Per Dealer/Mechanic - Oil Leak Requires New Cylinder Head Assembly

Disclaimer: I have no mechanical experience. (Civil Engineer by trade, and Engines are not my primary language).

Back in 2018, I purchased a New 2018 Tacoma (TRD Off Road), Financed through TFS, even bought the Extended Warranties.
I have kept up on Oil Changes, Routine Checks and Tire Rotations.
I passed 100K Miles around February this year and had a 100K Mile Service and Check Up by the Dealer. NO ISSUES found from Dealer.
I took it back in around Mid July for another Oil Change (this time coming up on 120K Miles). They said there was a minor oil leak, but that the mechanics did not have time left on the clock to investigate and a separate appointment was needed to diagnose the leak.
I took it back in yesterday for the appointment, and the Dealer/Mechanic gave me the following verbatim diagnosis:
"Oil leaking from right side cylinder head has seepage from check ball. Cylinder head assembly would have to be replaced." And they verbally told me I was in the $7K range for parts alone...

Has anyone else experienced this issue?
I find it odd that there is a "check valve" that is not a serviceable part and must require replacing the entire assembly, but again, I have no experience with engine mechanics/design.

Any help/insight is greatly appreciated!
Best,

CJ

 

my kneejerk reaction is get a second opinion from somebody you trust

 

Damn

 

X2 for the second opinion by a known and knowledgeable shop.

 

If you have an extended warranty why would you have to pay?

 

A coworkers friend just had this same experience on a 140,000kms service. The dealer told him he had an oil leak at the head for the price of $10,000 to repair. I suggested that he get a second opinion, which he did. The second garage found nothing wrong.

Get a second opinion.

 

100,000 Warranty.
I'm at 122K.

 

Thanks All who recommend 2nd opinions. I will look for a Non-Dealer Reputable Shop (Chicago).

 

If you arein chi town area check out the car care nut on youtube he is kmowledgable on toyota vehicles

 

Major repairs due not long after your warranty ran out... hmm.

 

Another guy posted this back in March of 22. His post had the same description.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-dealer-says-its-not-the-timing-cover.760458/

 

Oil is cheap. Unless the dealer mechanic said this will cause nothing more severe than an oil stain on your driveway, then I would accept "seepage" as normal aging of an engine and check oil level regularly to confirm it is not a measurable loss of oil. Seepage usually refers to an oil film forming or a drop forming but not causing a regular drip.

 

Damn! If I was anywhere close to Chicago I would be definitely taking all my Toyota's to his shop!

 

Do you live in a rust belt state? Sometimes road salt can corrode the head gaskets on the 3.5 apparently.

 

I live in the rust belt and would be interested to read up on that if you have sources.

 

This is where I learned about it.
https://youtu.be/BCtjmRUGnAk?si=wxaMe3GlkacetfHa

 

Sounds like 2017 and forward do not have the salt creep issue according to him. Interesting stuff though.