Poll-Have you had the dreaded cam tower leak? (3 Viewers)

[Str8Laced]

have not heard of the repair requiring cab removal. I would get a second opinion at a different dealer.

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.

.Dealers must've figured out it's easier to take off the cab than the engine.

 

[HGB]

.Dealers must've figured out it's easier to take off the cab than the engine.

Thats what i was told. They said to remove the engine they have to remove the starter etc. The tech mentioned there was onetech he knows that is able to do it without removing the motor or cab but part of the job requires 2 people this way and made mention about jumping timing with this method being different or more difficult. This method cuts the labor time down to 11 hours but again, isn’t something that everyone can do, and it is not likely they would charge less than what they book it at.

 

[Sandroad]

Thats what i was told. They said to remove the engine they have to remove the starter etc. The tech mentioned there was onetech he knows that is able to do it without removing the motor or cab but part of the job requires 2 people this way and made mention about jumping timing with this method being different or more difficult. This method cuts the labor time down to 11 hours but again, isn’t something that everyone can do, and it is not likely they would charge less than what they book it at.

One of the experienced mud members who has done this work has said in post 52 of this thread you don’t even need to remove the engine, let alone remove the body.

 

[HGB]

No, no one pulls the motor out, including Toyota. It’s not complex in terms of engine work. Basically it’s a ton of unbolting, cleaning, laying down FPIK, and reassembling.

That said, only experience gear heads should attempt. If you’ve never done drivetrain work, I’d let someone else do the work.

How many labor hours would you estimate?

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

How many labor hours would you estimate?

16 hours. It all can easily be done with just taking the hood of the truck. There is no reason to take the cab of the truck, just asking for more issues of breaking fasteners. (I took my body off when I Line-X’ed the body)

If they say no dealer has done one without taking the body of, tell them that two Toyota dealers in central Florida have done it (one of those I worked at), and Toyota of Savanah has done one. I personably did mine with just the hood off. And going back to taking my body of the frame, and also taking cam towers off. I wouldn’t take the body off.

All that said, you will never get a oil smell.the worse leak I’ve ever seen looked pretty bad. That still was only dumping about 2-3 oz for an OCI.

oil residue looks way worse than they are. Is $3,000 worth it to you for a repair? Maybe, maybe not. But as @TonyP has said, “$3,000 buys a lot of make up oil.”

 

[04UZJ100]

Doesn’t seem like there is evident of these things catastrophically letting loose either?

 

[acruisinf]

Just noticed these spots on the skid plate this morning. No oil spots on the floor, but a few droplets are starting to form. More pronounced on the driver’s side than passenger.

2015 LC with 82k.
Is this likely the cam tower leak?

 

[acruisinf]

Just noticed these spots on the skid plate this morning. No oil spots on the floor, but a few droplets are starting to form. More pronounced on the driver’s side than passenger. View attachment 2412322View attachment 2412324
2015 LC with 82k.
Is this likely the cam tower leak?

I pulled the skid plate to investigate further and I think it might be coming from the oil filter...? Quite a bit of oil on the top of the skid plate.
I guess that’s better than the cam tower leak...
Just a rookie trying to learn some things

 

[bryson]

I pulled the skid plate to investigate further and I think it might be coming from the oil filter...? Quite a bit of oil on the top of the skid plate.
I guess that’s better than the cam tower leak...
Just a rookie trying to learn some things

View attachment 2412563View attachment 2412564View attachment 2412565

It could be something as simple as a loose filter housing, or maybe a damaged o-ring on the filter housing. Do you have the means to try and tighten the housing? If not, that leak should be easily remedied at the time of your next oil change (but be careful who does it, because whoever did it last is likely the cause of the leak too...)

 

[rusty87]

Maybe the oil filter housing o ring also. It’s easy to put the replacement o ring in the wrong groove when changing the oil.

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

Hello all!

I'm new to the 200 game but no stranger to LandCruisers. So new I haven't even picked it up yet.

Should I be worried about this oil on the skid plates?

It had fluid changes as a part of 70k service about 6000 miles ago. Hoping this is just left over from that service and not indicative of something more like the dreaded cam tower leak(s).

Any input is appreciated.

 

[TLC2013]

Drop the skid/cover and see what you're up against. Id speculate its spilled oil from the last change or leakage from the filter housing. Check about the valve covers and below for signs of the cam tower leak. I am monitoring some minor seepage just below the valve covers. It hasnt resulted in anything getting to the skids or even to the block. Just some oily residue is noticeable.

 

[Cruisin911]

You can’t see a cam tower leak from below. You’ll just need to look in the wheel wells on either side. To be certain, pull the plastic skirts to see the whole cam tower.

 

[linuxgod]

Hello all!

I'm new to the 200 game but no stranger to LandCruisers. So new I haven't even picked it up yet.

Should I be worried about this oil on the skid plates?

It had fluid changes as a part of 70k service about 6000 miles ago. Hoping this is just left over from that service and not indicative of something more like the dreaded cam tower leak(s).

Any input is appreciated.View attachment 2746426

I don’t think that’s from an oil change since it’s pretty far back. Could be the oil pan, could be the pinion seal, could be something else. Drop the skids and look around, clean up any suspect spots, and see what reappeara

 

[Sandroad]

Hello all!

I'm new to the 200 game but no stranger to LandCruisers. So new I haven't even picked it up yet.

Should I be worried about this oil on the skid plates?

It had fluid changes as a part of 70k service about 6000 miles ago. Hoping this is just left over from that service and not indicative of something more like the dreaded cam tower leak(s).

Any input is appreciated.View attachment 2746426

A poorly trained oil change tech at a local dealer didn’t know to drain the filter housing before removal. Made an awful mess, with oil coming out of the skid plates in odd places. Could be the case here too, with a sloppy job. But, it’s for sure worth investigating the source of the oil before picking it up.

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

A poorly trained oil change tech at a local dealer didn’t know to drain the filter housing before removal. Made an awful mess, with oil coming out of the skid plates in odd places. Could be the case here too, with a sloppy job. But, it’s for sure worth investigating the source of the oil before picking it up.

Thanks @Sandroad
I figured that and confirmed with service that is was from the last change.

I'll be sure to check it out though.

 

[tbisaacs]

Is this the cam tower leak support group? My passenger side went from a whiff of hot oil to dripping on the wheel well

 

[TLC2013]

Is this the cam tower leak support group? My passenger side went from a whiff of hot oil to dripping on the wheel well

Did you intend to include a picture ? I have a slight seep from either the driver side cam tower or near the top of timing cover...so far it hasent progressed much at all but am monitering it closely.

 

[tbisaacs]

Did you intend to include a picture ? I have a slight seep from either the driver side cam tower or near the top of timing cover...so far it hasent progressed much at all but am monitering it closely.

No sorry. I noticed mine from the bottom

 

[TLC2013]

No sorry. I noticed mine from the bottom

Bummer sorry to hear. You are in good company, I figure I'll be joining in within the next 50k lol. My 5.7 is closing in on Bingo-for all the known trouble spots of the 200s powertrain.