The infamous timing chain cover leak...

I have a 2023 SR 4x4 v6 with 7,500 miles. The ownership of this vehicle has been interesting so far. I have taken it on some awesome trips, but have also had some issues with it.

I was inspecting my engine bay today and noticed what seemed to be an oil film on the crossmember and steering rack. Got under the truck with a flash light and sure enough can visually see an oil seep coming behind the power steering pump. Its without a doubt the timing chain cover leaking. I checked the dip stick and after driving 3,000 miles since the last oil change, the oil level does not appear to have changed. It does appear to be more of a seep than leak, but there has been enough oil leaking to cause it to drip.

Unfortunately, this seems to still be an issue even with 2023s. I wanted to post to see what peoples' experience with this issue has been like. I plan to take it the dealer to get it documented, but I am unsure if I even want them removing my engine. I did not expect oil leaks on a Toyota engine this early in its life but here I am..

 

Several threads on the topic that search will find for you.

One thing I've noted is that the repairs have to be perfect or they will eventually leak again.

Only you can decide your next steps.

With such low miles, if it were mine, I'd have them fix it and ask them to provide an extended Toyota warranty on their dime due to 'lack of confidence'. But I'd ask for that commitment in writing before they wrenched on it.

 

Its Toyotas self rust inhibitor program for the lower engine bay area.

 

Beat me to it.

 

Most do not remove the engine anymore, it stays in. Either way get it in sooner than later.

 

The 4.0 has timing cover leaks as well.

 

Not to mention early head gasket issues. Kind of cheating to say such and such was more reliable in retrospect.

 

After seeing videos on the repair, it looks really tight in there to do the repair properly without removing the engine. I do plan to get it documented, and see what kind of experience my service department has with this repair. I'm very hesitant to get this repair done because it has to be done 100% correctly the first time. If it isn't, I would be better off leaving it alone and cleaning that area every couple months. Just weighing my opinions. Luckily this leak doesn't hinder operation of the vehicle but man its a PITA

 

Point of reference to you the newbie. @Bishop84 is Toyota tech, not just a shadetree observer like most of the rest of us.

Gives a bit more weight to his comments.

 

Techs weighed pros and cons, its a pain on 4x4 because front diff has to come out, but removing the engine sucks.

No one in my large dealer removes the 3.5 or the late model 4runner engines, all stay in now.

First 3.5 I did I removed the engine, and ill never do it again.

 

look at it this way, get it in sooner than later while you still have warranty. If the problem cannot be resolved properly then maybe you can get a new 2024 Gen4 upgrade on Toyotas dime and the world will be perfect.
I don't expect to ever see you post here again.

 

I doubt you have a timing cover

Did you check PS reservuar? Hard to belive you have a cover leak at 7,5k

 

To get an idea of what is involved.

Toyota V6 Engine 2GR-FE Disassembly Start to finish Front Timing Cover Repair
Car Care Nut (Toyota Master Mechanic who runs his own shop)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5qMtnTHZik

 

It's scary for sure and frustrating and I am not a Toyota mechanic myself, GM flavoured myself but, if you have had good experiences with your service department as long as you've been a customer then you should be in good hands. Dealer techs work on the same vehicle day in and day out. Yes flat rate has it's downsides but also you find the most efficient way to get the job done. You're also motivated by not wanting to have to fix your own problem that you didn't the first time. Yes it sucks that your new vehicle has to be in the shop again but things happen. We had the same issue which was caused by the way the robot applied the rtv the first time which lead to either a leak or oil starvation from the excess rtv. Regardless if you want to do your due diligence if you only became a customer via your truck then i'd say read reviews not just on google but on facebook and see what people are saying. If it's a large volume shop though i'd say you should be good to good. Otherwise maybe pay @Bishop84 a visit and ask for him to work on your truck... i'm sure the way things are up here the hours would be nice. Just make sure to leave a 10/10 if you get the survey from Toyota That helps a guy out too

 

It's nice to know this information is coming from a tech. Do you ever see people having to come back after the initial repairs of the timing cover @Bishop84? I'm just nervous the dealer will not get it right the first time. @Vlady it is 100% the timing chain cover. I may take pictures next weekend, but I can clearly see oil coming from behind the ps pump. Ps fluid levels are sitting at max. The oil dripped down to the steering rack and I was able to confirm that it indeed is oil.

 

Do you use a second set of hands when bringing in the timing cover into the engine bay or do you have it all muscle memory/down pat?

 

2GR's are second nature to me now, we've had issues with brand new bare timing cover oil pumps lining up, but any reseal I just make sure to clock the oil pump and shove it in.

I curse toyota for the oil filter location, it's why its so difficult and why the original 1GR was so easy.

 

You should do a 4.0 or 3.4 mod

 

I took my truck into my local dealer to address my leaking timing chain cover. They had my truck for 4 hours. Service advisor called me to let me know that they indeed can see a leak and that their tech advised that I drive for 2,000 miles and they will reevaluate. After picking up my truck, the invoice said "they cleaned the oil area and it was possibly from my last service". I wanted to speak to my service advisor to ask him why my invoice doesn't match what we discussed over the phone, but he had already left for the day. Got home to inspect the underside of the truck, and they did not in fact clean the area. Maybe dabbed the dripping oil with a paper towel.

Sounds like I may be trying out a different dealer.

 

Didn't someone try RTV on the outside and took care of their seep?
I don't even look at mine because (outside of warranty) I'm not screwing with it unless it's dripping.
I have a Wrangler to keep me appreciating the Tacoma.