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

How many miles??

 

12956 miles

 

Ok thanks i have about half that but will keep an eye on it.

 

I have 98000 on my 2010... Its been leaking for 2 years now. Hasn't gotten any worse,but a leak nonetheless. I'm gonna call

 

Is it that dome cover looking part that you can see thru the wheel wells??

 

I have a 15 4.6L with 60K on it , I have not noticed anything leaking , where should I look (top of the engine where the DOHC is located duh) any pics of this for reference ?

thanks in advance

 

At 31,000 past warranty, I don't think I squawk about 26 bucks.

 

From what I have read, you should be able to look inside of the wheel well on both sides of the truck and see if the seal is leaking using a flashlight.
Below are a couple pics of my 2015 5.7L. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but the blue arrows should be pointing toward the seal that may leak. The pic with two arrows is the passenger side (no leak), the pic with one arrow is the drivers side and the third pic is the small leak mine has started to develop on the drivers side. The leak in the pic is nothing compared to what other people have been experiencing but is a leak nonetheless and Toyota is covering it under the 5y/60k warranty.

 

thanks @Jrfor0 for the detailed pics !! That will be a big help to alot of people !

 

Thanks for the pics!!!

 

No problem. I hope I put the blue arrows in the correct spot.

 

I work at a local Toyota dealership. This is almost common. We have had 2 in the last 3 weeks. Toyota WILL stand behind their product. My fiancé has a '12 Camry and she was having torque converter shudder between 35-55 mph. Well there's a TSB on it but it was out by mileage. (mileage has been extended, now 150,000 mile coverage) I spoke to our local regional Toyota rep. and he said FIX IT!!! Gave her a loaner to drive in the mean time.

 

@Jrfor0 's arrows are exactly right. These are some pics of my '13 prior to being repaired. Mine wasn't leaking that bad but you can pretty plainly see the oil on the ribbon of sealant.

 

Is the repair and upgrade type fix or is it the same as the original ??

 

Since this problem persists into the new models what is the permanent fix?

Does the warranty repair fix the root problem? Or is it just a band aid until the next leak?

 

look threw the wheel well and you will see it dripping just under the valve cover. you will smell it if its leaking because it leaks right on to the exhaust.

 

ya thats typically when it starts to leak. Toyota repaired both sides on mine as well when they done it.

 

Yup the 18s are doing it from what i hear.

 

when the engine is built from the factory the robot putting the gasket material doesnt apply enough on the rear outer side of the cam tower so when they re due the tower seal they use more gasket material (RTV type gasket). From My understanding this is the ONLY problem these engines have and once there fixed they are good to go for the life of the engine.

 

geez all these years they couldn’t give the robot a new program to squirt a little more gasket material on the surface?? Come on TOYOTA!!!

 

From what I've read and heard, it's that they can't keep the robot calibrated to lay the correct size bead and in the correct spot. It's a labor intensive job, 17 hrs, but it's a permanent fix. Essentially the whole top of the motor comes apart to do the repair. Mine was done in the beginning of November and 1800 miles later, no leaks. I talked directly to the tech prior to having it done and his confidence after doing 6 or 7 of these put me at ease.

 

I am sure this is only happening on a handful of trucks, but it is not a confidence builder since I am negotiating on a 17 or 18 Platinum right now. I am familiar with the engine and that is a lot of component removal for a fix.

I have always owned GM's and came here because they are having issues, and I have always heard great things about Tundra's. I wonder also how many trucks are affected, and why the issue still exist when it has been a known problem for years?

I really want one of these trucks! I belong to several forums (Camaro, 4runner, GM trucks) and ya'll are awesome and very supportive of each other.

 

Ron, you're exactly right, it's not something that plagues all Tundras. It's very hit or miss. My dad's '14 is fine, my brothers '15 is fine and I make it a point to look at every Tundra that comes into my shop and have yet to see another one with the leak. I know it's not a confidence builder but I also wouldn't let it hinder your decision to buy a Tundra. This problem seems to be mostly a forum discussion but you don't typically hear about it elsewhere. How many years did everyone know that Dodge had tranny issues? And people still bought them. How many recalls has GM had just in the last few years alone? People still buy them. Ford's doors don't stay shut and the 3.5 ecoboost is a known flop. But people still buy them. A new truck is a huge expense for most of us and I understand the concern but you have better odds that your truck won't ever have the problem than odds that it will. Good luck with your decision.

 

Good lord, does every 3rd generation Tundra made, with the 5.7l have this issue...

 

Not mine

 

i read in other threads that some people were saying the cars with black seal (vs. grey) should be ok!
is that true?

 

THE DIFFERENCE WITH TOYOTA FROM GM, FORD, AND DODGE IS TOYOTA STANDS BEHIND THERE TRUCKS AND CARS AND FIXES THE PROBLEMS THE OTHER COMPANIES WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU TO KICK ROCKS!!!! ESPECIALLY ON A TRUCK LIKE MINE WITH 90K MILES.

 

IDK IF THIS IS TRUE OR NOT BUT MY TRUCK HAD THE GREY SEAL AND LEAKED BUT NOW HAS THE BLACK SEAL...

 

there u go! problem solved ... lol
except that @TRD423 has a 2017 with the same problem. that should have had a black seal.
Let see if he remembers what color seal he had before fixing it.

 

do you recall your seal color before the fix? also what color seal do you have now?