Expensive Repair at 100,000 for REPLACE TIMING COVER GASKET

if it isn't leaving any drips on the ground after overnight parking, and you aren't losing oil between changes, you can ignore it.

 

Yeah it’s cosmetically distressing, but what @bisco said.

 

For over 30 years, I have worked on vehicles professionally. I would not worry about it as others have said, unless it is leaving a spot on the ground.
Shops over sell jobs way too often! Dealerships have a lot of overhead keep that in mind when choosing a shop to work on your vehicle

 

I once received an inspection report like that. It showed not only a photo of a timing chain cover leaking much worse than mine was (insignificantly), but also photos of allegedly failing parts that don't even exist on a Prius, complete with scary-high repair estimates. Hmmmm...

 

Option one. Lots of these gaskets leak and people just keep oil in them by religiously checking every week. Otherwise one day the engine will burn up from no oil.

Option two is find an independent shop with great personal references. Not google references. Usually there are two or three in every town. At least one. That shop can evaluate the urgency and could reseal for 1/3 to 1/2 of the dealer quote.

By the way, "good service" in the oil change line has nothing to do with the Service Advisor who is not a mechanic but works on a commission.

Do you check the oil weekly?

 

They can’t be serious. Defer.

 

Thank you all so much for the information and kindness in responding to a non-Prius owner. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. I used to have a terrific service advisor who basically treated me like his sister and give me all sorts of side advice (on each inspection report) about what I really needed to do and what I didn’t, and what I should go to the parts store and get myself (like a headlight). Sadly, he took his his well deserved retirement last year and now I’m stuck with a friendly young man who is doing exactly what the dealership tells him to do.

It is not dripping on the ground, and that was one of the reasons I decided to do some research on how long I could defer it, and I started to check the oil about every other week. It’s not losing oil, but I will step that up to every week to be more careful.

With my son (hopefully) starting college in the fall, I am trying very hard to get this car to go maybe even another four years. This $3000 repair quote (plus some others, of course) had started making me think I would have to give up on it. But otherwise it’s been a good car. It’s my third Toyota, and I’ve always been happy with the cars but less than satisfied with the bloated service operations. Now that my old service advisor retired, I am definitely going to have to start looking harder.

Again, thank you all so very much. I am very very grateful.

Jane

 

Thanks for the comments. Considering my somewhat similar experience, it's possible the photos they showed you are fakes, not even of your car.

 

Seeing for yourself is good; post #3 has a method for doing that.

 

yes absurd amount, but to do it correctly as well as (if applicable) head gasket...the engine does need to come out. Putting silicone and mating the surface correctly is (almost) impossible with 1 person...needs two.

 

Whoa, head gasket now? Are you a service writer?

 

I am. In my opinion (as likely yours) it's best to probably wait until the factory head gasket goes (and it will) to replace the silicone gasket around the Timing cover instead of paying someone $1700+ just to fix a lite seapage of oil that's really not a huge deal. Engine out of car=easy to do both jobs easily and thoroughly. I would entertain the idea to someone whose car may already have 150k+ on the ticker to be preemptive on the head gasket and save labor costs ahead of time. (You know, since the timing cover has to come off anyway and budget permitting). "Passion with Perfection" as someone says begins with efficiency and honesty...and I know how hard to set that timing cover is properly with your arms stuck through the wheel well. 1000% easier on an engine stand!

 

Lots of mechanics with lifts probably agree. Drop the engine Toyota style and fix it right.

 

Gasket Masters apply the FIPG to the cover instead of the machined engine faces, and use a North American sealant with longer setup time. I think they do apply the specd horizontal beads to the engine face, at the split lines. Without removing the engine. Seems to work.

I appreciate you do this for a living, and I’m totally out of my depth.

 

It's also much easier install the head to block, and to torque head bolts the correct way when the engine is out on a stand as well. That way, any other plethora of parts also gets put back on the correct way. This is key to a healthy head gasket moving forward for the next 200k miles with no issues, that is if the owner is responsible with their routine maintenance

 

I’m hoping to keep the head gasket on ours happy for the duration, with regular EGR cleaning.

 

Just remember, there's no 300k, 500k, 1 Million mile Gen 3 Prius out there on the original head gasket. (If yes, it's a 16-17 CT or Prius V) all others are lying to ya' !

 

Prove it!

 

The ones making those claims have to prove it. I see these cars all day, every day, and listen to all the fairy tales.