Coolant leak from timing belt cover

Howdy!
I have an ‘06 Tacoma 2.7L, I4 with 240k miles on it. It has a pretty significant leak coming from my timing belt cover so the sealant/gaskets need replaced.(this is what I’ve been told) My issue is that I’m being quoted 3-4k to fix it because they said the engine needed to be removed to get to the problem. I’ve done a little research and this just doesn’t seem right to me, but I don’t know enough to argue. I’ve put enough money into it the last couple years I hate to give up on her now, but with 240k miles putting 3k into the truck at this point seems a little crazy too. Any information or thoughts would be appreciated!! cheers!

 

There is no timing belt cover on a 2nd gen, both engines use timing chains.

Do you have a 2.7L I4 or the 4.0L V6?

 

It’s a 2.7L I4

 

If it's a coolant leak I'd bet it's the bypass pipe behind the thermostat housing, the factory one is plastic and they tend to leak.
I've never seen the timing cover leak coolant, usually they leak oil if anything.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2007-2-7l-coolant-bypass-pipe-replacement-info-photos.805019/

 

The oil leaking from the timing cover is what I’ve read in my research so I was a bit confused. I dbl checked with the shop to make sure I understood them correctly and they for sure said coolant leak from timing cover. I might have assumed belt.
Is the thermostat housing difficult to get to?

just saw the link. I’ll check it out. Thank you

 

Consider seeking a 2nd opinion from a different shop. Don't tell them what the first shop said, beyond perhaps, "I think there might be something with the timing chain cover?"

 

Good advice.

 

OP, setting aside what the shop said- do you know if you’re leaking oil, or coolant?

 

There is no v4. If you have a 2.7 it's an I4.

Just to help with the shop lingo.

IMHO that shop is trying to gouge you.

As @GilbertOz suggests, get a second opinion from a reputable shop.

 

@Clearwater Bill thank you! I’ll need to google this so I understand it a bit better, but I appreciate the info. Thankfully I’m a carpenter and not a mechanic.

 

@AZ_TACO it’s definitely coolant. I had been filling it up about once a week, but it got a lot worse a few weeks ago so I had to stopped driving it.

 

I’m with others, not buying coolant from timing cover. I’m not super familiar with the 2.7s but looking at a diagram I’m thinking by-pass, maybe thermo housing/hose, water pump? Hard to say without seeing it. If you get a second opinion I wouldn’t say anything about timing cover, just note the coolant loss/leak.

http://www.comajoe.com/misc/05tacopdfs/2tr-fe.pdf