My 2016 Toyota Tacoma Offroad 4x4, 60K miles, has been diagnosed with a minor leak from the timing chain cover gasket. The dealership is quoting a $3500 3-day repair.
Curious about my options:
Is this a mandatory fix, and with what urgency?
Is a "leak stopping" product like Blue Devil, or another, advisable?
Is this fee reasonable?
Should I seek a second opinion?
And if the fix is necessary, but the price is high, what is the best way to find a worthy individual mechanic?
Thanks!
The deal is always trying to rip you off on stuff like that I've had people driving 10 years with those small leaks
This sounds like one of those "We don't want this job so we'll over bid it and see if the sucker goes for it" jobs. I can get a new engine for $3500! I would take it to an independent shop and have it checked out. It may just be a leaking valve cover gasket, which is pretty common.
Much appreciate your input, everyone! Thought at least the fee sounded suspect...
Any idea what can cause this leak, if it is a genuine diagnosis, especially in what is supposed to be a higher quality vehicle like a Tacoma?
In answer to your question, @pulpfriction, I was at the dealer for a LOF appt, no symptoms.
You need to find the source of the leak. It could be the cover gasket, a valve cover gasket of the front mail seal. If it is the cover gasket, remember when you replace the main seal in the cover to either get a new harmonic balancer or get a balancer repair sleeve to compensate for the groove that gets worn into the balancer shaft.
Scotty answered your question already, but just curious...
Did you bring your Tacoma to the dealership because you experienced symptoms of the leak, or were you there for a completely different reason?
I just recently took my 2017 in and I noticed this leak 2 years ago at around 33k miles and didn't know if It was a leak. I thought Me or the previous owner spilled something while refilling the fluids but just now at 70k miles. I figure out that it's an oil leak and its coming from or near the timing chain cover. I took my truck in to the new dealership for the 150$ diagnosis, and they told me that's exactly what it was. They told me for parts itself it will cost me around 1000$? "For what to put a new gasket in" I said. Ive never heard of gaskets or O rings costing that much. And get ready for the good part... They said for them to do the fix on their behalf at the dealership it would cost 5100$ total and my truck will be worked on for quite a while and they would have to pull the motor. I was mind blown, stressed out, and freaking out. After waiting to get the right key for my truck since they gave me someone elses I took my truck and left and started looking things up about this but then I realized I could've been driving with this issue for 4 years already and my trucks still fine. I still want it fixed and stop leaking but I think my next step is to pull the cover off and make a gasket.. is there anything else I should know or do? Ps not to mention the note the sales manager left in my truck saying they can easily get me a brand new Toyota if I sell mine for the aggressive offer they're willing to give me.. that's how they screw you to make money off you.
Welcome to the Forum. Can you create a new thread for your question to get more visibility and answers? Also, this thread is meant to focus on the original OP’s issue. Thank you.
@daywalker
in this case I would just use the "Split Topic" tool
Like I said before, dealerships never fail to disappoint.