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I DIYed the infamous cam tower leak...

Discussion in '2nd Gen Tundras (2007-2013)' started by CoreyF, May 20, 2023.

  1. May 20, 2023 at 2:26 PM
    #1
    CoreyF

    CoreyF [OP] New Member

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    I decided to tackle the cam tower reseal myself on my 2011 toyota tundra with the 5.7

    Mine was leaking a quart about every 300 miles with 171k on the odometer which is excessive in my opinion.

    I was going to make a DIY video on this repair; however, I only recorded the removal and not the installation. This is because by the time I got in there, for one, I realized how ridiculously long this video would need to be. Second, it was very difficult to show everything I was doing. Third, I did not feel like a figure of authority on this repair since I had never done it before. And finally, I realized... This repair really shouldn't be presented as one for just any DIYer. There are a lot of very meniscal mistakes that could result in blowing up your engine.

    I did it in the truck without pulling the cab or the engine. I will say it was quite the bear of a job. Now, I am a full time mechanic and I do have a lift at my house, so I do have those things going for me. But I had never done this repair before and did not know what to expect. Overall I'd say anybody who is proficient at working on cars could do the job, but it may be worth it for most DIYers to just pay the dealer. The job took me a total of about 20 working hours to complete. The most difficult part was finding all the seals from Toyota...

    Tips that I have for anybody looking to do this job OR doing valve covers or chains. Avoid as much as possible prying up the valve covers unevenly. They are located on pins and you can easily snap either the valve cover or cam carrier if you force them up from one corner. Another recommendation for the valve covers - GET THE OEM SEALS. I had a Fel-pro valve cover gasket set and the seals were COMPLETELY wrong aside from the valve cover gasket itself and the spark plug tube seals.
    Here are the OEM part numbers for those seals:
    11159-0S010 - you will need 2 of these
    11159-0P010 - you will need 4 of these
    90430-A0001 - you will need 4 of these

    My other suggestion is before you remove the timing cover, ensure that you have ALL of the seals needed. You will need 1 or both of the O-rings for the water pipe behind the water pump depending on how it ends up coming apart. Then most importantly you will need the oil pump inlet and outlet seals. If you do not replace these you may grenade your engine. In addition, you will need the O-rings for the oil filter housing where it bolts up to the timing cover.
    I do not have OEM part numbers to give for these as I got them in a Fel-pro conversion gasket set.

    If you do re-seal your own cam towers I strongly suggest doing the complete chain set with guides and tensioners or at a minimum replace the tensioners as there will never be a better time to do so.

    If anybody would like me to edit the footage of the removal and upload to Youtube I may do so.

    Additionally, if anybody has any questions feel free to ask.

    Here are the pictures I took along the way (the pictures uploaded in the opposite order, look from the bottom-up):

    348365012_1231338524177854_1615083879941076601_n.jpg 346114551_978900349957896_1257457433046369974_n.jpg 348366141_2203891996472850_1974894966559962544_n.jpg 348366979_1320571432149425_4194024155789586093_n.jpg 348361427_641520107373635_4537817532699798514_n.jpg 346104748_626010106234907_2755709749320244685_n.jpg 346105160_282683517429858_785805225002799863_n.jpg 346162470_3472170173022646_1326292103536096309_n.jpg 346147276_1441505693328439_822313694533823893_n.jpg 346105253_779432873579741_8423777488018166937_n.jpg 348380480_590468013151773_668074532247711663_n.jpg 346150693_618754416862622_6335889160708258298_n.jpg

    346150693_618754416862622_6335889160708258298_n.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2023
    Warreng, pitch, Ricos and 13 others like this.
  2. May 20, 2023 at 2:27 PM
    #2
    CoreyF

    CoreyF [OP] New Member

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    OK the pictures uploaded in a completely incorrect order. Sorry.
     
    Wynnded likes this.
  3. May 20, 2023 at 2:41 PM
    #3
    TILLY

    TILLY Gently Used Member

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    Nice job. 20 hours is damn good for a first time, I've heard Techs who do this on a regular basis taking between 11 to 13 hours to complete.
     
    CoreyF[OP] likes this.
  4. May 20, 2023 at 2:49 PM
    #4
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    I do believe this might be a first on here. At the very least, I can say I've never stumbled across anyone else who has done this job, so hats off to you for that! If you get a youtube video up for it and it can function as a guide for people, that would be awesome. Possibly even worth a sticky in the 2nd and 2.5 Gen sections.
     
  5. May 20, 2023 at 3:57 PM
    #5
    BuckWallace

    BuckWallace Ball don't lie.

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    Bravo! Quite the undertaking.
     
    CoreyF[OP] likes this.
  6. May 20, 2023 at 4:18 PM
    #6
    Piki

    Piki New Member

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    Great job!!!
    Beautiful clean engine inside.
    Mobile1 oil?
     
  7. May 20, 2023 at 4:25 PM
    #7
    CoreyF

    CoreyF [OP] New Member

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    Thank you, sir. I may get another shot one day if a customer comes in complaining of an oil leak on one of these lol. Maybe then I can try to get a better time :rofl:
     
    Tripleconpanna likes this.
  8. May 20, 2023 at 4:26 PM
    #8
    CoreyF

    CoreyF [OP] New Member

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    Oh boy I did not know that! Maybe I should have done a better job documenting it. I will see what I can scrape together from the footage I have.
     
    GODZILLA[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. May 20, 2023 at 4:27 PM
    #9
    CoreyF

    CoreyF [OP] New Member

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    To be honest I was hoping it would be a little bit cleaner but I can't complain. I do not know what oil had been used prior to my ownership as I just bought the truck in April. But I will say that I did put Mobil1 in after this repair!
     
    Piki[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. May 20, 2023 at 4:32 PM
    #10
    Tripleconpanna

    Tripleconpanna Just an X who bought Bud Light from Target

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    Hats off :hattip:

    That job is way, way, way above my pay grade, skill level and patience... Great work!!!

    BTW, do you have any idea what a dealer is currently charging to complete that job? I'd imagine $2-$3k :notsure:
     
    CMikeB and GODZILLA like this.
  11. May 20, 2023 at 4:35 PM
    #11
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    Back in 2022 this guy was quoted over $4K. https://www.tundras.com/threads/cam-tower-leak.110003/#post-2839208
     
  12. May 20, 2023 at 4:43 PM
    #12
    Jernik

    Jernik New Member

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    So, nobody's ever tried to just JB Weld it from the outside? :burp:

    j/k, don't try that. :rofl:

    Kudos to OP, not an easy job from what I understand! :thumbsup: Hope I get lucky and never have to deal with it.
     
    Tripleconpanna likes this.
  13. May 21, 2023 at 5:38 AM
    #13
    CoreyF

    CoreyF [OP] New Member

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    Hey I mean if the cam carrier and the cylinder head were one piece in the first place this would have never been an issue... I think you may be on to something.
     
    Jernik[QUOTED] likes this.
  14. May 23, 2023 at 6:53 PM
    #14
    Richie Rich

    Richie Rich New Member

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    The thought of cleaning the crap out of the offending area and applying RTV has crossed my mind.

    Unfortunately my truck has this. It isn't excessive but it is for sure doing it. I have been deep into engines before but I really, really do not want to tackle this job so I am dreading writing the check for it.
     
    Jernik[QUOTED] likes this.
  15. May 23, 2023 at 7:07 PM
    #15
    TILLY

    TILLY Gently Used Member

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    If I ever get the dreaded leak, I'm definitely trying this first. Clean and press into the gap. If it continues to leak, you're out like ten bucks.

    7310173_ptx_22072_pri_larg.jpg
     
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  16. May 23, 2023 at 7:31 PM
    #16
    ZappBrannigan

    ZappBrannigan The mind is willing but the flesh is weak

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    Good job. Would you mind giving us a ballpark of what you spent to do the job yourself?
     
  17. May 27, 2023 at 9:50 AM
    #17
    CoreyF

    CoreyF [OP] New Member

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    So with all the parts including water pump, belt, chains/guides/tensioners, belt tensioner, belt idler, all of the gaskets, FIPG & PS fluid, oil & coolant I spent around $800
     
  18. Sep 4, 2023 at 11:21 PM
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    Nemesis

    Nemesis New Member

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    Is this a cam tower leak? If so, would you consider this excessive?

    I'm no mechanic and my mechanic skill level is on the intermediate level but I fear I have no choice but to tackle this myself. On a tight budget.

    But the question to you is, do I really need to have this done? Meaning, will this ruin my 5.7 engine if I don't fix it?

    Cam Tower leak.jpg
    Cam Tower leak 2.jpg

    Cam Tower leak 3.jpg
     
  19. Sep 5, 2023 at 5:33 AM
    #19
    CoreyF

    CoreyF [OP] New Member

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    To me that looks more like it originates from your timing cover. To check your cam towers remove the little access covers in your wheel wells (they're held on with like 4 plastic clips each) and look above the exhaust manifolds. Identify the plate below the valve cover and you will see RTV sealant where it mates with the head. That is where you will be able to tell if your cam towers are leaking. And to be honest with you my friend, if its not dripping on the ground and you don't smell it on your exhaust I don't think I'd bother fixing that at this time.
     

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