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

Thanks Trdlife, I will keep everyone posted when it goes in for surgery....

 

Is the black FIPG different then the gray used at the factory? I read somewhere the color was just for warranty purposes so you would know if its been repaired. I'm curious if its a different sealant altogether. Mine was leaking bad enough that the dealer went ahead and processed it to be fixed. You mention Toyota getting picky on the reseals, will they only allow the side that's leaking to be fixed? Most I see on here the dealer fixes both sides even if only one is leaking. My dealer told me they wont do the driver side since its not leaking, seems to me if the passenger side is leaking then the driver side isn't far behind.

I'm right there with you, 2017 here and they have to pull engine and crack her open to fix so I feel for ya.

 

I already have 35k on my 2017 CM. I haven't noticed anything on my garage floor, but will try to peek under soon. I assume these are areas behind the wheels, or do I need to go straight under the engine? Also, if you do change the oil at every 10k or drop down to 5k, is it that big of a deal? What could go wrong if you don't do anything??

I drove my Tacoma for 225k after they told me the valve cover gasket was leaking, just had a stained engine block, which wasn't a big deal for me..

 

Mine was visible by look up at the manifold form underneath, and it was actually dripping onto the manifold heat shield. Some members have just a seep which doesn't seem to bad. Mine is visibly dripping and I've lost 1/2qt oil in 6k miles so I would say it can be pretty substantial. I don't know if it will stay the same or get any worse. But I would think once the oil starts seeping under the fipg seal, its going to intensify the leak. m

 

As far as what it is made up of i'm not sure but it very well could be, could be made to set up in a different time frame. but the color yes is an easy way for us to tell if something has been resealed. from the factory you have light grey seal, and on some i have notice 15 or newer like mine, it is a dark grey sealant, and from those i have not seen leaks in my area.

As far as one or both sides, that may depend on the tech or the area, if they are having issues with claims or something. I have seen some people do just one side, and then low and behold the other side start leaking. and generaly they both are leaking one may be worse than the other. I have been told from higher up to just do both it just makes sense, since i am already there.

 

If you don't mind me asking what dealership do you work for? Was at dealership yesterday where I purchased truck and they barely acknowledged a problem and said it's very rare. Lol

 

I'm down in Kansas. And honestly if may be rare in some areas or dealers. I know it seems weird but some areas see problems other dont. Like in general, we do a lot of door lock actuators, its know, and i know a mastertech at another dealer been there like 5-10 years and they have never had one fail.

 

Thanks for the reply, my dealer is in CT and supposedly one of the top seller's of tundra trucks. I find it hard to believe when they say it's rare but then again I kinda expected that response. Time will tell i guess, as of now no leaks.

 

Well they may look at it the way i do sometime. We are the largest truck sell in the midwest and one of the top nation, so per tundras we sell and see on a daily basis, yea the numbers are extremely low.

 

@trdlife I can see you open your own shop later on.."Tundra cam tower leaks expert"

 

My left side is leaking a little. I clean it off and make sure the Oil is topped.

Would I like it fixed, sure, maybe, idk, only if it was detrimental. But I won't ever be able to afford to fix it at the prices i see getting thrown around and I'm @ 132K miles, so well out of any warranty.

I'm used to cars that drip a little oil, doesn't bug me.

 

Thanks for the info, I to was thinking they are only doing one side because that's all they are paid to fix. Once the engine is out and the engine torn down about how many hours are we talking for the driver side to be resealed if you were already in there for the passenger? I'm curious and trying to get as much knowledge about it before I call Toyota.

 

your looking at and addition 2-3 hours for the other side i say is what book time is on it.

 

Thanks! Seems like a waste to pull the motor and not give 2 more hrs for the driver side. I will see if corporate will allow the dealership to reseal the driver side as well.

 

So far so good. Both sides were leaking so they did both. I don't have very many miles on it since it was repaired, it's not my daily driver.

 

My dealership said the same thing. It was rare and they have not done many.

 

@trdlife
Thanks for your response.
To clarify I was wondering if the cause of leak/seepage could be due to the bolts getting loose over time due to vibration or expansion/contraction due to temperature ... have you seen any cases like that?

 

Lol oh my bad I read that wrong. To answer that no I do not think it is a torque issue, every one I have done had to be broke loose by hand.

 

i see, I was hoping it was the loose bolts! i had some in my Tacoma ... i prefer loose bolts over the over-haul of the engine ... lol

 

lol yea I would love to have my own, shop, for Tundra performance and even cam towers, but being isolated in kansas, thats long drives for people lol

 

Called Toyota today and opened up a case for an warranty extension, I will hear back in 1 day. So we shall see...fingers crossed.

 

Got my truck back today. They fixed the cam tower seals on both sides. Paperwork shows that both were indeed leaking but I only really noticed it on the drivers side. Job shows 20 hours.

I had a 2017 Avalon hybrid for a loaner. Gotta admit getting 38mpg average for my weekly commute was nice compared to my normal 14 in my Tundra. Might have to look at a Highlander hybrid to replace the wife's Sienna.

 

Did you find out the method they used? Pull engine, in truck or pull cab?

Glad you got yours back and as is well.

 

In truck.

Thanks, hope you get yours done quickly as well.

 

First post here, but Sir you are a God sender. Found out this cam tower fiasco in my 12 RW and I'm getting to ship the truck to Alaska. Let's see what if the local dealer will do the fix even I don;t trust them for some BS jobs done in other cars.

 

Welcome!

 

First post but sigh 2018 tundra 580miles right side leaking.

 

Welcome! Sorry to hear. Hope dealer fix it for you.

 

Lame. I'd definitely be asking for a new truck. Totally unacceptable to have the top end broken into on a truck with less than 1,000 miles.

 

Thanks gonna have to call them Monday second time it’s been in for work in the 2 weeks I had