I'm in the same boat brother. I called Toyota and got it inspected at a dealer and they even said to keep er' goin. I would say if more people called to corporate we could maybe get it covered but most won't.
Timing cover leak = first trip to dealer
- Thread starter cmills
- Start date
I'm in the same boat brother. I called Toyota and got it inspected at a dealer and they even said to keep er' goin. I would say if more people called to corporate we could maybe get it covered but most won't.
2015 Limited 120k. I had the timing cover leak and Xreas leaking. Toyota Platinum 5yr/125k covered it all. I had dealer document issue at every service for 12-14 months. Toyota did not push back and fixed everything. First time that I ever purchased an extended warranty on a vehicle. I knew I was planning to keep 4Runner for a long time so I purchased the longest Toyota warranty available at the time.
Joe-Runner
New member
Had a closer look today and cleaned up as I replaced the serpentine belt. It's certainly been leaking for some time! Seems to be coming from the area just above the power steering pump.
I wonder if it's actually coming from this tube that goes just behind the dipstick back to the area above the PS pump.
Is this the same area others experienced a leak?
I wonder if it's actually coming from this tube that goes just behind the dipstick back to the area above the PS pump.
Is this the same area others experienced a leak?
Joe-Runner
New member
You think they would care since I'm the second owner? Judging by the look of it this thing has been leaking for many miles. I wonder if the previous owner could have got it fixed under warranty!
UPDATE: just spoke with the previous owner and found out she had a 75K mile warranty [emoji849] she could have got this fixed no problem if she had reported it. She did however have it in for service at 60K and they didn't mention it. Either they didn't want to fix it or they really didn't see it.
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That's pretty much the same exact thing I said to Toyota. My truck was serviced at a dealer for its entire life until I got it because I do it myself. I said they should've at the very least made a note about this.
I'm curious, If the timing cover is leaking, and it gets resealed, the oil would just collect in the cover and not be visible, no? This would just hide symptom of a bigger problem. Wouldn't you agree that the source of the leak is not addressed if just the cover is resealed?
M22
New member
There isn’t something leaking inside the cover, there is supposed to be oil inside there to lube the timing chain(s). Think of the timing cover seal serving the same purpose as a oil pan gasket/seal.
WOLFN8TR
New member
Had a closer look today and cleaned up as I replaced the serpentine belt. It's certainly been leaking for some time! Seems to be coming from the area just above the power steering pump.
I wonder if it's actually coming from this tube that goes just behind the dipstick back to the area above the PS pump. Is this the same area others experienced a leak?
I know this is a year old but I just wanted to add some info. We have the same exact oil leak on our 2015 4Runner Trail. It looked like the hard line was leaking at the engine block as in the photo above. Took it to the dealer and they said it's the Timing Cover and needs to be resealed. It's a 21 hour job covered under warranty and the engine needs to be pulled / lifted to be fixed. Luckily it's still under warranty otherwise it would be approx $3500!!
Joe-Runner
New member
Whoa! Well, good thing for me I traded her in for a 2021 TRD ORP
WOLFN8TR
New member
DaveT4RTrail2021
Junior Member
My 2021 has oil in the indicated spots in the pictures. There is only 3000miles on it. From the experiences you guys have had do you think this is signs of a timing cover leak? This area seems to drip down towards the lower control arm on the drivers side at the front of the engine.
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WOLFN8TR
New member
Timing cover leaking at 3000 miles, I guess it’s possible. Did you recently have the oil changed? It almost looks like they spilled some oil while filling.
On my 4Runner it was leaking from the top by the oil line. It leaked down on both sides and made a huge mess.
BlackWorksInc
New member
Timing cover leak usually happens near the junction between the block, cylinder head, and timing cover. That seems like a pretty good drip though.
DaveT4RTrail2021
Junior Member
It is going to the dealer today for diagnosis. I will keep you informed.
Has anyone with a small timing cover leak tried switching to 5w30. I wonder if anything would change? I believe only North America uses 0w20 in this engine to due CAFE. Perhaps the thinner oil exacerbates this issue making it more common?
Has anyone with a small timing cover leak tried switching to 5w30. I wonder if anything would change? I believe only North America uses 0w20 in this engine to due CAFE. Perhaps the thinner oil exacerbates this issue making it more common?
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DaveT4RTrail2021
Junior Member
The dealer ended up putting UV dye in the oil and after driving it for a couple days I brought it back. They found that the oil filter housing had a bolt that was almost a full turn loose. The master mechanic that was working on it said that oil would drip onto the belt and then get splashed up to the areas I was seeing.
He said he torqued it and believes that should solve the issue. He knows I have my own UV light though and I’ve been involved in the process so he was nice enough to say if I see anything else after he cleaned the affected areas, just to bring it back and they will change the gasket (which is a short job).
He said he torqued it and believes that should solve the issue. He knows I have my own UV light though and I’ve been involved in the process so he was nice enough to say if I see anything else after he cleaned the affected areas, just to bring it back and they will change the gasket (which is a short job).
BlackWorksInc
New member
Really? That's an interesting cause of the leak! I haven't come across too many times an engine related bolt was loose from the factory. Wonder if the dealership did a DPR on that or not.
But I am glad they figured it out.
DaveT4RTrail2021
Junior Member
Thank you. Can you tell me what a DPR is?
