Timing cover leak

SKINUM

SKINUM

New member
So, I was checking the 4runner out which is a 2015 Trail with 31,200 miles. I've been dealing with the issue since the 10k mark. The first dealer changed the oil canister housing which resulted in no change.

I watched it for a while and decided to degrease everything and I could then tell it was coming from up high and draining down. So, I narrowed it down to the timing cover.

I took it to another dealer and mentioned that I suspected the timing cover was the issue. Luckily, after examining it they found it was in fact the timing cover. I was told they would need the 4runner for 1.5 days to replace.

So, how many people have had this issue on a 5th generation and does anyone know what goes into the replacement ? I was thinking on 4th generations the engine had to be pulled for replacement.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
SKINUM said:
So, I was checking the 4runner out which is a 2015 Trail with 31,200 miles. I've been dealing with the issue since the 10k mark. The first dealer changed the oil canister housing which resulted in no change.

I watched it for a while and decided to degrease everything and I could then tell it was coming from up high and draining down. So, I narrowed it down to the timing cover.

I took it to another dealer and mentioned that I suspected the timing cover was the issue. Luckily, after examining it they found it was in fact the timing cover. I was told they would need the 4runner for 1.5 days to replace.

So, how many people have had this issue on a 5th generation and does anyone know what goes into the replacement ? I was thinking on 4th generations the engine had to be pulled for replacement.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Start here:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/107337-timing-cover-leak-=-first-trip-dealer.html

Based on my forum experience I would not say "this is common", based on the above thread I would say "but occurrences are documented"
 
Was more common on the earlier 1GR-FEs, particularly in the early Tacomas for some reason.

It shows up every now and then on the new 4Runners, like [MENTION=96008]Engineer[/MENTION] said it's not common, but it has shown up once in a while.
 
Wondering if anyone has DIY'd the timing chain cover reseal on a 5th gen 4runner yet. Have the leak and want to fix it myself to save 2 grand but just want to know how others have gone about the fix if they have done it. From what I know, because the 5th gens oil filter bracket is attached to the oil pan, instead of up top like in the 4th gens, you must drop the upper oil pan to get the timing cover off...
 
Toronto4runner2 said:
Wondering if anyone has DIY'd the timing chain cover reseal on a 5th gen 4runner yet. Have the leak and want to fix it myself to save 2 grand but just want to know how others have gone about the fix if they have done it. From what I know, because the 5th gens oil filter bracket is attached to the oil pan, instead of up top like in the 4th gens, you must drop the upper oil pan to get the timing cover off...
Click to expand...

I mean if you're not squeamish about pulling the engine out of the vehicle and you have an engine stand it's doable at home. It's how you're supposed to do it per the book because of the placement of design changes when they went to dual VVTi and relocated the oil filter housing.

That being said, it is possible to drop the front differential, jack the engine up and slot 1~2" (I forget exactly which size we used) thick blocks between the motor mount and engine brackets to lift the engine up enough to wiggle the lower oil pan off and out. It is by no means easy and extremely frustrating from what I saw; but it did allow my coworker to leave the engine in the vehicle and get the job done. But I honestly don't know how you would accomplish that on jack stands, the amount of wiggling, cursing, and trying to maneuver the upper oil pan to get it physically out of the way seemed hard even with the vehicle on a proper hoist.

I suppose it comes down to what your time is worth and if you have the equipment to get the job done?
 
BlackWorksInc said:
I mean if you're not squeamish about pulling the engine out of the vehicle and you have an engine stand it's doable at home. It's how you're supposed to do it per the book because of the placement of design changes when they went to dual VVTi and relocated the oil filter housing.

That being said, it is possible to drop the front differential, jack the engine up and slot 1~2" (I forget exactly which size we used) thick blocks between the motor mount and engine brackets to lift the engine up enough to wiggle the lower oil pan off and out. It is by no means easy and extremely frustrating from what I saw; but it did allow my coworker to leave the engine in the vehicle and get the job done. But I honestly don't know how you would accomplish that on jack stands, the amount of wiggling, cursing, and trying to maneuver the upper oil pan to get it physically out of the way seemed hard even with the vehicle on a proper hoist.

I suppose it comes down to what your time is worth and if you have the equipment to get the job done?
Click to expand...


I’ve had to do it on an F150 and used a pressure treated 4x4 across the fenders with thick towels underneath to hold the engine so it was only lifted and lowered once. I’m sure you could find a bar that is stronger than wood to hold it. But lifting it once, hanging it, letting it down reduces some of the headache.
 
BlackWorksInc said:
I mean if you're not squeamish about pulling the engine out of the vehicle and you have an engine stand it's doable at home. It's how you're supposed to do it per the book because of the placement of design changes when they went to dual VVTi and relocated the oil filter housing.

That being said, it is possible to drop the front differential, jack the engine up and slot 1~2" (I forget exactly which size we used) thick blocks between the motor mount and engine brackets to lift the engine up enough to wiggle the lower oil pan off and out. It is by no means easy and extremely frustrating from what I saw; but it did allow my coworker to leave the engine in the vehicle and get the job done. But I honestly don't know how you would accomplish that on jack stands, the amount of wiggling, cursing, and trying to maneuver the upper oil pan to get it physically out of the way seemed hard even with the vehicle on a proper hoist.

I suppose it comes down to what your time is worth and if you have the equipment to get the job done?
Click to expand...

Seen a YouTube video on replacing the timing chain and gears on a Gen 5 and it’s a 10 hour job per the book without removing the engine. The highly edited and sped up in sections video was nearly 2 hours long.
 
I’ve replaced the timing chain and gears on a couple GM 6.5 diesels because they are notorious for stretching the chains. It’s about a 4 hour job. You pull the radiator to get more room. Add in replacing the injection pump and it becomes a 6 to 8 hour job.

Back in the day I had a dealer replace just the injection pump on a 6.5 and that was a $3,000 job. With the pump being about $1,200 of that. I can replace an injection pump in about 4 hours taking my time.
 
BlackWorksInc said:
I mean if you're not squeamish about pulling the engine out of the vehicle and you have an engine stand it's doable at home. It's how you're supposed to do it per the book because of the placement of design changes when they went to dual VVTi and relocated the oil filter housing.

That being said, it is possible to drop the front differential, jack the engine up and slot 1~2" (I forget exactly which size we used) thick blocks between the motor mount and engine brackets to lift the engine up enough to wiggle the lower oil pan off and out. It is by no means easy and extremely frustrating from what I saw; but it did allow my coworker to leave the engine in the vehicle and get the job done. But I honestly don't know how you would accomplish that on jack stands, the amount of wiggling, cursing, and trying to maneuver the upper oil pan to get it physically out of the way seemed hard even with the vehicle on a proper hoist.

I suppose it comes down to what your time is worth and if you have the equipment to get the job done?
Click to expand...

Thank you for the response. Yeah I saw a similar thing on youtube on a Prado I think it was. Sounds complex :/
 
CutthroatSlam said:
Seen a YouTube video on replacing the timing chain and gears on a Gen 5 and it’s a 10 hour job per the book without removing the engine. The highly edited and sped up in sections video was nearly 2 hours long.
Click to expand...

Any chance you have the link, I have found one 15min video on a 2015 4runner that isn't too helpful, and bunch on the 4th gens...
 
Although....thinking of all the room that comes with an engine stand makes me really want an engine stand haha....working on an engine in the open air of day! No rust falling on you! incredible....
 
 
Toronto4runner2 said:
Wondering if anyone has DIY'd the timing chain cover reseal on a 5th gen 4runner yet. Have the leak and want to fix it myself to save 2 grand but just want to know how others have gone about the fix if they have done it. From what I know, because the 5th gens oil filter bracket is attached to the oil pan, instead of up top like in the 4th gens, you must drop the upper oil pan to get the timing cover off...
Click to expand...
Doubt it. Juice isn't worth the squeeze unless you happen to be pulling the engine or entire front end off anyway. Mine's been leaking for years and hundreds of thousands of miles, still never left a drop of oil anywhere.
 
Jeremy556 said:
Doubt it. Juice isn't worth the squeeze unless you happen to be pulling the engine or entire front end off anyway. Mine's been leaking for years and hundreds of thousands of miles, still never left a drop of oil anywhere.
Click to expand...

^^^ This. Mines been leaking for at least 200,000 miles. Never left a drop either. I don't plan on touching it.
 
CutthroatSlam said:
Seen a YouTube video on replacing the timing chain and gears on a Gen 5 and it’s a 10 hour job per the book without removing the engine. The highly edited and sped up in sections video was nearly 2 hours long.
Click to expand...

Did they just pull the upper oil pan in the vehicle? The only reason you technically need to pull the engine is to get the upper oil pan off bevsuse of the oil pick-up design. So if you found a good way to deal with that issue without pulling the engine, the job is very similar to any other modern Toyota timing cover, relatively speaking.
 
Good to know others have left it and it hasn't caused any issues.

I wouldn't hesitate to tear into it if the oil filter was up top like in that video..but on the 5th gens its on the bottom and the bracket it attaches to is up in the way of sliding out the timing cover so you have to drop the pan now as well ONTOP of that 2 hour sped up video lol....... Thank you all !
 
Toronto4runner2 said:
Good to know others have left it and it hasn't caused any issues.

I wouldn't hesitate to tear into it if the oil filter was up top like in that video..but on the 5th gens its on the bottom and the bracket it attaches to is up in the way of sliding out the timing cover so you have to drop the pan now as well ONTOP of that 2 hour sped up video lol....... Thank you all !
Click to expand...

I was told that timing chain and gears should be replaced at 300K miles, but later learned it’s an address if needed per Toyota. I was looking into doing it, but that sped up 2 hour video gave me a headache and I could not finish it. If it was not a primary driver car for my wife, and just an extra vehicle in the fleet, I’d consider doing it. The lack of a deadline makes it easier to take your time and do it right. Although we’re approaching 300K miles on a 2014, there are no signs of any timing issues. So I’m leaving well enough alone.
 
Hi everyone.

I just had my 2018 in for 50k maintenance- oil change, tire rotation and diffs/ transfer case fluid.

The dealer noticed the timing chain leak and wants to move forward with a warranty repair to fix it. I still have 10k and 4 months of warranty so it won't cost me anything.

Is there anything else that I should consider having done while they have the engine out?

Is there anything else that could be associated with the timing cover leak that I should have them check?

I'm a bit nervous about having the engine taken out. It still seems like a new truck to me even though it is almost 5 years old.

Thanks everyone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 400 (members: 5, guests: 395)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,307
Messages
3,554,049
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top