Timing Cover Leak - fix it or leave it?

pull into parking spot outside
Open hood
Perform repair

brands issue warranty extensions because of court cases ruled by a judge involving an attorney and group of people getting together to form a class action

or NTHSB safety concern (recall)

not random user post on internet

clutch system was worsened and made bad in 2005
It is still made this way

brands do not cover seeping, sweating, wet. Leaks are an active drip. Anything less is not considered a leak.

not going to happen

 

@TruckGuy63 & @TacoMinded is there a YouTube video on this?

 

Not for nothing, but Toyota RTV came in near the bottom of list during testing by Project Farm.

 

I forget where I saw it but if you google
Fix timing cover leak Toyota from outside , I think you can find find a couple of people here that have done it . You tube I’m not sure . But If you think about it it really should work . It’s only oil splash, with no pressure . I’m thinking the reason why it leaks is because the area ( like said on here ) is a meeting point , the RTV ( even if enough is applied ) maybe settles in a valley in that area , as the metals expand and contract, and some motors a tiny hole or area opens up. Some motors that area stays closed and no leaks . That’s why I feel like if the area is cleaned and the sealant is put on the seam along the side . It will stop the leak . It’s one of those things that’s not a safety concern , and it won’t hurt anything , so if mine were leaking I think I would give it a go .

 

another reason is the timing cover is 3 layers. they all thru bolt to the block. when assembling they have to work fast, each layer adds pressure to the block seam. any delay like going on break when half way thru allows the sealer to set up.

just thought i would throw that in.

 

I’m sure it’s something dumb .

 

I plan on giving this a try here when the weather warms up. There have been others on the forum who have had it work.

Almost three months in with the truck and about 1200 miles there is no noticeable loss in the dipstick, just a little seeping down the block from the leak.

Still bummed I didn’t know this was an issue before I completed the purchase, but the more I research it and watch it, I at least know it’s not a catastrophic issue. Probably still wouldn’t know it was there if I hadn’t read on this forum to check

 

Here is a thread discussing the fix.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2017-timing-cover-leak.751777/page-6#post-29465152

@Kadenm reported success doing this on his 3rd Gen.

 

That's how i found my coolant crossover pipe leak, right here.
someone here guided me how to check it.
2 months left on 8 yr extended warranty, got it just in time.

 

Just providing an update on this thread.

Took some time off for spring break this week and moved the power steering pump and cleaned the area of the leak on the timing cover (also changed all my drivetrain fluids).

I put permatex right stuff on the timing cover seam and it looked good for a couple days, but I noticed some small oil droplets again yesterday unfortunately. I think it slowed the leak down, but doesn’t seem to have stopped it. I guess I’ll watch it for a couple months again and maybe give it another shot. Perhaps I didn’t get a good seal the first time.

No oil loss seen in the dipstick over the 5 months since I have had the truck, so I know it’s not harming the truck, it just annoying.

I got some good pics of the leak area before and after cleaning, so figured I’d share.

 

Great photos, you really see the 3 mating points in the one photo. Block, head and timing cover.

Yeah, very annoying but not lethal.

 

Do y’all have a video or instructions on how to remove the power steering pump so I can reseal the timing cover?

also any recommendations on what sealant to use?

 

The pump is only held on by two bolts that pass through a mounting bracket attached to the timing cover. The bottom bolt just screws back into the power steering pump. The top bolt is compression fit with a little sleeve that the bolt goes into and pulls the pump tight. If you look at my pictures above, you can see this clearly.

I removed the passenger side tire and the splash shield in the wheel well. When you go in this way, the area is right in front of your face.

I used permatex right stuff black on the seam. At first, I thought it didn't work as I saw some oil after the fix. However, I think this may have been some oil that was still on the power steering pump as I am 5 months into the repair now and I haven't seen any more oil seeping out. So it either stopped it, or slowed it down so much it isn't noticeable anymore. Time will tell...

 

How long did everyone let their RTV dry before filling with oil and driving again?

 

Did everyone drain the oil before you did this? And how long did you wait after the oil was drained until you made the RTV repair? Essentially, how long did it take to stop seeping oil before you made the repair?

 

Let it dry overnight, no need to drain the oil . Just clean the seam really good, apply the sealant and then make sure it’s dry and start using the truck , then recheck periodically and see if you got it all sealed

 

Am working on doing the RTV fix. Cleaned and dried area with engine cleaner and brake cleaner. Area is clean and then after 1/2 hour or so there is another small seap that appears. This has happened multiple times. This isn't a high pressure area and the engine hasn't run for 15 hrs. Why is this happening? Am I overthinking this? Just get it dry and RTV it and hope for the best?

 

In that case, drain the engine oil.

Permatex has an "instant" gasket maker that cures in under half an hour, but it may not be the most durable.

 

Timing cover leaks are common on lots of different vehicles not just toyota