The infamous timing chain cover leak...

ain't that some shit?


dealer-hey, we found a leak
customer-yeah, are you gonna fix it?
dealer-no, keep driving it, take off work another day, find a ride, bring it back in, and we will dick you around more, try to sell you a new truck, and hopefully just wear your ass out to the point you are no longer worried about, because we are busy with easy, full pay jobs right now
customer-mmkay, thanks asshole

 

Well this is not encouraging. I have a 2023 as well and would like to monitor for this leak closely so if it does happen, I can get it resolved under warranty. I haven't looked closely, but is there a specific place to look for this leak? Is it easier to see from above or below?

Sorry for your dealer experience @spacecadet123. I had a similar experience with a leaking oil cooler on my brand new truck. Took 3 visits and over a week in the shop to resolve. I'll also be trying a different dealer for any future issues.

 

It normally shows itself behind the power steering pump. Thats where mine starts then drips down on some lines and my steering column. There's a film of oil/dirt that has developed on my steering column.

 

Find the power steering pump pulley and look behind it.

It's not that common, but is worth checking while in warranty (5 year 60,000)

 

I mean hey if they didn't clean it then there is no excuse next time for the oil they'll find in the area. Should be "clearly" leaking eh

 

Yeah, exactly. They did me a solid by leaving it so when I take it to a different service center they will actually diagnosis the issue and not put their head in the sand. Just checked this morning to see what it looks like and I got a nice big drip waiting to fall from behind my power steering pump. It drips about twice a day.

 

Well, when it's out of warranty and starts leaking; is it possible to get to that specific area leaking; degrease it, and then apply an epoxy like JB Weld to the seam? That should stop it without having to pull and disassemble the entire front of the engine.

 

That's not a great idea especially if the timing cover does need to come off at some point.

 

Not epoxy. Rtv, sure

 

I bought a new 2016 Sport on January 4, 2016 with hopes of keeping it for my entire retirement years. I was not naive and did expect some new model 1st year issues. To my surprise, and disappointment, that truck was in the shop many times for warranty work over the 1st 6 or 7 months. Nearly every issue required me to contact Toyota Corporate for resolution. Things like failed tpms and squeaking radiator support bushings were immediately not handled by the dealer. I even provided video proof to the dealer that accomplished nothing so I posted them on youtube and sent them to Toyota Corporate. That was the ONLY way to get the dealer to fix the issues. Other than the lame powertrain I really had no more major issues over the remaining warranty period. Then I started reading reports of timing cover leaks as well as an occasional rear main seal leak. After the warranty expired I had serious doubts about the truck and didn't have confidence that it would provide 200k miles of good service like my previous pre-gen, 1st gen and 2nd gen. I sold the truck at 5.5 years and 25k miles. There was no way that I was going to pay for a timing cover leak repair. Every previous issue that I had was a known national issue that the dealer denied existed. I may come off, in 3rd gen forums, as a hater. I am not a hater. I love my Toyota vehicles. The timing cover potential leak was just the final straw in selling my 3rd gen. The week after I sold it I got the recall notice for potential frame perforation. My current 2008 Tacoma Off Road just tripped 87k miles and my 2003 Camry just hit 97.5k miles. I expect to keep them until I die or they reach 200k miles. I will never buy another 3rd gen Tacoma. Knowing that 2023 models still have the potential timing cover leak just proves that Toyota has not changed anything in their manufacturing or assembly processes.

 

I think the rate of occurrence for the timing chain cover leak is quite low overall. Sounds like no more common, if not less, than the second gen issues. I think this forum causes a ton of undue panic by its followers. Maybe I’ve missed it, but a poll for all the 3rd gen owners on here asking if they’ve had the dreading timing chain cover leak would be very interesting. I’ve had zero major issues with my 2017 and I’m riding this sucker to the junk pile.