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

look through the fender wells above the tires. Back where the engine meets the firewall is where you will find it. Look at the pics of others in this thread and then match up the area of your truck... No need to pop the hood. Take a good flashlight. Cross your fingers first and hope that you don't become a statistic like the other exclusive members of this club.

 

This is what I was told pretty much too. I've been taking photos of it about every 2 weeks on both sides just to have documentation.

 

Ford & Chevy making a Ram?

 

From everything I have read, the Cam tower seepage is nothing more than an annoyance for those that have it. I have not read any reports of damage or failure that has been attributed to this oil seeping out. EDIT: I have read that the 'repair' can cause problems that the owner didn't have before the tear down...

 

What kind of problems?

 

Check out this thread - happened after his cam tower repair. He ended up dumping the truck after they couldn't fix the problem that came up:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/acceleration-does-this-sound-normal.37378/

Also, I don't know that it caused problems, but I know that one member found a piece of wire wheel and other debris during an oil change after this procedure (they use a wire wheel to clean the old gasket material off to save time since Toyota reduced the billable time for this repair)

 

You know what sucks the most is the fact that there are a lot of Tundra owners unaware of this. In the future there are going to be people buying used Tundra's only to find out they may have to shell out thousands of dollars to get this fixed. Toyota needs to do the right thing, issue a recall, and fix all of these. It seems they are hoping to keep it low key.

 

I agree. I have an appointment with/ my service writer Monday morning to take a look at my leak. I guess I could be screwed either way.

 

If my truck starts to “seep” I don’t really want them taking my stuff apart to fix it. But what I would like is a note in the system that if it does become a “leak” at any time within X amount of miles beyond the warranty that they will cover it. I mean I wouldn’t be happy that my 25,000 mile motor is seeping, but at the same time I prefer it not to be cracked open if that’s as bad as it’s going to get.

I’m sure someone will say it’s just going to get bigger but I’d rather roll the dice I guess. Which is why I’d just like it in writing that they will cover it when it does become a full on leak.

 

Good luck brother! Hoping the best outcome for you. It’s like a nervous parent praying their child is OK.

 

Toyota is acting like parents that don't vaccinate their kids and then act surprised when polio shows up. They know this is an issue but they all play dumb when you bring it up to the dealership. Then you show them this forum and they say it's just three people crying about a nonexistent issue.

 

I'm not trying to change your viewpoint. I'm putting out a counterpoint to your viewpoint, lest any newcomer gets on this forum, reads this thread and starts freaking out by thinking that his/her Tundra is a ticking time-bomb.

Some Tundra's have cam tower minor leaks (seeps more than leaks for most it seems).
Is there any evidence that this issue is widespread or that it will cause a catastrophic engine failure? So far, the answer to both is: no.

If you have a leak, use your warranty to get it fixed. I'm not saying anything outrageous, so I don't understand why you take such offense to my posts...nor do I really care at this point.

 

What about those of us who happened to stumble on the post, then noticed it, and are well outside the warranty?

 

Real oil leaks from other places after the repair... I can't find a link, but it's out there on the web.

What Atomic City Tundra said

 

Toyota knows they have a faulty seal just got my 14 done under extended warranty at 97k

 

WELCOME! Did you get both sides done?

 

There are plenty of high-mileage (and out of warranty) 5.7l Tundra's out there on the road.

How many of them have suffered catastrophic engine failures because of this issue?

Engine oil leaking is a problem. Engine oil leaking to the point where you have to replace a quart or more every few thousand miles is a bigger problem. Weigh the pro's and con's and make an informed decision.

 

So you don’t even own a Tundra?...

 

bottom line is, the leak/seep/moist or whatever you call it, is bad especially in a new and relatively expensive truck. oil collects debris and looks messy and if you are going on a long trip you wonder if it may get worse and leaks and smells, etc. The wife will not like the smell of the burning oil and you may have to buy a new car halfway there
I have 20 years old cars with no seep/leak. They had seeps and I fixed them including my Tacoma because I don't like a leaking or a wet gasket.
If I had a very old car that didn't care then I may ignore a wet gasket till the car dies or I sell it ... New truck over $45K should not have a such a primitive problem!

 

There are no failures attributed to this issue, correct?

 

We don't know, just like we don't know if there haven't been any engine failures. We just haven't heard.

 

I bet we would have heard something by now if the problem
was nearly as bad as some on this thread make it out to be.

 

Now that would be a leak I would want fixed, but that's not the type of leak normally associated with the cam towers.

 

This is all moot. I read that we only have 12 years left before the Earth dies due to something.....

 

Then its settled:

THUNDERDOME!!

 

Well, the sealant failed. Other than that, no. Nothing exploded, no camshafts snapped, no pistons were damaged.

Glad that you guys are willing to drive around your relatively new vehicles that leak oil. Good for you. That doesn't sit well with me. Again, I expect more from Toyota. I didn't buy a Harley.