Another reason I'm going to wait and see if the leak is actually that bad, is because who can say that it won't start leaking after another 24,000 miles and maybe even worse that time. And if that would end up being the case and I had to take it back I would be having 2 major repairs done which increases the chances of something going wrong.

I know I sound real negative about taking it to the dealer, but after a few of the experiences with dealer repairs (not with Toyota) I've had it's hard not to be.

What do you do at Lexus?Have you ever even built a an engine? No ,oil before the initial start up or before the timing chain cover goes on?Surely you jest!

The pistons,rods,roller rockers,cam and bearings all go in first and are lubricated with assembly oil and not to mention the heads and block are machined in machine OIL before it all goes together. I've never built or seen an engine built dry in my life.

So your saying it's a design flaw again like the pre 2007 SB 1GR-FE engines?

Interesting approach. Me? I would be driving the loaner until it was fixed correctly. But its your truck and wish you the best with it.

i am a technician. where people have problems with oily surface is because the oil has been slung every where in the engine after running and oil has gone in the head. you are right that when a brand new engine is assembled, ASSEMBLY LUBE is used on bearing surfaces all around the engine but all they dont spray oil all over every other surface on the engine pointlessly. assembly has high viscosity which i would find hard to believe that it will run down from the cam bearings somehow get to the front cover sealing surface of block. i want to know if you have every completely built a stock toyota motors with all new parts, block, heads, and front cover. they dont come oily

I have had my front cover resealed on my 07 Tacoma with no leaks for the last 30,000 miles. What I was told is that the sealer was put on real thin or not at all in that area. I think that Toyota would have the problem fixed by now,.... but I know these motors are solid and if this one leaks then I'll have it repaired also.

Just got my 10k oil change done on my 2011 Trail. I noticed an oil burning smell maybe the last 600 or so miles before i could get it in for the appointment. I had my oil change done and picked up my paper work and key from the cashier and was sitting in my car before i left giving it a quick read over when i saw one of the boxes for inspections (which they just auto check off anyways) was changed from the green (good box) to the red box for (leaks). I went back inside to ask and they were all surprised when i pointed it out. The dude went back to check it out with the service peeps and i guess he said something about a manifold leak and i need to bring the car in for 3 days while they fix it. This sounds like what other people have expirenced as well. Hope they can fix it in one go. Funny no one said anything when i picked up my car and i had to read the service notes to find out.

This is not good or advisable from ANY dealership.

Took my 2003 V6 T4R in today for the acceleration recall and they informed me of the timing chain cover leaking. Car has 113k miles, last time it was at the dealer was 85k miles 2 years ago and they didn't report it then.

One of the things done at that trip was water pump and serp belt. I mention that because they would definitely notice the leak since the oily bolt is adjacent to the water pump bolts (see picture). The car was my dad's at that time so I don't know why he had the pump changed a few months before handing it down to me.

The leak seems to be right where the TSB indicates: only on the passenger side by the end of the water pump.


I definitely feel gut-punched as this is my second Toyota and I come from a family that has had 5 Toyotas over time and this is the first unscheduled multi-thousand dollar repair of all 5. The TSB says this is a 7.6 hour job and the dealership guy gave a verbal estimate of a couple thousand dollars. This is definitely out of warranty so I'm trying to figure out what I want to do.

To the guy who decided to wait and see: have you noticed it getting any worse? I've noticed no oil consumption in the year and a half of ownership and don't see oil on anything other than that one bolt, so I'm tempted to just watch the oil level before spending a couple grand to save an ounce of oil leaked out over the course of six months. Any thoughts?

With 113K on it and no warranty....and it doesn't use oil? I would just keep an eye on it. If you don't already, check the oil level every gas fill up. I check tire pressure too instead of just hanging out for 5-10 min while the gas pumps. Use that few mins to do a systems check. I noticed the small leak in the same area on my 04 Sport Edition V-6 and just let it ride (traded in at 100K with no probs). It didn't use oil, and really I didn't even get that "hot oil" smell unless I put my nose down in the engine bay. If it ain't broke.....


Now if the truck was in warranty, might as well have em fix it. But since it ain't run that yoter down the road buddy, she will do just fine!!

Thanks for the encouragement. I read on the Tacomaworld.com forums about a lot more people with the same issue occurring after warranty and there are people who have watched it for 30k miles and it doesn't get any worse.

My plan is to take off the skid plate this weekend and inspect from the bottom, clean off the spot really well and see how long it takes to come back. One guy did this to his Tacoma and 15k miles later he still didn't see any more oil.

I first noticed it over 4 months ago and it doesn't look any worse now then it did then.

hey guys hate to open an old thread but I'm have the same problem with a 2007 FJ Cruiser , timing chain cover is leaking antifreeze though anyone else? 2000.00 plus dollar repair yeah everything needs pulled valve covers, oil pan, intake then timing chain cover ,repair in progress

Guys. I had a problem with my daughter's CRV. Should I post about it in a Toyota 5th gen forum? It has four wheels so it must be similar right? There is a great FJ forum and a great section on 4th gens here. Mixing different vehicles with the same problem is not a good thing.

Are leaky valve cover gaskets are covered under Toyota extended warranty?

in his slight defense, it's the same engine.. different heads.. but yea he should have plenty of info from the FJ forums on this