CAM SHAFT TOWER SEAL LEAKING ** PLEASE READ***

hey all, i haven't crawled under or looked for the oil leaking or have it officially diagnosed, but wondering if the burning oil smell i get in the cab (even with vents on recirc) is a symptom of the cam tower seal leaking?

i only ever smell it when i get into the gas pedal/boost, then it's really bad for several minutes after

thanks

 

I just bought a 2018 Crewmax this past weekend. Pulling my rv up a grade we noticed a burning smell. Crawled under and looked it over and the drivers side cam tower is wet with oil residue. Doesn’t look like much but I am wondering if the is where the smell is coming from? My old 2007 with almost 150k had zero issues. Very disappointing! It’s a CPO so I have a lot of warranty time left - I am going to keep an eye on it and probably take it in for repair.

 

You get 16 mpg average? I'm still deciding if I want to trade my 13 with the 4.6 in on a 20 with the 5.7.

 

Has this been fixed on the 2020 models?

 

Will the 2020's have this issue as well? Makes me not want to buy one.

 

Any 5.7 can have the problem. I have not had any 2020s leak yet

 

So if I do get a 2020, just check it every 5,000 miles or so? My 2013 4.6 has 95,000 miles on it and I'm not sure if i want to move up to the 5.7 or not. Everyone has different answers on gas mileage between the two lol. The dealer says they are close.

 

just keep an eye on it. i still see more chevies with 5.3s leaking at lower mileage than toyotas. all brands have their issues. the 5.7 is pretty solid and if a oil leak at the tower is one of the only major issues, id rather deal with that than oil burning or other issues... most end up seeping, never really leaking.
hell my avalon has a timing cover seep.. its had it since 25k... its never gotten worse or better... but its a trouble free car.

gas mileage between 4.6 and 5.7 should be similar.

 

I have a little seepage on the passenger side front as you look thru the fender with a flashlight. Bottom of the engine and all the crossmembers are dry so I am assuming (1) it just started to leak or (2) it has been seeping slightly for a long time. Every once in awhile I smell hot oil in the garage after Ive driven it. I just bought the truck last year. It’s a 2011 Rock Warrior. Is there a possibility it may not get any worse? Do the 4.6L have this problem?

 

The 5.7 and 4.6 are ultimately the same block and both can form the leak.
Any Toyota for that matter with cam towers can leak there. So the 3.5, 5.7, 4.6, 2.5... they all can seep at the cam tower

 

I'm sitting at 15.0 all city driving
I get 19 on the highway

 

So it seems really close.

 

I have not rolled 5k yet, just under it. Since I've had this truck i've been working from home and no road trips. That's why my average is so much lower than the '18 I had. I have a 32 mile round trip to the plant I generally hang out out, highway driving, no traffic so that helped the mpg. Now I'm WFH and grocery snatcher.
http://www.fuelly.com/car/toyota/tundra/2020
That'll show you what others are getting but who buys s 5.7 Tundra for the MPG?
And no, I have not noticed the cam tower leak, will check again today.

 

Add me to the list. Just bought a 2018 Crewmax Limited cpo last weekend. First trip pulling a 4200lb. Trailer we smelled something hot/burning. Only when pulling up a steep grade. Checked underneath yesterday a the driver side cam tower area is damp with oil. I assume it is dripping down on the exhaust. Very disappointed Toyota!

 

How many miles on yours? This is discouraging me from trading my 13 for a 20.

 

Thanks. I'm just wondering an average with a 3 inch lift and 34's compared to my 4.6 with the same setup.

 

20,000 miles. If I were not towing I would not have noticed it. Not sure why that is?

 

Mine is 2wd which seems to help a lot... My father averages 14 or so.
I am impressed with it honestly. I expected much lower. Most of my trips are about 5-11 miles. I'd I drive to my parents at 3.5 miles away I get 17 usually

 

I was replacing the front brakes today on our ‘12 Sequoia and noticed both sides were leaking. It has 125k miles. Who knows how long this has been going on. Oil level hasn’t decreased since the last oil change 5 months ago. I cleaned up the area and will monitor it. I do not plan on getting it repaired. I learned I was looking in the wrong area as I was monitoring my ‘19 Tundra.

 

Can you guys help me out here? I'm trying to buy a used Tundra and looking at a 2014 LTD with 75k miles on it. I test drove it today and took some pictures, but I'm having a hard time telling if there's a Cam Tower leak.

Any help or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Also here's the listing - https://cars.ksl.com/listing/6499664?_ga=2.30071679.1355606188.1592931403-1389718982.1588888771

Seems a little overpriced, but I haven't negotiated yet.

 

i would wait for the 2021...2020 is basically the same as the one you have right now minus few cosmetics.

 

With the pictures provided, (pretty good BTW) I'm not seeing any evidence of oil leakage/seepage.

 

I would agree with Wynnded cams look good, no leaks... Oil is not invisible, you will definitely know if and when its leaking, although all Toyotas leak from the camshafts... My 02 Celica, 91 MR2 T, 92 SC400 and 07 Tundra leak from the cam towers, and under load and especially in an incline will give an oil burning smell.... just my .02cents...

 

This was a few years ago, I wonder what came of this class action lawsuit https://classlawdc.com/2018/07/18/toyota-camshaft-tower-seal-leaking-class-action-investigation/

 

Probably a lot of lawyers got rich.

 

Looking at the case load of this firm, they look like bottom-feeders

 

I too am a victim of Toyota's heinous disregard for proper manufacturing procedures. Both sides are leaking on my '15 5.7l with 80k miles. This is the passenger side.

 

That sucks man! Sorry that happened. Is this the first time you checked or did it just start more recently?

 

Did not know this was an issue....just bought a 2015 with 61k miles....and i know my luck....why wouldnt they have cut a real gasket by now instead of using that junk

 

Ford v8 had a huge issue with oil leaks from head gasket for many years .

When I worked as a dealer tech I did many different kits and repair techniques. At the end of it all looked to be a surface finish issue between a mls head gasket and the cylinder head.

I got many oil leaks to quit by adding just a tad more torque to head bolts. Didn’t always work.

I bought a 2002 truck and it had the leak. It wasn’t bad. Ford wouldn’t warranty it until it was dripping steadily.

I also had a 2010 mustang gt with 3v that had oil leak on opposite end of cylinder head! It was also minor. Weeps like the ones shown here.

I’d personally only fret if the leak got worse. Some of the weeps will likely stay that way.

the ones dripping are the ones I’d address.