Can someone identify what I’m looking at here on the engine?

Trying to figure out if what I’m looking at is leaking. Nothing seems wet, but there is a darker spot under this cap. I’m unsure what the cap is, tbh.

Thanks for any help.

 

Looks like a bit of seepage to me. Not sure what that is, but I'd be willing to bet beneath those caps is access to the inside of the block

 

Should I take it to the dealer? I’ve got less than 509 miles left on the power train.

I’ve noticed a few shudders and a slight burning rubber smell from time to time. Cannot pinpoint it. Burning smell doesn’t happen all the time. It goes away too quick to find it.

 

Looks like the exhaust cam sensor

 

Cam phasers. The oring seems to be on the borderline from seepage to leaking. Take it in for warranty asap. Once warranty is over, they won’t do anything for you. Even if you reported it before the warranty expired.

 

It's just a tiny sweat, leaks are any liquid accumulation or drop. You'd be wasting your time. It wouldnt cause any running issues without triggering a warning.

A better place to check before warranty runs out is behind the power steering pump. It's on the opposite side and a much more likely leak and costly repair.

 

Okay, awesome. Would this cause any problems as it is? Is it a simple repair? I don’t want them to turn me away because I’m sitting at 59,600 miles.

 

Okay. I’ve see. This cap can just pop off and the oring can be repaired DIY, is it that easy?

Also, will the power steering pump leak be more obvious?

 

Correct.
The bolts also look to have thread sealer on them.
Thread sealer and locker are 2 different things.
Toyota says, not to reuse the bolts. Yet thread sealer is readily available in most parts stores

 

It's a timing cover leak that is possible behind the p/s pump. It's fairly obvious with a flash light if its leaking.

I work at a dealer we have specific directions to only repair leaks, not sweats, you could ask if they'd fix it, but you'd be better off buying the oring and doing it yourself.

Personally, I'd leave it alone and just see if it worsens.

 

I agree.

I don’t fix weeps, or seeps.
I fix leaks.

 

Alright. So, basically.. don’t worry about it for just unscrew the cap, fix the oring and call it a day?

Can anything wrong cause this? Or is it just an oring problem?

 

One more thing, when it comes to the timing cover leak (by the water pump or whatever, would this cause any notable problems? Or just an oil leak that will eventually cause catastrophic damage? Thanks, Bishop.

 

Engines have a lot of gas pressure in them, theres a pcv system that circulates it and reburns it, but no matter what there's pressure pushing outwards.

Seals, sealants and orings all have to retain that pressure, while maintaining shape during warm up and cool down.

So sometimes a seal will just breathe a bit, and dust will accumulate on this and it will look dirty, like your picture. All manufacturers consider this "normal". Rear mains are very common to show these kinds of sweats.

Search up "Timing cover leak" in the 3rd gen section to see what it looks like. It's a big process and if yours is leaking it is much higher priority.

 

Here is a thread on the TC leak
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/another-timing-chain-cover-leak.556242/

 

Here is a TSB on the leak.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10171405-9999.pdf

 

Checking tomorrow. I also have an extended warranty, but you know.. I’m never really as trusting in those as I am the 60k lol.

So again, just to confirm, that ORing under that cap.. even a non mechanic like myself can fix that? Just looks like a few bolts.. remove the ring, add another. Which I honestly won’t do unless it actively gets worse.

 

take the 2 bolts out and twist/pry it out carefully

 

Yes, it’s that easy.

But you should apply thread sealer or buy new bolts.
I believe the bolt holes are through holes. So oil could potentially seep around the threads.
Toyota uses a pre applied sealer. Which is why they say use new bolts.

It’s not complicated. It’s easy.
Don’t over think it.

 

So,

Just my luck.. went outside, because I didn’t want to wait until morning, and started looking for the ps pump area : timing chain oil. I’m not seeing anything obvious, but I’ll prob have to drop the skid plate and look up under tomorrow. Fingers crossed my 2018 is not leaking

In the meanwhile.. I found a random ass bolt that appears to me missing as well. Any idea what this is? Sorry to ask another question in here. No idea why it would be missing, other than when Toyota did an induction service not so long ago. Unsure if this is the area that they would need to tinker with. Should I put something there ASAP?