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

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by jacob.jons.jj, Jan 5, 2018.

  1. Feb 24, 2021 at 7:59 AM
    #2521
    ckkone

    ckkone New Member

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    That is no big deal, I'd leave it and not lose any sleep over it.
     
    Vang530 and equin like this.
  2. Feb 24, 2021 at 8:04 AM
    #2522
    cdavi060

    cdavi060 New Member

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    Yeah? Should I expect it to get worse? Would hate to have oil dripping in the driveway, or smelly burnt oil coming from the engine.
     
  3. Feb 24, 2021 at 8:06 AM
    #2523
    ckkone

    ckkone New Member

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    It will not get much worse, waste of money to fix it. It's probably been like that for 50,000 miles.
     
  4. Feb 28, 2021 at 6:09 AM
    #2524
    philnj

    philnj New Member

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    Anyone's truck making almost like a ticking noise on startup then goes away, i had my passenger cam shaft tower seal done.
     
  5. Feb 28, 2021 at 6:24 PM
    #2525
    Solutions2 Low-Voltage

    Solutions2 Low-Voltage New Member

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    Matt
    Georgia
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    2008 White Tundra DC, LB, 4x4
    Borla Duals - TRD Intake - Bedslide - ARE Shell
    No loss of performance here. Major loss of fuel economy from a heavy foot. I have not had a chance to swap out oils yet - been working too much lately. But, I am also going to spray it really good with cleaner and try and find out where the leak is at (just for sake of knowing because there will be no open heart surgery on this - Too Much Money). It is leaking in more than one place, I do know that. It is also hard to see Royal Purple oil until it forms a "drip tip" and that drip location is usually not from the actual leak location.
     
    Malinois38[QUOTED] likes this.
  6. Feb 28, 2021 at 6:32 PM
    #2526
    mtndds98

    mtndds98 New Member

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    Mine leaks on a 2013 CM w/ 64k. The leak is very slow, like really slow on both sides. I wipe it off at every oil change and forget about it until the next oil change. I probably could go 10k before I wipe it off. No heat shield drip, yet.
     
  7. Mar 1, 2021 at 4:57 AM
    #2527
    cdavi060

    cdavi060 New Member

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    Hoping this is the same situation I am in.
     
  8. Mar 5, 2021 at 11:33 AM
    #2528
    ATHiker

    ATHiker New Member

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    I was on a trip and had the oil changed at a Toyota dealer. They indicated that I had a cam tower leak on the passenger side. I didn't have time to have them repair it. Returned home and took it to a local dealer. The local dealer felt the leak was a valve cover leak. They replaced the valve cover gasket and 15,000 miles later its still dry.
     
    WAtundra4x4, Malinois38 and equin like this.
  9. Mar 11, 2021 at 8:19 AM
    #2529
    Clemshady

    Clemshady Bama Storm Trooper

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    \ Factory OEM LED Tundra Pro headlight upgrade Diode Dynamic amber Pro fogs 3" DD amber Pro ditch lights SDHQ ditch brackets 42" DD light bar SwitchPro 9100 Pedal Commander Vinyl wrapped bumpers Painted calipers Painted horns Chrome delete complete ARE CX Evolve Topper TRD rear swaybar Matching door handles and mirror caps Oh shit handle upgrade Matching grille surround/hood bulge TRD PRO insert grille BBS Forged TRD PRO wheels Coachbuilder +3 shackles Eibach Pro 2.0 Coilovers and rear shocks
    Update:
    After talking with General Manager at dealership and going back and forth they realized that my truck was a certified Toyota when I bought it from them used with 47,000 on it back in 2019. Before they realized this they offered to pay for parts and I had to cover labor. I told them truck is certified, they should cover all of it. Something finally clicked and dealership is doing the right thing. I am now only out $50 for the deductible and Toyota is covering everything else. My only advice after all of this is to buy from a dealership and make sure it is a certified vehicle, saved my ass on this one.
     
    Bakershack, superdenk, jtwags and 6 others like this.
  10. Mar 11, 2021 at 8:46 AM
    #2530
    BuckWallace

    BuckWallace Ball don't lie.

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    That's awesome to hear! Yours being such a relatively new truck I'd want it taken care of since they're offering to do so under warranty. My 2018 had the leak at 8,000 miles and the dealer did something to screw up the engine while they had it opened. They ended up buying it back and I bought a used 2010 with 104k on the clock. My 2010 has the leak, too, but as others have pointed out, there is no noticeable loss of oil between changes. I'm just going to let this one go unless it gets much worse—no sense in paying a ton to have them open the engine up.
     
  11. Mar 17, 2021 at 10:30 AM
    #2531
    sbxx312

    sbxx312 New Member

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    I thought my truck had stopped leaking on the driver's side, but I just checked and it's dripping on the heat shield. Dealership confirmed the leak at 5,500 miles, but I decided to hold off. Waiting seemed to work because I thought it mostly stopped.

    16,000 miles now. The truck has been hauling the family up to the mountains every weekend. My guess is that's causing some of it. We have a pretty busy camping season this year and a trip to South Dakota. Let's see how bad it is (or not) after hauling the trailer around for the season. I'm still not inclined to fix it unless it gets really bad.
     
  12. Mar 19, 2021 at 10:49 AM
    #2532
    sbxx312

    sbxx312 New Member

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    I took a closer look this morning. It's dripping on the heat shield pretty good and has covered about four inches of it. If I left it, it would start to drip on the driveway. I don't smell it in the cab.

    Too bad. I thought I was in the clear. I have been driving like a jackass since my 10" DD. And I use my truck. Not sure what I'll do, but I know I'll clean it up at the next oil change and see how bad it's dripping. I'll report back.

    Low mileage cam tower leak. At least I can stop reading the supercharger threads.
     
  13. Mar 21, 2021 at 6:43 AM
    #2533
    supermotobobby

    supermotobobby New Member

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    Why doesn't Toyota design a physical gasket to fix the cam tower issue?
     
  14. Mar 21, 2021 at 6:53 AM
    #2534
    Wynnded

    Wynnded What MPG...

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    Wouldn't it be too thick compared to the sealant? Then things wouldn't work proper...
     
  15. Mar 21, 2021 at 9:25 AM
    #2535
    CallMeD

    CallMeD New Member

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    Just realized I had a leak a few days ago...both sides. I have a 2010 DC 5.7 with 147K miles. I’m thinking it might be a good idea to take care of some other items while the work is being performed. Timing chain/tensioners? Anything else recommended?
     
  16. Mar 29, 2021 at 4:28 PM
    #2536
    Retroboy1989

    Retroboy1989 'Course it's 4x4!

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    Snug top 20" TRD Sport wheels 275/60R20 Tires Additional Trans Cooler
    Well this was a fun thread to find. :rolleyes: Sure enough, my '12 is leaking on the driver's side, pretty wet, hard to get a picture. No drips on the ground. Just turned 50,000. Anyone in Northern Utah get this fixed? Who did the work?
     
  17. Mar 29, 2021 at 4:37 PM
    #2537
    Clemshady

    Clemshady Bama Storm Trooper

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    That sucks. 50,000 on a 2012, you better hang on to that one. Good luck on your cam shaft tower seal journey regardless, these trucks are worth it IMHO.
     
  18. Mar 29, 2021 at 4:42 PM
    #2538
    Retroboy1989

    Retroboy1989 'Course it's 4x4!

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    Yeah I'm super pleased with the truck. I just bought it a few weeks ago from the original owner. I figure I better get this leak repaired while it is still supposedly under warranty. It has been serviced its entire life at the same dealer. Probably would be best to start there.
     
    Clemshady[QUOTED] likes this.
  19. Mar 29, 2021 at 5:44 PM
    #2539
    Retroboy1989

    Retroboy1989 'Course it's 4x4!

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    Was able to get a picture. There is a about a 2-3" segment that is wet with oil. The seal is grey but the lighting messes with that. This seems like it would be pretty minor. Anyone experience real oil loss or even dripping from this issue?
    20210329_183729.jpg
     
  20. Mar 29, 2021 at 5:48 PM
    #2540
    HidetownRed

    HidetownRed Buffalo Hunter

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    Most that I’ve known that leak never present a drop in the driveway. Most never know they have a leak(unless they are a member here).
     
    TheBeast likes this.
  21. Mar 29, 2021 at 5:57 PM
    #2541
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    true, I never knew I had it until I read here. got it taken care of over 3 years ago. been dry since then. no issues to report post surgery :)
     
  22. Mar 29, 2021 at 6:02 PM
    #2542
    Retroboy1989

    Retroboy1989 'Course it's 4x4!

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    I guess I'll see how much goodwill Toyota has for me! I won't pay to have it fixed, but if they will do it for parts or a small deductible, I'm in.
     
  23. Mar 29, 2021 at 6:03 PM
    #2543
    Retroboy1989

    Retroboy1989 'Course it's 4x4!

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    Looks like most seeped oil would burn off on the exhaust.
     
  24. Mar 30, 2021 at 8:45 AM
    #2544
    Megaman

    Megaman New Member

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    I just returned from my local Toyota dealer after having the free 6 month free maintenance done. The truck only had less than 2K miles on it. I haven't driven it as much as I would like due to this pandemic stuff going on.

    I asked the service guy if he could take a quick look at the cam tower seals for any leaks since its a known issue with the 5.7's.....and he asked why, and asked me if I saw that on the internet. I told him that yes, I did see it on the internet. He claims he has been doing this for years and never heard of any issues with leaky cam tower seals. ...Now I see why others don't like going to dealers....
     
    Wynnded likes this.
  25. Mar 30, 2021 at 8:51 AM
    #2545
    HidetownRed

    HidetownRed Buffalo Hunter

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    What rock has he been living under lol
     
  26. Mar 30, 2021 at 9:26 AM
    #2546
    BuckWallace

    BuckWallace Ball don't lie.

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    I honestly wouldn't ask the service guy to look for it. My service guy also played dumb when I brought it to his attention, then when I asked for the master tech to come look at it (since I knew it was leaking) he knew exactly where to look. The tech claimed they get 1-2 per MONTH in for this fix, while the service guy claimed he'd never heard of it. Anyway, I've owned two Tundras in my life, and both have/had this leak. Either I have terrible luck or this issue is much more widespread than everyone claims. I bet half the people on this thread claiming theirs aren't leaking haven't even looked.
     
    Megaman[QUOTED], equin and Wynnded like this.
  27. Mar 30, 2021 at 9:42 AM
    #2547
    sbxx312

    sbxx312 New Member

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    At 5500 miles, my service guy confirmed my driver's side was leaking, but also said they don't do many. He offered to do both sides. Confidence inspiring.

    Sucks about both your trucks. I think it's widespread as well. I think people are blissfully ignorant because they don't read tundras.com.
     
  28. Mar 30, 2021 at 10:39 AM
    #2548
    Retroboy1989

    Retroboy1989 'Course it's 4x4!

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    I'm starting to wish I was blissfully ignorant. It really is minor in impact, but also annoying! I wouldn't even worry about it if I knew Toyota wouldn't do anything, but if there is a chance of getting it fixed for free....

    Edit: So far, nobody has shared a story of leaking buckets or causing a fire. Do the leaks start early and weep forever? Or do they progressively get worse?
     
    HidetownRed likes this.
  29. Mar 30, 2021 at 10:42 AM
    #2549
    HidetownRed

    HidetownRed Buffalo Hunter

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    Any threads about potential issues are like going on web MD. They all get me a little ocd and have run out too the truck and check things out lol.
     
    BuckWallace likes this.
  30. Mar 30, 2021 at 10:45 AM
    #2550
    Retroboy1989

    Retroboy1989 'Course it's 4x4!

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    It is silly when you think about it, looking for problems. I actually went out to my garage because of this thread and put a flashlight in my wheel well. It sounds like many can go for 100s of thousands of miles with the leak and without any real problems.

    I spent a fair penny on a clean, 50k Tundra and I don't want it leaking oil, especially while I'm making payments.
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2021
    BuckWallace likes this.

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