Is a timing cover oil leak repair really $4K?!

[SC01]

Hello fellow 4Runner friends. Last time I was at the dealer, they said that I had a "timing cover oil leak" and that the gasket/seal needed to be replaced. They quoted this as a $4,000 repair. I almost choked when I heard that.
Is this an accurate quote? Do any of y'all have experience with this kind of oil leak? Could it be coming from somewhere else?
2012 TE 180,000 miles.
Thanks!

 

[thatoneguy]

On that old of a vehicle with high miles, unless it leaks fast enough that you're adding significant oil between oil changes, my modus operandi is: ignore the leak, and just check the oil every month or two.

If the dealer noticed this leak, but you haven't noticed big oil stains in your driveway, I question how fast this leak actually is.

 

[SC01]

On that old of a vehicle with high miles, unless it leaks fast enough that you're adding significant oil between oil changes, my modus operandi is: ignore the leak, and just check the oil every month or two.

If the dealer noticed this leak, but you haven't noticed big oil stains in your driveway, I question how fast this leak actually is.

Good point. I hadn’t noticed it at all bc of my skid plate but now it’s dripping from various areas onto the driveway. It seems to be spitting into the engine bay bc. It was dripping from the passenger LCA, the back of the skid plate, and another place or two. Most areas where I ran my fingers had some level of oil residue. So i think that’s a product of accumulation over time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[raab02]

Good point. I hadn’t noticed it at all bc of my skid plate but now it’s dripping from various areas onto the driveway. It seems to be spitting into the engine bay bc. It was dripping from the passenger LCA, the back of the skid plate, and another place or two. Most areas where I ran my fingers had some level of oil residue. So i think that’s a product of accumulation over time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A friend dropped a nut into the running engine and punched a hole in my timing cover in 2020. It cost $4.5k all-in with parts and labor. It's a huge job. Front clip, cooling system, and all accessory drive/ belts have to come off.

Bonus is you get an oil change, coolant flush, and AC flush out of the deal, lol.

 

[TK-422]

Why not do it yourself? It is only about $60 for the parts and a couple hours of hard work. Add another $100 if you don't have any tools.

Search YouTube videos on how easy it is if you don't have a clue.

 

[rdruss]

Why not do it yourself? It is only about $60 for the parts and a couple hours of hard work. Add another $100 if you don't have any tools.

Search YouTube videos on how easy it is if you don't have a clue.

A "couple of hours of hard work", I'd say this is one of those jobs posted on youtube, "40 hours into a 20 hour job!" Probably take 4 hours just to get to the cover if everything comes off as it should. I'm not saying don't try it, just be ready for a lot of frustration and it will take a long time.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

A friend dropped a nut into the running engine and punched a hole in my timing cover in 2020. It cost $4.5k all-in with parts and labor. It's a huge job. Front clip, cooling system, and all accessory drive/ belts have to come off.

Bonus is you get an oil change, coolant flush, and AC flush out of the deal, lol.

A former friend....corrected it for you.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Why not do it yourself? It is only about $60 for the parts and a couple hours of hard work. Add another $100 if you don't have any tools.

Search YouTube videos on how easy it is if you don't have a clue.

As I tell myself: It's only nuts and bolts. Even an idiot can do it. Diagnosing problems is what takes talent.

 

[premise]

As I tell myself: It's only nuts and bolts. Even an idiot can do it. Diagnosing problems is what takes talent.

That's what I tell myself before I jump into big jobs lol! Kind of a self initiated pep talk. Then it comes down to tools, time, energy, and luck!

 

[knt102000]

Sorry for reviving this thread, but looking for some guidance.

Recently was informed by dealership that my 2016 TE 4Runner (52k miles) has a "bad" leak from the timing cover and needs to be revealed. Wanted $4500 for the repair. I haven't had the chance to check whether it's dripping or just seeping oil, but at a glance things in the engine bay do look coated/greasy, provided I'm not sure how long this leak has been going on for. (For background, car was purchased new, but sat in a garage for 2-3 years from 2018 to 2021 with minimal driving twice a year during that time.)

Given how low miles of a car this is, should this repair be expected at such low miles? Could it be a sign of other possible issues and I just have a bad 4Runner?

My understanding is that its a fairly intensive repair, should the fact they are "cracking open a factory sealed engine" be a concern for leading to other problems in the future?

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Sorry for reviving this thread, but looking for some guidance.

Recently was informed by dealership that my 2016 TE 4Runner (52k miles) has a "bad" leak from the timing cover and needs to be revealed. Wanted $4500 for the repair. I haven't had the chance to check whether it's dripping or just seeping oil, but at a glance things in the engine bay do look coated/greasy, provided I'm not sure how long this leak has been going on for. (For background, car was purchased new, but sat in a garage for 2-3 years from 2018 to 2021 with minimal driving twice a year during that time.)

Given how low miles of a car this is, should this repair be expected at such low miles? Could it be a sign of other possible issues and I just have a bad 4Runner?

My understanding is that its a fairly intensive repair, should the fact they are "cracking open a factory sealed engine" be a concern for leading to other problems in the future?

The only intensive part is the time involved. It’s just a bunch of nuts and bolts. You can DIY following videos on YouTube. Before doing that, I would try adding a bottle of blue devil seal leak. I did this on our leaking rear main seal and it cured the leak.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Sorry for reviving this thread, but looking for some guidance.

Recently was informed by dealership that my 2016 TE 4Runner (52k miles) has a "bad" leak from the timing cover and needs to be revealed. Wanted $4500 for the repair. I haven't had the chance to check whether it's dripping or just seeping oil, but at a glance things in the engine bay do look coated/greasy, provided I'm not sure how long this leak has been going on for. (For background, car was purchased new, but sat in a garage for 2-3 years from 2018 to 2021 with minimal driving twice a year during that time.)

Given how low miles of a car this is, should this repair be expected at such low miles? Could it be a sign of other possible issues and I just have a bad 4Runner?

My understanding is that its a fairly intensive repair, should the fact they are "cracking open a factory sealed engine" be a concern for leading to other problems in the future?

The only intensive part is the time involved. It’s just a bunch of nuts and bolts. You can DIY following videos on YouTube. Before doing that, I would try adding a bottle of blue devil seal leak. I did this on our leaking rear main seal and it cured the leak. Your real problem is that you took it to a dealer. Their techs suck and I gurantee they are doing what a DIY would do in going to videos on this. I wouldn’t let them touch it.

 

[Hungryhawk]

Are you using High Mileage Engine oil now? The additives in the oil swell some seals and cure leaks.
My 2004 Pilot developed a main seal leak around 125k miles. Labor to pull engine to access seal was$$$.
Bottom of engine, tranny and whole bottom of Pilot was wet. Drips stained my driveway.
I switched to Mobile 1 high mileage oil (every oil change from then on) and in a couple weeks I washed bottom at self serve spray car wash with wand.
Leak stopped for 25k miles then started again so I added To oil the AT205 reseal one time. It worked another 30 k miles. Then I added a speciality Main Seal stop leak . That lasted till I sold at about 230k miles. To buy my SR5.