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

Picked mine up this morning. They did the drivers side. Had to get home but everything looked and sounds good for now.

 

Really!? I thought Gladstone was the one that F’d up and one of our members sold back the new Tundra and bought a new Highlander. Then bought a 2010 Tundra.
He posted videos of the wierd sound after they completed the work.
I don’t know for sure though.
Hopefully they don’t put many miles on it! Because from Vancouver Toyota to Gladstone I’ll be getting really close to the 60K mi mark LOL.

 

Thought I would share a progress pic. Truck went in Monday morning. Supposed to be 2 day job. Master Tech seems to be very conscientious. Pulled radiator to get more working room. Hopefully it will be done by cob Monday. I did ask tech if anything should be replaced while it was broken down, and he said everything looked good.

 

yep..it's pretty extensive tear down..

 

Yes they did both sides

yes they did both sides

 

Nice!!

 

Just checked the rear of the engine on both sides. The bead of gray silicone is generous all the way around the corners on the both sides, towards the very rear of the engine. Tough to see with the poor lighting but plenty of gasket maker in there, I am pleased with the amount I see. However, who really knows how good the quality of the silicone really is. I suspect my ‘19 won’t have issues based on what I see or at least that’s the hope. Crossed 1500 miles today on this engine.

 

Called today, and just as I figured.
I have a “seep” not a “leak”.
I’ll start with the “customer relations” manager tomorrow.
When that doesn’t work, I’ll pay a pleasant (seriously, I’ll be nice) visit to the Service Manager, then make my way up the chain.

 

That was me initially I think, and some of us know how that really turned out...

 

Ok, I may not have gotten the whole story. Sounds like it didn’t end up well. Apologies for any confusion

 

No need to apologize! But yeah, they messed something else up while they had the engine opened up and they ended up buying my truck back. We got the wife a new Highlander and I found a used 2010 Tundra from a private party locally. All is well now but it was a fiasco for sure.

 

7am tomorrow for my appt. Based on the above comments I'm guessing they will deny mine as well. I was hoping to get better pictures this week, but it's been dark when I leave in the morning and dark when I get home. Maybe I can use a shop floodlight tomorrow morning before I leave and snap a few. No fluid drips on the heatshield. Just the oily grime residue from what I can tell.

 

I’ll give it a shot!!!
This message will explode in 30 minutes.

LMAO

 

Hopefully you’re not at 59,800 miles like me.
If not, you have time - for the drip.

 

Nope, just passed 36k this week.

 

I got 19k on my 14. Took it in for an oil change yesterday and asked them to look at the pass side. It was dirty and they had to confirm it. I could barely tell it was there. They ended up not changing my oil and made an appt for Feb 12th for a couple days. Said may as well not change the oil now because it would be covered under warranty work. I wouldn't have done anything had it not been under warranty and I probably wouldn't have worried about it.

 

*update. I'm at the dealer right now. My service tech could verify the Cam tower leak and he also had another service advisor take a look. They are pulling it in right now to have a tech verify and then it sounds like they will get the ball rolling. Hopefully the tech doesn't disagree. More to come.

 

I'm thinking about the dealership that I bought mine from... It is a smaller dealer and they acted "shocked"!!! I turned it around and said if you have never done this then I am probably not comfortable with you doing the repair. They have assured me that their tech can do it but won't give any details as to his experience or number of years working for and on Toyotas. These dealers turn over employees like water. I'm worried that I will either get the pissed off guy that is tired of working there or the new guy who hasn't done this yet.

 

I'm hoping for a good tech and experience as well. It sounds like they have done several here already, so that put me a little at ease. I asked to make sure it goes to their master tech and not just anyone with some spare time and a small handheld tool box. These trucks are expensive and I'd rather not have issues down the road from a mishap that could be prevented by a skilled tech.

*update - so apparently my Cam tower leak isn't bad enough yet for Toyota to cover it. It is beginning to seep, but not bad enough at this time to get approved. I spoke with their master tech and he said they always get worse, so they will just monitor it at each oil change and go from there.

 

Do the 4.6l have this problem or only 5.7l?

 

So the second gen Tundras don't seem to have this problem?

 

They do, any vehicle with the 5.7L 3UR. I'm not sure on the 4.6. I don't think the cast iron 4.7's have cam towers (don't quote me on that), that's 1st gen though.

 

How do you know if it a valve cover gasket leak or the cam tower?

 

Law firm trying to start a class action suit over this issue....
http://www.classlawdc.com/2018/07/18/toyota-camshaft-tower-seal-leaking-class-action-investigation/

 

law firm trying to start a class action suit over this issue....
http://www.classlawdc.com/2018/07/18/toyota-camshaft-tower-seal-leaking-class-action-investigation/

 

I sent them an email a month or so ago just to get some info and haven't heard anything back. I'll bet they aren't even working on it anymore.

 

My 2018 Limited is at the dealer right now for it's 1st service. I told them that the cam tower is leaking on driver side. They just called and verified that it is leaking and they're setting me up with a vehicle to drive while they fix it. Good service.

 

The 4.6 is the same engine design as the 5.7, just shorter stroke I think. The 4.7s do not have a camshaft tower so no issues there.

Dan

 

Yep! You were right!
Spoke to the Customer Relations Manager today, who passed along Toyota Corp #.
I called, they gave me a case number, and they guaranteed a call back in 1 business day (Monday). Took all of 10 minutes. I was surprised.
I’m still not too terribly worried. My leak (or seep) really wasn’t bad.

 

2018 Tundra CM limited here. I have 7500mi and the drivers side has a very slight weep that can only be seen if you run your finger over the rear (where everyone’s pics are) when cold and get a slight amount on your finger. Would never know unless I found this thread. There is definitely more FIPG on the passenger cam tower than the drivers.

They aren’t touching mine unless it’s dripping on the exhaust.

I traded my 2015 Silverado high country 6.2L for this truck that was nothing but problems. I can handle a slight oil weep vs my radiator leaking at 27k among a ton of other issues.