Timing Cover Leaking Oil !!!

Well, just did my oil change on my 2016 with 110,000 miles and saw the seepage. At first I thought it may have just been the cam covers leaking on the timing covers…till I found this thread.

 

I have same issue for quite sometime. Guess it's a issue with many toyota models, I've watched oil level and stays consistent so I try not to worry. 98k miles now and been like that since 40kish

 

Hate to break it to you but most don’t leak, close to 300k KMS/ 186k miles on mine and still holding oil. It’s not normal to leak, especially low miles.

 

littlefish I'm following in your footsteps unfortunately...
Over a year ago I found what I thought was timing cover leak... took it in and they replaced PS pump since fluid was low. I had a feeling it was still the cover but it's under warranty so...

Anyway of course leak came back and had the timing cover resealed maybe 3 weeks ago. And they threw a new steering rack in since that is why the PS fluid was low. I live 90 minutes from the dealership and got home and engine bay is covered in coolant...coolant overflow is low, ps fluid was low, front diff breather wasn't attached so gear oil everywhere. Loose brackets etc. clamp missing on the coolant line to the throttle body sprayed coolant all over engine. I fixed all that stuff and just figured the engine smoking after driving was burning that crap off.

Today I was finally able to get in and figure where it was coming from - looks like I also have a leaking valve cover too smh. Oil dripping onto the exhaust right there on driver side back of the engine. I cleaned it off last night with brakekleen and it's back today.

Bishop84 - does that look to be valve cover leak to you? I didn't take a pic from the bottom but it looks like the pic littlefish posted.

I dread taking this thing back down to Toyota - hope the damn thing doesn't go up in flames on the way down
Thanks for all your help!

 

That sounds like some impressively shitty workmanship at the dealership. Hope you still have warranty!

 

Yes I do have the extended warranty ... I wouldn't have paid out of pocket for the timing cover repair I don't think, unless it had become really bad. The dealership had been pretty good to deal with for the most part previously. But yeah a lot of sloppy work on this one it seems like

 

Yea looks like a valve cover leak.

They are a huge pain in the ass to do, so there's always a chance for error. It's one of the benefits of taking the engine out. (Which I never do anymore)

Hopefully its a smooth process to fix.

 

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it!

They def weren't stoked to have to do it, but it sounds like they've had to do quite a few. I think they came from the bottom/front instead from what I can see has been messed with. Oh and the front diff drain plug is stripped now too lol

 

If it makes you feel any better I haven't had any oil leak since the leaking valve cover was addressed. I hate taking my truck to anyone since I have trust issues which is why I do most things myself. But so far so good for me since.

 

I'm the same way honestly, do all the maintenance myself for the same reasons. But I'm happy to hear it's held up, I love the truck so I'm hoping once I get all this fixed up it'll be good to go for awhile!

 

7k for a timing cover leak is just insanity. it's not that big of job.

 

not yet. i wouldn't use that stuff in any engine, especially a VVTI engine.

 

Not sure what you consider a big job but I'd say pulling the engine quilifies as a big job.

 

not a a $7000 job. it shouldn't be more than $2500, and that's on the high side.

https://costhack.com/timing-cover-leak-repair-cost/

shouldn't be more than 15 hours of labor.

might as well get a new engine for $7000.

 

I didn't mention cost. I simply said pulling the engine is a big job.

 

It’s a horrible pain in the ass. I leave it in now and still takes days. There’s no short cuts. I’d rather do a headgasket on a 4.0 than a timing cover on a 3.5

 

Perfect time for a V8 swap...

 

Yes, and I would assume the quality of repair would vary wildly from dealership to dealership. I think if this happened to my truck I'd just leave it if there was no real oil loss in between oil changes. Even if it was under warranty.

 

Tldr the whole thread but I was watching a YouTuber mechanic mention that early 3rd Gen 3.5L (2016-2017) had an issue with leaking timing covers AND leaking coolant ‘Y’ hose at the back of the engine. The issue was addressed and fixed on later models.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=b6tRAQ_r0Ms&feature=share

(engine issue @2:35)

 

Is the process detailed out in Toyota documentation anywhere like maybe in TIS, or did you just learn on one and do them all from memory now?

I’d like to find the official repair process at some point just in case it happens to me, I’d definitely consider doing it myself, regardless of how much a pain that may be. Either that or not fix it at all.