Timing cover gasket

Howdy folks! I had a question about a fairly expensive surprise at the dealership:




I’ve had pretty good luck with my truck and this is the first major concern that has arisen in 158k miles. The mechanic said that there was a TSB about this in the computer and it was a common issue on the model year. Anybody else ever had this problem on their truck? The only symptom of anything wrong with this that I have gotten is at start up either a cold or warm start, the oil pressure temperature gauge shoots up to about 5/8ths and then slowly trickles back down to about half. I have a 2007 5.7 with tow package. Thanks everybody

 

WTF is black cheese? If anything you might bust open your timing cover to replace a faulty timing chain tensioner but unless it's puking oil or you just want to see what it looks like inside I can't see a reason to do it. Can you share the TSB?

 

I have no idea what was meant by “black cheese”. I plan tomorrow to go to a couple of other shops and have them check it out to confirm. It’s definitely at least seeping if not leaking as the oils pressure gauge has recently been shooting up at start up and then falling to the normal half way point like 10 seconds later. I don’t have the TSB but I’ll definitely go back and ask for it again to share with y’all

 

My opinion: I would keep the $2K in my bank account, monitor the oil level, and drive the truck until it leaked a big oil spot on the driveway. When the oil spot got big enough to annoy me, I would pressure wash the "black cheese" off the engine and sell the truck. It should be 20+ years old by that time.

 

The TSB was from 2007 and was specific for the 1GR-FE engine. I plan on going around to different shops and asking them what they think the seep is and from where. If they confirm it’s the timing cover gasket then I’ll see where I go from there.
If I plan on supercharging the truck within a year, should I go ahead and fix this issue now or closer to the SC install?

 

Did you ever get the leak fixed?

 

I assume "black cheese" is slang for the special RTV sealant Toyota/Lexus uses to fix the issue. As you can see by my username my truck leaks as well. About once every 3 months I have to brake clean and pressure wash the affected area. I do this primarly to prevent the oil from building up on the heat shields/exhaust manifold. Outside that I leave the HVAC on recirc so I don't have to smell it inside the cabin. I personally abhor leaks so it is on my to do list but not at the top given the amount of time involved.

 

Have you tried

$19 AT-205 Re-Seal Stops Leaks, 8 Ounce Bottle

AT-205 yet? I have many people swear by this.

 

That's right. Wouldn't do a thing unless my truck was like the Exxon Valdez.