Camshaft seals lifespan and avg cost to replace. VVTi engine

[sidneyhop]

Currently getting my timing belt replaced and the shop asked if I wanted to have the crank and camshaft seals replaced too. In passing he said the cams were leaking. Question is how long do these typically last on the VVTi engines?

Id like to keep the factory ones in as long as possible as theyre the best quality and not sure if I entirely believe that they were leaking. I didnt see any indication they were before I took it in. Its an added $650 expense (5 hours labor) while he's in there. If I change them later when everything is buttoned up it will be 10 hours labor, according to the shop.

Also $181 for a new fan clutch. Seems pricey to me.

 

[sidneyhop]

Anyone know the typical cost to replace the camshaft seals on the VVTi engine?

 

[sidneyhop]

do these look like they're leaking excessively?

 

[Rednexus]

I've never had a cam or crank seal go out our leak excessively on any Japanese engine. I replaced them on my old Subaru when doing the timing belt and both were in perfect condition. Our Outback as some very minor seepage on the front crank seal but it is not worth worrying about (at 100K). My GX has the originals at 151K and they seem to be fine.

Yours don't look to be leaking much to me. If it were my GX I'd roll the dice by leaving the seals along and just run a good high-mileage motor oil with a seal conditioner that should keep the rubber bits in good shape. But there is guarantee that it won't leak later. If you plan on keeping the GX through another TB/WP cycle you could also just push the replacement off until then.

 

[jiggletits]

Unless they are leaking enought to drip, do not change them. They'll "seep" for 500k miles on the 5.7 and never leave a drip. I have never once seen a seep or leak that on a 4.7 even at 400k.

 

[Jstawgn]

I replaced mine at 180k as precaution. It's not that bad of a job when you replace valve cover at same time. You do have to remove the camshaft completely but it's pretty straight forward to do. It does add 4-6 hours to the job.

 

[sidneyhop]

Thanks for the input.

 

[sidneyhop]

Unless they are leaking enought to drip, do not change them. They'll "seep" for 500k miles on the 5.7 and never leave a drip. I have never once seen a seep or leak that on a 4.7 even at 400k.

Do you see seepage in those pics? Looks to be a little from my novice eye.

 

[jiggletits]

I see nothing in those pictures that would make me want to replace the seals. "Seeping" would be against the head below the seal and it would be dark. Unless you are leaving drips on the ground, I would leave it alone.

 

[bigredmachine]

the reason for replacing the seals while the timing belt is being replaced is that you have to remove the t-belt to gain access to the pulleys to replace the seals. you typically wouldnt see the seals leaking unless they were really bad as they are back behind the timing cover so thats why you can have a small leak and it may not be apparent. looks like there is a little seapage but not too bad, thats going to be your call to replace them

 

[sidneyhop]

I had them done while it was apart.
I probably would have waited if I would have gotten some of the comments above a little bit earlier but, oh well, at least it's done now.

 

[lverano]

Unless they are leaking enought to drip, do not change them. They'll "seep" for 500k miles on the 5.7 and never leave a drip. I have never once seen a seep or leak that on a 4.7 even at 400k.

glad I found this, I had the same question!