samstrader]

Thanks again for your help pdgizwiz. I think I finally understand the whole distributor issue and it's good for me that I understand now. I feel better about it all. Since I have changed the valve cover gasket and the distributor O Ring, my oil leak is very small so not much of a concern really but I wanted to fix it.

I just used the last of my Toyota A700 wiper blade inserts this year. I saw a video somewhere on how to use other inserts to replace them and plan to try that method when the next replacement time comes.

I sure appreciate your help...

Sam

[pdgizwiz]

There's an earlier thread about replacing a bearing and seal in the distributor housing.
I found a similar but more detailed thread on a different forum for a different model of Toyota.

It looks like the Previa distributor is easier to get apart than the other. I expect other details are similar, but I haven't been down either road so I'm just guessing.
In either case, ball bearings used are normally of standard sizes. Seals are too, since they often mate up with bearings. Both are manufactured in enormous quantities for the economy of scale.
As our vans age, this info might become more useful.

[samstrader]

Wow... How nice is this thread that you found. This is just what I needed to know. It is so good to see what is in there so you can understand how it works and what needs to be changed.

Thanks for finding this and sharing it...