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

This issue hasn't hurt Tundra reliability and I think a lot of people are driving around with leaky towers. Not worrying about them because they don't know.

I'll have to decide before my powertrain runs. Scary operation for a little oil. Less scary if it gets worse.

 

I honestly wouldn't expect the guy at the service desk to rotate my tires either. At least at the dealership local to me, he's the guy responsible for doing all the check-in and paperwork. I "think" he is also supposed to pass any customer concerns to the mechanics in the service area....or play dumb as you said.

- I've yet to be greeted by any Master Tech or mechanic when I pull in for service. - So my only option is to ask the service writer guy to pass along to the mechanic that I would like them to check something.....but it would be great if I could just speak directly to the person actually doing the work! Thanks to this forum, I can keep an eye on it myself since I know where to look.

 

LOL, I'm sure that some of us have been to dealerships where we can't even be certain that the service writer knows what we're talking about.

With that said, I was helping a wedding planner move some flowers and she kept referring to them by what I assume was their Latin name, and would just stand there and stare at her until she would say something like "the orange one".

 

That is a sad but very true statement. Been there...

 

Here's a funny Camshaft Tower story. I went to my local Toyota Parts counter to get a couple o-rings for under the valve covers that I needed to button up my Cam tower reseal project. Upon disclosing my repair and bitching about the 5.7, the parts guy said that half of their techs think the Cam Tower leak is "fake". Sooo...if your towers are leaking best to ignore it, it's probably fake news!

 

I have it. My entire drive train is dry otherwise.
Not sure it's worth messing with. Even if Toyota were willing to fix it for me, I don't know that I want a 50,000 mile engine being cracked open.

Drivers side

 

I set up my service appointment next week to re-confirm my leak. I'm going to bring the invoice from 7/29/19 that says "oil leak coming from the driver side cam tower, cleaned oil off and reinspect next visit."

The plan is to have them re-confirm it so I'm good under the powertrain and then clean it up and decide later.

 

Blissfully ignorant. I like it. I would prefer to be there. Unfortunately, I joined this forum and then couldn't resist looking.

 

Yeah, it shouldn’t leak. Just because they copied Saab or whoever on this external-to-valve-cover-cam-riser deal doesn’t mean it should leak.

 

Not sure if this will matter to anyone, and apologies if I'm violating anything but it looks like at least some law firms are starting to pick this up:

https://help.classaction.org/camsha...RqXJ1Jbu4b02pbvuQVRu7YY-9XibGnzDNk5XzneMDD4Ng

 

Took my 2018 with 19k miles to the dealership to reconfirm the leak on the driver's side. No need they said because it's already in the notes as leaking at 5500 miles.

I had a good conversation with two of the service managers. Both said a lot of our trucks have this issue and it's rare for it to get significant enough to drip on the driveway. Most people have no clue. He considered mine a minor leak even with oil on the heat shield because nothing was fresh. He'll reseal both sides if I decide to fix it before the powertrain runs. Three day job.

I was parked next to a friend's Tundra at baseball and after practice, took a look. Passenger's side was leaking, he had never heard of the cam shaft tower leak, and had no trouble with his truck at 100k.

 

This is consistent with everything I have read. This is a widespread issue with little to no impact on performance or satisfaction. My hesitation to pursue a fix is:
- My truck is out of warranty by age, but not miles
- My engine only has 50k on it with proper oil change intervals. I don't want to mess with a good thing. Don't fix what isn't (really) broken?

If I were a Toyota executive, I wouldn't make the decision to spend millions and risk negative PR to repair an issue most owners will never know or even care about. Car companies would run themselves out of business trying to retroactively engineer vehicles to perfection.

 

Hi Guys, I know this is an old post, but this Cam tower leak talk has me paranoid. I checked my driverside under the wheel well and noticed these pics. Took it to the dealer and they said it was not an oil leak. Any ideas? I changed my oil almost two months ago at approximately 1000 miles ago. Thanks.

 

The lighting makes it a little hard to tell for sure, but from that picture it appears you do not have a leak.

 

I appreciate it. Just weird to me that it appears wet when I put my flashlight to it. Sure hope it’s nothing.

 

By just looking at that picture, it doesn't looks like oil leak.

 

I am feeling better. This forum has me checking all the time before I run outta warranty. I’m currently at 54200 on my 17 Tundy.

 

Yeah, they grey FIPG sealant will look a little shiny or wet if you're shining a light on it. Nothing to worry about for now!

 

Noticed a tiny leak on passenger side (17 cm 4x4), took it to the dealer, they said it would take 1-2 days, 10 days later had my truck back.

Now I've noticed it on our 18 sequoia, pretty frustrating!

 

Ugh. Yes that is my fear as well. Driver side scares me. It appears to be wet, not sure if it may have been previously spilled oil from filling, or if it could be a legitimate weeping from the FIPG gray sealant at the cam tower area. Dealer does not think it’s oil but baffles me as to why it appears to be wet in the area. The passenger side looks bone dry for now.

 

mine is wet with a drop that just hangs there. hasn't got any worse in 30 thousand miles. Just my opinion no way am I having my engine tore into unless it got way worse. still have 3 years and 50k on the warranty

 

Hey guys! had this issue recently and got with Toyota Headquarters and my local dealership. they are taking care of me after a decent conversation about why this is going on. one thing the service manager told me was that a lot of the decision is based off of how much you get the truck serviced by Toyota directly. and at what intervals your vehicle is being maintained. luckily I always let them do the oil changes and what not. but definitely call Toyota Headquarters and write down your case number. once you get sent to the dealership make sure to drop that you've talked with them.

 

I been to the dealer twice to confirm and they stated no leak, so feel better with it for now, just condensation apparently. I use my own mechanic for my preventative maintenance/ oil changes, so guess I may be on my own after warranty, if Toyota corporate bases fixing the leak issue afterwards on using the dealer for previous maintenance. My experience “ unfortunately” has not been good with the dealer and have not appreciated their upsell tactics or half assed work on my vehicles. I prefer to be able to speak to the mechanic working on my truck and not an advisor blowing smoke. Since I was under warranty I had no choice but to let the dealer look at it. Just hope it does not eventually leak.

 

I just joined this forum through a recommendation. I had my oil changed last Saturday at the dealership like I always do and received some news that I never expected. At check out they informed me that my camshaft towers are leaking. I was in shock. After reading here, it sounds like a common problem. I called Toyota today and they said it’s my problem. I’m very disappointed as I really do love this truck.

My truck is a 2013 Tundra which I bought brand new January 2013. It only has 64,000 miles on it.

 

How bad is it leaking?

 

Please share what brakes and tires you have that have lasted that long

 

My advice, from experience with TWO Tundras with leaking towers, is to leave it alone if you aren't losing a noticeable amount of oil, aren't seeing any on the ground, or aren't smelling it burning on your exhaust manifold shields. My 2010 with ~115k miles is leaking on both sides, but I'm not losing any noticeable amount of oil between changes. I had them repair the leak on my 2018 and they messed something else up in the engine while they had it opened up, so I'm not going to risk it on my 2010 unless it gets significantly worse.

It is a very frustrating issue and I totally feel you, but I'd honestly just let it go if Toyota is making you pay for it—just not worth the money and headache to have them open up your engine.

 

I don’t know. I haven’t looked at it yet. I’m guessing not bad or they would have pushed more to get it done.

 

I agree 100%