2016 oil leak…technician states it’s just “sweating” oil

I was worried bout a cam tower leak…but the inspection revealed it’s “sweating” oil…..is there even such a thing?? No $33k truck shud be sweating oil. $135 inspection and it sounds like I need a second opinion!

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2016-oil-leak.140382/#post-3536866

 

Started a second thread for this? Classic cam tower leak, man. "Sweating oil" is the dumbest thing the tech could have told you, they just don't wanna do the work.

 

I posted same thing on the other thread:

Sweat and leaks are merely semantics now. If your issue is covered and they're resisting, seek out a dealership willing to advocate for you. Often, resistance comes from the service shop, possibly due to low compensation, and from Toyota itself, concerned about financial losses. It may be a tough negotiation. Consider mentioning your intention to involve a lawyer.

I encountered a similar situation with my Honda Pilot, where they balked at performing a major engine rebuild covered by warranty, citing semantics. After my lawyer sent them an agreement outlining their accountability if the issue resurfaced post-warranty due to their refusal to address it initially, they promptly agreed to fix it.

 

Sounds like a dealer is trying to talk you out of tying up a master tech on one job when he can probably blow several other things out the door making the same money in that time frame.

 

Gotchya. Thanks! I mean…does this dip stick look like it’s only 1/4 of a quart low??

 

^^^This...def find a second opinion

 

That’s a quart, and a quarter of a quart low at least. You’re below the low mark, generally the low mark will take a quart of oil to fill it back to the high mark. Put in a quart and recheck it.

 

Thanks! He said he added a 1/4 of a quart….when I pick it up I will check where the level is.

 

Sweating just sounds like weird terminology the tech is using. Not literally sweating through the metal.

It's a leak through the cam tower seals and the oil is "sweating" through those seals. Sweating, seeping, choose your word whatever you want to call it.

I agree with @ZappBrannigan on your other thread over this same thing. It's a very small amount and highly not noticeable with regular oil changes.

 

What viscosity oil is in the engine?

 

There's a video on this on Car Care Nut YouTube.... check it out.

 

Yup, go get a 2nd, even a 3rd opinion on a that. The amount of oil on that paper looks really bad.

 

If a casting is sweating that means it is porous and it's defective. Pack that fact in the dealership's pipe and see if they smoke it.

That Tech should have been more careful with his wording.

 

If it’s not dripping on the driveway or exhaust I would not have the cam tower leak fixed personally. It is so not a big deal IMO. For one it’s an expensive repair if out of pocket, but it’s also like an invasive surgery on your truck. Mine had it fixed prior to my purchase which caused me problems down the road with an issue caused by the tech who repaired it. Guess what it was seeping oil again anyway less than 20k later. I never have to add oil or have any drips. I switched to 5w30 for other reasons but I believe that also would reduce the leakage. Just drive it and ignore it. Any white puff of smoke at startup is not related anyway. This is also not an area that is under high oil pressure either. It’s a shelf that oil splashes up onto and seeps out, under no more than crankcase pressure.

 

Synthetic 0W20

 

I would be totally good with ignoring it…if it doesn’t lead to future problems….but I have an extended warranty n maybe it would cover it…but I also understand some nimnoy could mess up the job and I would have bigger problems…which is my kind of luck. Should I go with a different oil than synthetic 0W20?

 

My 2011 has the cam tower leak. I first noticed it about 350,000 miles ago. I’m just shy of 500,000 now and it’s never been a issue.

 

Wow!! Comforting to hear!! Thanks!! And that sounds like one hell of a truck!!

 

It is a small business work truck but it is the best one I have had in 44 years of business.

 

It could be beneficial to go with a thicker oil from the leak aspect. I also prefer 5w30 for additional reasons but would prefer your thread not devolve into an oil argument thread so I digress!

 

A slightly more viscous oil like 5w-30 will be less likely to seep through a very small passage. Even if it does seep, it will be a bit slower. Good luck!

 

BTW, PCV valve should be replaced about every 40-50k to avoid high pressure in the crankcase which leads to oil seal failures.

 

I learned today I just wasted $5K getting my tower cam leak fixed.
And yes it was dripping oil, not just seeping it.
I guess it was worth $5K not to have oil spots in my driveway and constantly checking my oil every time I parked the truck.....

And to @Adventundra ;
My dealership has been telling me for years my tower cam has been 'seeping' and to keep an eye on it.
It wasn't until the last maintenance visit that they sent me the video of it dripping that I posted in your other thread...

 

Thanks 1LL! Was just a huge Debbie Downer for a $33k purchase for a truck I tried to find for over a year and truly loved….actually bought it on me and my wife’s anniversary…I’m much less likely to forget our anniversary again!! Lol. I will monitor it closely and keep you all posted!! Thanks to everyone for all the advice!!

 

Any special instructions to switch out to 5W 30 at my next oil change? Just drain synthetic out and replace?

 

Nothing special, drain, replace filter, refill. If it's been over two years, change your PCV valve too. Change the oil every 6k.

 

Sounds good!! Thank you!!

 

Sweating is the wrong word, you have oil weeping past the seal of the cam tower try adding a bottle of AT 205 with every oil change the product helps to recondition seals

 

In your case it sounds like it was worth it, but if someone were not comfortable with that being done on something that may not get worse isn't that crazy either

 

I get it.
I need to get at least 10 more years out of this truck.
I also didn't want the dripping leak in the back of my mind or oil spots on my driveway..
By the time it leaked all over my skid plate and cat shields and then to driveway, it would be a mess.
It's done and fixed now, I can forget about it..