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

They only repaired one side on mine at 14,000 miles. I'm at 72,000 miles now and both sides are fine. Fingers are crossed, and I hope that if the other side springs a leak, that it will happen before extended runs out.

 

Super helpful into here, thanks for all the input!

 

I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm honestly shocked. I will say that you should definitely attempt to do the door locks yourself.

The parts aren't that bad.

 

Well, I kind of calmed myself down over this issue and haven't checked for a while, but I went and peeked this morning and it appears as if the driver's side is leaking. I couldn't get a good pic from the wheel well because of all the stuff in the way, but you can see the oil from the bottom in the pic I attached. FML.

 

Just went into the dealer and it's going under the knife on Monday...

 

If they are anything like the Matrix, I was able to disassemble the actuators and clean up the motor commutators. You can also get the motors on the cheap from Amazon or fleabay.

https://youtu.be/qcfoPIwZ-pc

 

Good luck! Is yours just the driver side? They doing your repair with motor in truck?

 

Ha, thanks. It's just the driver side as far as I could tell. I'm not sure on whether they'll be leaving the motor in—I'm figuring out details on Monday. I asked if they'd do both both sides even though the passenger isn't leaking and they said, "yes, we'll take care of you". At least the service manager knew what I was talking about and didn't try to play dumb, but he seemed surprised it was leaking on a 2018 with such low miles.

 

Good to hear they will reseal both sides for you, at least you wont have to worry about when the other side will start leaking.

 

Okay, so I see there are a lot of these Tundra's with many miles that do not have the leak. How is that? Does the machine that does the sealing at the plant get it right sometimes? I guess I don't understand how many have the leak but many with a lot of miles do not.

 

Guess I need to check my 2017 CM now.....

 

I'll bet that a lot more of our trucks have the leak, but people just don't know it. Unless it's all over the heat shield and burning or bad enough to be dripping to the ground, you'd never know unless you looked for it.

 

Update on mine: I said earlier that the service writer on Saturday said they'd take care of both sides. When I went in to drop it off today, they had the master tech come peek and he immediately confirmed it was leaking. I asked the service manager I was working with today again if they'd do both sides. He tried to tell me that since the passenger side wasn't leaking that Toyota wouldn't warranty it. I pushed back and the master tech urged the service manager to ask the service director. He finally went and grabbed the service director and he said that since they're already going to be in there to just do both sides. The master tech said this leak is pretty common on these engines (which we already know, despite what some people on here say), but the service manager tried to say it's not common since he's only seen two.

Moral of the story is to push back if they try to tell you they can only do one side. You might not win, but I was able to get them to do both sides by not taking "no" for an answer.

Anyway, they rescheduled to have me drop it off on Wednesday since they're taking off early today, and the master tech said it'd take him two days probably, so I should have my truck back by Friday!

 

After reading up on this I went out to check my 2018 Tundra with 6,000 miles and saw the following. I do not know exactly what I am looking for but I can only assume this means I have the leak? Thanks for any help.

 

That's exactly what mine looked like (same spot) and the master tech confirmed today I had the leak. I'd take yours in—sorry!

 

Seems like a lot of low milage 2018's are showing up with this issue.

Buckwallace, glad you got both sides done. I took mine too corporate and I still couldn't get them to do my non leaking side. Toyota instead gave me $350.

Toyota also could back on the billable time a tech can charge for this repair which makes things worse when trying to work out getting this repair done.

 

My 2017 CM is nearing 30k miles, so really focused on finding out if I'm leaking as soon as I get a chance in daylight.

 

Took my 2016 with 35k to the dealer today. Passenger side is leaking onto heat shield. Driver side just starting to weep. They are going to fix both sides. They are pulling the engine. Very disappointed to have this major repair on a low mileage Toyota. Will be selling it before warranty ends. It’s going to take about a week because of the holidays. Satisfied with the dealer so far. Didn’t try to play dumb or only fix one side. Also providing new Camry loaner. Hopefully I get a good Technician and it runs like new. Toyota really needs to fix this issue. Trucks with only a couple thousand miles are leaking.

 

I need to read up... curious if this is just happening on the 5.7, or with the 4.6 as well?

 

I have the 5.7. It appears more common on those but there have been some 4.6’s on this thread that have leaked.

 

TMK, I never experienced the leaks on my 2006DC through 150+k miles.
Now yall got me worried about my 2017.

 

I think that's probably just more of a result of there being a lot more 5.7s than 4.6s.

 

Makes sense. I’ll be constantly checking now

 

2017 5.7, ~24,500 miles. I think my drivers side may be leaking, kind of hard to see with how dirty it is under there. Passenger looked clean. Can anyone confirm if it looks like it's leaking? I'm going to schedule my 25,000 mile toyotacare service and fix for some chips in my windshield here, just want to know if I should bring this up to be fixed. It looks like there's stuff on top of the cover as well just can't quite tell where it's coming from. I can't say I've noticed an oil burning smell.

Driver:






Passenger:




Edit: Dumb question, what's the difference between the cam tower seal and valvle cover? Looking at this engine there appears to only be one seal around the head?

 

The engine pictured does not show the came tower very well since it is a front shot and front cover is blocking view of towers. Watch this video and you will see how the cam tower leak is repaired by this particular mechanic, some prefer to remove engine.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MiO9ARX9Lts

 

It is hard to see from the front because the front engine cover goes up and meets the valve cover. I circled where it is visible in the picture. The FIPG seal runs around each cam tower, and continues up and down around the front engine cover. That is why some techs prefer to do both sides and pull the front engine cover to get a continuous seal all the way around like it came originally. The above video does not remove the front engine cover.

 

Thanks for the answers guys, that video and photos helps a lot with visualizing what's actually going on. Just entering my service request online for my dealer now. When I take it in I'm really hoping I get to talk to some of the service techs about it to see if they understand what's going on or have done any before.

 

Well here's an update, I'll link my more in-depth explanation (https://www.tundras.com/threads/yzeds-2017-mgm-sr5-build.14395/page-2#post-932824) but pretty much the dealer said there's not enough evidence to do anything at this point.

 

Has anyone seen this?

http://www.classlawdc.com/2018/07/18/toyota-camshaft-tower-seal-leaking-class-action-investigation/

I can't really see anything coming from this, and if anything did happen it would just be these lawyers getting a ton of cash.

 

I saw this the other day when I did a Google search about the cam tower issue. I'm scared to death it is going to happen to my 2019.