Timing cover leaking?

Sub'd

 

Not bothered if even everyone doesn't like this fix. It works. As long as it is the only leak.





At some point, the OEM silicone will give way from more areas then there and pulling the timing cover or other cover will need to be removed. Until that time, this will get you buy, should you prep the area well.

 

Good to know, thanks for the info! This will be a huge learning experience for me. I've done waterpumps, valve cover gaskets, and other stuff like that but this is a little beyond my wheelhouse so I am going to do a lot of research before attempting it. Already have a digital copy of the repair manual thanks to someone on this thread.

 

I popped the hood today to check my oil. Looks like my truck has developed this issue. 06 TRD OR 65,000 miles. I've done some searching old threads and it looks like dealer repair prices range from $900-$1500. Which blows, but I want to get it fixed. Is there anything else I should get replaced while it's all apart and being repaired? As of now, I'm planning on taking it to the dealership. I'm open to recommendations for shops in Portland Oregon.

 

Did you read the few post above yours? Have you considered that as an alternative?

 

Dang! I wish the dealer quoted me that price! About a year or so ago they quoted me around $2400 to do the timing cover seal and waterpump...I told them no way! I can get it done for a quarter of that price! Also...how do you have 60K miles on a 06 Taco?????

 

Yeah really how is it you only have 60k on an '06. When I was looking I saw very few and far between with under 100k Pre-'10 and those still were b/t 80-100k. You sir found a unicorn!

As a tech if you have a little seepage or weeping such as the timing cover I would not worry too much about it. If it bothers you have it repaired. But do keep an eye on it if it becomes worse to an actual leak leak then I would suggest more of repairing it. Mine is seeping I used it at the negotiation table in purchasing my truck although I have no intentions in repairing it anytime soon. There are so many vehicles that use some sort of silicone as gasket materials and I have seen pretty much all of them "seeping" while the vehicle is under warranty. Pretty much every manufacturer has a TSB out for an oil seepage such as this. A TSB is only a technical service bulletin it is only a reference saying hey if customer has such and such complaint look here it is something common we see. The manufacturers have no obligation to the customer for a recall in anything unless it is safety related. It sucks and it sucks that this is a problem these motors have.

I like the suggestion of filing the P/S pump down just a bit but if you look the piece the bolt threads into is a sleeve that pulls tight against the p/s pump if you do not tap this back then the pump will be tight. If it is all the way back then file just a smigen off so that it fits nicely and easily. I would file the backside of the P/S pump and not the front, filing the front will change the P/S pulley location in relation to all the other pulleys, ever so slightly but that could be enough to cause a belt squeal, premature wear, etc.

The problem with sealing surfaces with silicone is it is fluid when you bolt everything together so it squishes out and does not get any pressure put on the 2 mating surfaces unless both surfaces are perfectly flat and level across all plains. Also torquing in the correct sequence and spec is highly important for surfaces sealed like this.

 

I just don’t really feel confident in doing a repair like this myself. I just do not possess the knowledge or experience. I bought this truck 3 years ago with 30,000 miles on it.

 

That is understandable. I would in your shoes try and find a good dealership with honest techs and service writers that may be willing to work with you. Explain your situation bring the TSB in maybe they just give you a little price cut but that's better than nothing. In the industry as soon as a customer came in thinking they deserved something or demanded something that's when all negotiations came off the table. If we had someone come in and was polite understood that by no means we were required to give them anything we would be much more obliged to help and work with them.

 

I'm doing this repair myself and don't want to spend $2500 on a 12 yr old truck with 260K+ miles. I have everything torn down and will post pics in this thread once I finish. However, I'm having a difficult time putting the timing cover back on. I've wasted a whole tube of FIPG just trying to get it back on there. It's getting stuck at the bottom end and I'm not sure if I missed a step. The timing cover/oil pump drive rotor seems not to be lining up even if I'm positive it is. Did I have to remove the front oil seal to slide the timing cover in? reinstall front oil seal once I secure the timing cover to the block? Please any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

@mkivguam i haven't done this, but I would think that removing the front seal would give you the play needed to drop the timing cover onto the oil pan.

Give the gasket maker some time to skin over a bit. I'll help keep the stuff from smearing all over the place when you put the cover back on.

I'd also replace the seal rather than reuse it.

Good luck.

 

Check out this thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/timing-chain-p0018-p0302-304-306.562849/page-9#post-18530302

craigs1 advice is spot on

 

Did you get anywhere with this? That quote doesn’t sound that bad actually.

 

Probably a dumb question. Would doing this be possible without taking the engine out the truck you think?

 

Absolutely. Drop down the power steering pump.

 

Got mine done a couple months ago at a friends AAA shop by a level 1 Toyota tech. Put in new guides, chain, water pump, valve cover gaskets, belt and new cooling hoses all at the same time. Like a new truck again and no more leaks. I was finally able to degrease it all and rewire all of my aftermarket electronics. I spent some coin but then again it's warrantied and I didn't spend days just to screw it up. I even had a rental car while they took 5 days to get it all done even with a crowded shop workload.

 

I had the dealership do the work last fall. So far so good!