So if you had a leak don’t you notice a difference on the dipstick that you’re losing oil???
Poll-Have you had the dreaded cam tower leak? (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter 40Man
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Most leaks don't leak nearly enough oil to actually notice a loss on the dip stick. It doesn't take a lot of oil to make a leak look bad (literally just a few drops can look like a fairly major leak) but you'd never notice a few drops missing from a crank case that holds 7.5-8 quarts of oil.
So, no, unless you're leaving major puddles in your parking spots, you won't notice a leak by checking your dip stick.
Guess I wouldn’t fix something that cost thousands of dollars and will use as a local mechanic to take apart my factory built engine over A small unnoticeable amount of oil loss, doesn’t even hit the ground a little oil is pretty cheap to replace. I doubt I’d even want to do it even if Toyota is paying for it especially if it’s a local dealer taking my engine apart and trying to put it back together
Its my understanding that the Tundra V8s are built here, and the 200 Series V8s are built in Japan.
So that would mean they built the engine here, then shipped it to Japan to install in the 200s, then shipped the whole thing back here? Would they do that?
nalabama
SILVER Star
No, everything I have read is that the V-8s are built in Japan and the 200 series TLCs are assembled in Japan.
John
John
I believe it's been determined they are assembled in Japan.
Glad I added 'allegedly' so I don't sound completely wrong... in just that message at least.
I want to say that the Tundra engines are assembled in a Huntsville, Alabama plant, whereas the 5.7 for LX and LC are assembled in Japan.
Here is a link to information about the Toyota plant in Huntsville. https://pressroom.toyota.com/fact-sheets/toyota-motor-manufacturing-alabama-tmmal-fact-sheet.htm
I've always heard the manufacturing standards in Japan are much higher than anywhere else in the world, so that could explain why more Tundras are seeing this issue at an earlier mileage than LX/LC.
LC engines are made in Japan with 100% Japanese sourced parts.
That little window sticker indicates part sources and final assembly locations. It’s Japan straight across the board for the LC.
That little window sticker indicates part sources and final assembly locations. It’s Japan straight across the board for the LC.
My 2011 with 69,000 miles is bone dry. But, I looked at a 2008 today with about 175,000 miles that has dirty oil on the passenger side where the typical cam tower leak shows. Not a lot of oil, but it was there for sure.
Bump
Newbie question: Is the cam tower leak the same thing as the valve cover leak? If so it's pretty common in other car as well and usually it doesn't take a whole lot of work to get the gasket/sealant replaced? What makes it so dreadful in the LC/LX? I'm hearing quote from the dealer to get this replaced in the $1500-2000 range.
Similar location, but not at all the same as a valve cover leak. On the Toyota UR engines, the cams reside in a separate piece (the "cam tower") that is sandwiched between the valve cover and the head itself. The "cam tower leak" is a leak between the lower surface of the cam tower and the top of the head.
Pic below for reference. This is a shot of a 3UR (5.7L) from the back with some added info thanks to my mad MS Paint skills.
Hope that helps illustrate the issue. The leak is such a bugger to fix because it means that the cams (2 per cylinder head), timing chains, and all associated hardware has to come off so the tower can be lifted from the head.
I'm a long time Cruiser owner and currently have a 2011 Tundra 5.7 Rock Warrior Edition with 160,000 miles. I went in for an oil change this past week and got the news my cam towers are leaking. The service manager is my neighbor and he always shoots me straight, he said I could go another 50,000 miles and it may not be leaking enough to use a quart of oil in between 5,000 mile changes. He said they actually take the cab off the Tundra to make the repair, said it was better than pulling the engine. He quoted me $2600 for the repair if I decided I wanted to do it. I've been thinking about trading for a used 200 series for a while now and my question is, is it as common in the 200 series? Apparently it happens a lot to the Tundras. I asked if I bought a newer model Tundra would it still have that issue, he said yes, they haven't fixed the problem. He said he had seen Tundras with less than 50,000 miles leaking so I guess I'm lucky that mine made it to 160,000.
bloc
SILVER Star
We don’t hear about it much here but keep in mind there are a fraction as many 200s on the road as 5.7 tundras.
Mine is leaking also but not at the cam tower. It’s the timing cover on the drivers side.
Seems like I’ve seen video of cam tower reseals happening with the engine and body in place..
My 09 LX at 106k had valve cover leak (both sides) and had it repaired.
No cam tower leak.
Our '13 LX had the cam tower leak at @ 75K miles. Dealer fixed it. $$$.
200 series engines are made in Japan manufacture their more precision better work, less problems but even if I Had a quart leak every 10,000 miles just add a quart check your oil
My 08 has 95K and no leak (knock on wood)
Checking in with a 13 LX at 156K. Was at dealer having preventative maintenance done (Transfer case and differential Fluid exchanges as well as a PCV valve replacement) and the technician said I have a small cam tower leak. He said I would need the cab to come off the frame and repair is 20 hours of labor. He thinks I have plenty of time before it would get bad, but I’m wondering what I should do. I don’t want to be breathing burnt oil fumes.
