2016 Tacoma TRD cam position sensor oil leak!!??

Wow that's crazy,well since they treated all the bolts with that lock tite I have no leaks at all and it's been a week plus 250 miles.keeping my fingers crossed

 

"Japanese" engines have had their issues over the years....from oil leaks to cracking head gaskets to stretching head bolts, etc., etc. That said...if I had to guess, the engines are coming from Toyota's Alabama powertrain plant. I know the Kentucky plant builds AR and GR engines. But I think those are for transverse applications only. Not sure about the tranny. Toyota has a powertrain plant in West Virginia that produces transmissions. So that might be the source.

 

So my leak is very slow and I don't really have time to go into the dealer for the 3rd time to have them tell me that oil on my engine isn't a problem. I'm certainly capable of loosening bolts and looking up the torque spec in TIS. Is this the thread sealant to use essentially?

$7 Permatex 59214 High Temperature Thread Sealant, 6 ml Tube, Pack of 1

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-59214-Temperature-Thread-Sealant/dp/B0002UEOP0

 

Been campin, just got back to see what is up. In answer to Rein (Cole), the truck is not in the dealership, I am driving and wiping off it's oily drool every other day or so, so it don't smoke on me. In actual fact, the part I need has been on order (or so I have been told) since 2 weeks from last Tuesday (10/4), and the soonest arrival date for the new cam cradle assembly is supposed to be around the 1st of November. I get cranky and rather bitchy about this, as it is a brand new rig and shouldn't leak, but in truth I love the truck. But I'll be gall'darned if I am going to let them blow smoke up my zephyr window.
Hey there Matt....., I wouldn't go torqueing anything on a truck that is still under warranty, with a written service issue in force; might void things. I would call corporate first and raise KAOS with them first before you go twisting bolts. Better be safe than sorry.......

Rick

 

Ya my truck has been sitting at the dealer collecting dust while I drive around a rental. They did not want me to take the vehicle but I am probably going to insist I drive it since the leak is so small. Need to build a bed platform for it before a trip i got planned in late November, no point in it sitting for such a tiny leak. Thanks for the info.

 

I'm just waiting to see what the fix is. I'm not going to take it back in until I know what to tell the dealer to fix.

 

I got mine back from the dealer about 4 days ago. I'd have to look at the paperwork to recall exactly what they did, but I believe it was replace the valve cover gasket and resealed the cam position sensor.

So far no leaks from there. I did a pretty steep climb to work this am and saw some smoke when I got to work and crawled underneath with a flashlight but could find no new oil. Hopefully it was just residual burning off, but I'll be sure to keep a close eye on it, that's for sure.

 

Thanks Rick, valid point, I'll resist the urge to wrench and go through Toyota.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-car-smell-faded-too-fast-on-my-3rd-gen.455531/#post-13427440

 

Well, I'm still leaking, and still driving it, and still waiting for parts to come in, I'll let all know what they say and do at the dealership. Still wiping off oil drool. I sure hope it's worth the wait.......
Rick

 

My new Cam Cradle is due in tomorrow, so says my service adviser. Hopefully can get the truck back late Friday or Saturday. Sunday I am driving a couple hundred miles and would be a good test to see if the engine explodes post op.

 

I cannot believe they are letting you drive it like that. So far mine is not leaking still with a new valve cover. Im thinking they also put loc tite in the sensor bolt. But until it leaks again I'm not to concerned.

Wishing you the best of luck!

 

Cole....since your getting the same fix I am, I am real curious to see how it works for you, and if they replace the valve cover or not. I hope to hear something by next week early, I'd like to see this fixed. Not used to having a troublesome Toyota. This being my 8th Toyota 4X4, and the only one I have ever really had problems with. I take that back, my 08 sport had it's rear leaf springs replaced once under warranty, and they had to install front disc brake spring keepers, cause someone at the factory forgot to put them on. The truck rattled like a garbage truck, but they had it once at it was done. So I hope 3 times is a positive charm.

 

Thanks Evan, I would like to see this fixed, glad yours is not leaking, looks like your done with this problem. I am sure that eventually Toyota will find the proper answer. I would like to have it done before the snow flies up here. Have a good one!
Rick

 

Ill let ya know. I am going on a 800+ mile baja trip late November so I plan on stress testing this prior to that. Not happy about all this but do hope this works out since I do like the vehicle.

 

Got the truck back today after 21 days in a rental. Here is the invoice for the warranty work they did. Talked to a tech about what exactly happened and he explained that the hole, for the bolt holding the cam sensor, was machined too far and created a pin hole through the cam journal cap.

So anybody experiencing oil coming through the bolt hole has a machining problem, and anything other than replacing the journal cap seems to be a half fix. Putting thread sealant may stop it, but its not fixing the real issue.

 

Cole...., I am dying to know, are you still leaking, or did this fix...fix the problem? My new cam cradle came in on Friday the 11th, and because of trouble in scheduling and working it out with the loner vehicle, my truck will not be worked on until the 28th of November. They have to pull the head to put the new cradle on, so I will be 3 days without my truck, so I am real curious about yours. I see you posted on the 3rd, so you should have a good idea by now if it is fixed? Getting tired of this ordeal, I called corporate, and started a file on this, so they well know about me.
Rick

 

No more leaking. It is impossible for it to leak out of the sensor bolt any longer since the new journal does not have a hole created by the improper machining. Since Iv had it done I have only taken the truck too and from work, which is less than 10 miles. My only concern now is that everything holds up, new seals ect, to a prolonged beating. Will be taking truck on a 800 mile week long vacation in Baja next week. That should put enough stress on it to ensure everything is good.

 

Thanks Cole, I will print this and take it with me when I go in for repairs.

1984 Toyota SR5 pickup 4X4
1988 Toyota SR5 pickup 4X4
1996 Tacoma SR5 4X4
1997 4Runner 4X4
2003 Tacoma SR5 4X4
2005 4Runner 4X4
2008 Tacoma Sport 4X4
2016 Tacoma TRD Offroad accesscab 4X4

 

So been on the road doing a bunch of highway miles in the taco and my leak has definitely gotten worse. Had a chance to actually look up what the cam position sensor part looks like and realized that I have a leak from one of the vvti cam phasers and not the cam position sensor. For some reason i thought the phaser and position sensor were integrated. From what I can tell it is originating from the phaser only and not the valve cover. Possibly bad thread sealer or crappy gasket. Here are some pics of what my leak looks like, haven't been able to find anyone else with this yet. Just opened a case with Toyota corporate, we'll see what they find when I take it back in.