Oil Leak Repair

Happy New Year TW Friends!

A few weeks ago I noticed a few oil spots under my 2017 SR5 V6 DCSB 130K miles. I was at the dealership today getting an oil change and asked about the leak. They told me that it needs an timing cover re-seal and replace rear main seal (advisor explained why it made sense to do these together). Quoted approximately $4000. A few questions:

- Does that sound right, the leak and repair amount?
- Are the any other repair options?
- Any suggestions on where to get a lower price (DFW area).

Thanks everyone!

 

I believe the timing cover is a known issue, rear main seal not really. Too much $$

 

at 130k miles and thousands to repair, I would slide a piece of cardboard under it to try to get an idea of how much it's leaking. And if it leaks very little, I would probably leave the cardboard there and replace occasionally.

 

This is good advice. In the days of my youth, every engine leaked oil! But there was a big difference between a serious oil leak and an annoyance leak.

 

Clean the whole area to make it spotless so you can see where the oil is leaking through.
There are a few TW members who have slathered the area with Permatex/The Right Stuff to "plug the leak" and the leak stopped.

 

Marked their spot.

 

I saw the infamous seep around the bottom of the power steering pump. Me being meticulous about maintenance and repairs, took it to my trusted shop and they told me it was the timing cover and quoted a few grand. Told me it was barely seeping, which I had noticed myself, and said that it would be lots and lots of labor to fix that, engine out i believe. They told me I should just drive it, and if I notice drips on the ground or that I'm losing oil, then we talk about getting it fixed. I'm not losing any oil between changes, and all the leak seems to have been for a while is a slight seep under the power steering pump, making it just ever so slightly wet. I agreed with the shop and don't want to spend that money on the repair if its hardly leaking at all, and not causing any other issues. I'll wait, I'd recommend you do the same until/if it gets worse, unless you're getting some drips on the driveway, then I'd understand.

 

Have you replaced your PCV Valve? If not, clean the engine and change it and see if the leaks go away.

 

I would get a second opinion. Toyota dealership diagnosed a leak as the timing chain cover without cleaning off the underside of the engine and actually examining it (showed me a video of the underside of my filthy truck and said it was the timing cover). Brought it to another shop and it turned out it was a power steering leak from the power steering pump. Still costly but at least the right thing was fixed. If it’s coming from the passenger side there’s a good chance it’s the power steering pump