Cam towers: What counts as a leak?

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C

cherniav

Joined
Jan 6, 2026
Threads
2
Messages
9
Location
California
Hey folks. Still going chugging along on my quest to buy a GX. As one does, I’m going through literally everything I can when I go look. I have my eyes on a 2018 GX460 w/ 93k miles, ok looking service history, and looking fairly clean mechanically. Listed for 29k (probably on the more expensive side bcs it’s Carmax)

When I looked at this one recently, I saw something that concerned me a bit on the driver side at the rear of the engine, right under the cam tower cover:
IMG_2528.webp


Specifically, I’m trying to figure out if this is actually something to be concerned about in terms of likelihood of cam tower leak down the line. On one hand, I feel like I have seen way worse on other cars I’ve looked at, so I could be overreacting here. On the other, Car Care Nut has me paranoid about these issues so I want to make sure I’m doing my due diligence. Though FWIW, it doesn’t look like there is any drip from this / that there are any wet spots anywhere so if there’s a seep of some kind, it doesn’t look severe.

I’m wondering if anyone here has any insight on how bad any kind of seepage in this area of the engine is worth walking away from since this car looks decent otherwise. Thanks :)
 
That does look like cam tower leak forming to me. If it gets worse oil will drop right onto the exhaust below.
 
Agree, it's a "seep" that will eventually transition to a leak (although it's hard to know how long it might take). From reading this forum it appears that almost every GX460 will eventually need the cam towers/valley plate done. If you like the rig otherwise, you could use the seep to negotiate the price down.
 
Cam towers seem to be far less common compared to coolant valley and timing cover leaks which certainly have higher incidence.

The 4.6L (1UR-FE) also seems to have less incidence of the cam tower leaks compared to the 5.7L (3UR-FE).

Given enough time and miles I suppose I'll see all three on mine .. I still haven't cracked 100k on my '12.
 
Rednexus said:
Agree, it's a "seep" that will eventually transition to a leak (although it's hard to know how long it might take). From reading this forum it appears that almost every GX460 will eventually need the cam towers/valley plate done. If you like the rig otherwise, you could use the seep to negotiate the price down.
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At this point I’m wondering if I am bound to see some kind of cam tower seep on any GX I look at. If so, maybe it’s worth choosing the lesser evil of a small apparent seep.

Not going to be able to negotiate the price down tho since it’s Carmax 🙃 It does feel a bit expensive so maybe this isn’t the one
 
IMO.. no… in the 9 years I have monitored GX 460 issues… the cam tower leaks come up the least. I would pay special attention to coolant levels & pink crusty residue for valley leak issues as well as the front timing chain cover especially near the AC compressor.

If it does start to leak worse.. this is a very invasive repair.. far above coolant valley and timing chain cover.
 
@cherniav IMO.. I’d pass on vehicle.. it looks noticeably oiler to me than Jake’s’ and prospective vehicle only has 93k miles

Is timing chain cover area dry?

I can deal with weep, seeps and leaks to a point but once they hit the exhaust, burn off, and then inevitably make it inside via HVAC I would need to fix.


I was looking at vehicle history and looks like it had injector harness replacement from rodent damage. It seems they must have done their own service for the most part or Indy places for oil/filter changes.

SERVICE: REPLACE INJECTOR SUBHARNESS
DESCRIPTION: ~|~RODENT DAMAGE TO #7 INJECTOR HARNESS ---- DRIVER SIDE INJECTOR SUBHARNESS ~|~RODENT DAMAGE ~|~61914 REPLACED DRIVER SIDE SUB HARNESS AND TEST DROVE. VEHICLE DRIVING NORMALLY.

It does appear to solidly be a California vehicle
 
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Acrad said:
@cherniav IMO.. I’d pass on vehicle.. it looks noticeably oiler to me than Jake’s’ and prospective vehicle only has 93k miles

Is timing chain cover area dry?

I can deal with weep, seeps and leaks to a point but once they hit the exhaust, burn off, and then inevitably make it inside via HVAC I would need to fix.


I was looking at vehicle history and looks like it had injector harness replacement from rodent damage. It seems they must have done their own service for the most part or Indy places for oil/filter changes.

SERVICE: REPLACE INJECTOR SUBHARNESS
DESCRIPTION: ~|~RODENT DAMAGE TO #7 INJECTOR HARNESS ---- DRIVER SIDE INJECTOR SUBHARNESS ~|~RODENT DAMAGE ~|~61914 REPLACED DRIVER SIDE SUB HARNESS AND TEST DROVE. VEHICLE DRIVING NORMALLY.

It does appear to solidly be a California vehicle
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If there was other stuff aside from a few cosmetic things, I’d probably pass, but the frame looks great (since it’s a SoCal car) and the other usual suspects (timing chain cover, coolant leaks) don’t seem to be present which is why I’m still tempted
 
As long as you are ok with potentially having to fix in future. I would imagine repair from a mechanic would be in the $3-5K range depending on area of the country. It may never get worse as well. Clean up with some brake clean and monitor.

I noticed in vehicle history notes the previous owner was either a repeat 460 owner or had another one.
 
Acrad said:
I would imagine repair from a mechanic would be in the $3-5K range
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Ouch! I'm guessing labor is the reason for that price tag?
 
Acrad said:
Yeah… it would appear to be mostly labor

View attachment 4070291
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So might as well do some additional stuff while you're in there then. Lol

I just checked my 205k mile '10 and I don't see any oil leaks anywhere. Bone dry. So I guess I'm fortunate.

Now the water pump on the other hand is getting close to needing replacement. 🤣
 
There are plenty of fish in the GX460 sea. No need to "jump on" one as they aren't that rare. If you aren't in love with it, keep looking and wait until you find the perfect one (especially with a $29K budget).
 
Rednexus said:
There are plenty of fish in the GX460 sea. No need to "jump on" one as they aren't that rare. If you aren't in love with it, keep looking and wait until you find the perfect one (especially with a $29K budget).
Click to expand...
^ 100% this. ALWAYS, and I do MEAN always, go after the one with the best service history AND current mechanical condition. Let year model, mileage, and color be secondary. (hint: I did NOT want black..) There are a lot of GX460's out there with higher mileage that were meticulously maintained (like mine) that will be phenomenal to own. I'd rather buy a 2010-2013 with higher mileage and amazing service history/condition then spend some of that extra remaining cash on replacing the usual stuff like coolant valley gasket, radiator, alternator, water pump, belt, hoses and etc. To me it wasn't worth the extra premium price of newer 5-7 year models for less mileage on a rig with worse history and mechanical condition. I'll always preach this until I'm blue in the face.
 
The nice thing about black is when its dirty (always) or all scratched up (eventually) it looks… intentional.

Other than that, it sucks. It’s probably the only thing I don’t like about my truck aside from not being able to fit a 33 in the spare tire well and keep my hitch.

I only settled for black because mine was so cheap, one owner, with about 100 lexus service records.
 
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