2016 Tacoma Oil Leak: Needs new head

2016 Tacoma: 76000 miles, 3.5L V6

Been having a small oil leak for quite some time.. like over a year.
Engine doesn't need oil between oil changes.. just weeps out, couple drops here and there on the driveway. Really figured it was the timing chain cover.

Had to bring it to Toyota for the 3rd brake light issue so I asked them to take a look at the oil leak. Was a little surprised at the outcome.

"inspected and verified engine oil leaking from right side (bank 1) cylinder head and timing cover. Recommend replacing cylinder head"

Quote was for almost 9K

Here's the pic the dealership sent me.


Before I waste time trying to figure out what I'm looking at.. anyone seen this before?
I found this thread and I'm guessing that I'm looking at this check valve?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-dealer-says-its-not-the-timing-cover.760458/
Thoughts?

I've been on the fence about trading this in for something newer and just keeping it for another 3 years when my kid gets his license. I love this truck but I'm not paying 9K for this.

 

From what I understand, this is an oil galley plug that on some 16/17 models can leak. Do a search on TW and you will find threads on it. I still don't understand why Toyota recommends head replacement though. Seems like it could be reseated, drilled out and replaced, or sealed. If it were me, I would spray the hell out of it with brake clean and then JB weld it.

 

No way in hell I’d be paying 9k for that. Load that thing up with sealer unless it does something that I’m not understanding

 

Is that a crack just below 3 o'clock?

 

I see it too. If that's what causing the leak so sealer is going to help.

 

Bruhhhh. You gotta stop telling people to put sealer on every oil leak lol. It's not good advice.

 

You could always pull the head, remove the steel ball, and tap the hole. Then put a threaded plug in it. But that's a lot of work. engine out job.

 

If it’s out of warranty with 200k miles lol who cares though he’s got nothing loose by trying it unless he’s already committed to getting it fixed correctly

 

JBWeld is wonderful stuff.

 

Still not good advice. Smearing RTV on any oil leak doesn't really ever work.

 

If the oil has any amount of pressure behind it, even a little, it’ll eventually work its way through. RTV needs to be supported mechanically. And if you’re over zealous with it, it can get in places you don’t want it, which is worse.

If I couldn’t afford to fix it right, I might consider epoxy putty.

 

Wipe it off and sell it to Carvana ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Another thing to keep in mind is the possibility of a clogged pcv valve building up too much pressure in the crank case. My friend has a 2005 Honda pilot was leaking oil like crazy. Changed out the pcv valve and the leak stopped. I wonder if this is something that gets overlooked frequently

 

10 mins with the tig welder and that problem is solved

 

All you gotta do is buy her a new purse and some food and you’ll get new head. Easy as that

 

So basically you're saying you have to pull it out to plug the hole

 

Michaels Toyota hit me with the same thing but at the cost of $11k. We tried to get my 3rd party warranty to cover but they had a clause in the contract so they wouldnt cover it. So Michaels at least cleaned it up real good, JB welded it as best they could, and got the warranty to pay for them to do the timing cover job which was just a result of the plug leaking. My buddy who was the service writer there said its prevalent on 2016/2017 models.

 

“Engine doesn't need oil between oil changes.. just weeps out, couple drops here and there on the driveway.”

So why fix it?

I have owned older 4x4s with oil leaks that did need oil between changes. Typical seals and gaskets and such. God invented cardboard for garage floors…

Have they indicated the leak can lead to some other catastrophic failure, or worsen to much more oil leaking out?

What some others said, maybe JB Weld.

 

Post of the Day right there...

 

These oil seep repairs for the price of a good used car are insane.