Hello, I just brought my 2010 Prius into the dealership for my routine oil change and tire rotation. They informed me that I am leaking oil from the timing chain cover and that the seal is bad. The car has 95,000 miles on it and has always been dealer maintained. Is this common?? I feel this is way to early to have this kind of leak. They are also recommending that I replace the water pump and the valve gasket while they are in there doing the timing cover even though all are working fine at the moment... Zack
A while back someone was quoted $1700 for timing chain gasket replacement, then another around $1200~1300? (Posted on PriusChat, perhaps you can find with search) Also, it might be a warranty item; I'm pretty sure in the $1700 case it ended up thus. The big question too: if it is a warranty item, why isn't the dealership checking on this, informing you? All that aside, I wonder: how serious is the leak. I think if you remove the right-side wheel (or even just turn it), and maybe also some plastic panelling, you can see the bottom of the cover, see what the leakage is like. If you want to see the crazy complexity of this cover and it's gasket:
Here's some of the threads on the subject: Advice on Timing Chain Cover leak | PriusChat Timing cover oil leak | PriusChat The second thread is mine. I was able to get it repaired under the 60K/60 month powertrain warranty at no charge, but I had to remind them that this job was covered under the warranty. I posted pictures. Several members felt that the dealer was trying to fleece me on a big job and got caught doing a warranty repair out of Toyota's or their pocket.
There's a saying in the submarine community about leaks: If you find IT.....it's a leak. If it finds YOU...it's a flood. Leaks require some investigation and maybe some corrective action, BUT.....you're not going to take a boat off mission and go into dry-dock for a 'drip........pause.......drip...............pause..........drip......' kinda leak. Flooding on the other hand is a very different thing. I'm just guessing here, but I would presume that the leak (if there is actually a leak.....) isn't very bad. I might even go so far as to suggest that it will not represent a mechanical emergency.....just yet. 1. Start checking your oil regularly, and verify that level is correct......and staying that way. 2. Verify that there really is a leak. There might actually be one you know...since some gaskets do not leak when the car is sitting in your driveway and the motor is off. 3. Quantify the leak. I'm always mystified when healthy cars arrive at Toyota dealerships, and then 'suddenly' need four figures worth of repair work. If there really is a leak you may want to do a cost-benefit analysis on a 1 drip-per-hour leak. Even with a 10,000 mile OCI (oil change interval) you're not going to run your sump dry before the next oil change. 4. Get quotes for a repair (if needed) from several qualified mechanics. I would probably ignore the advice about the water pump unless you have to remove/replace the timing chain cover to get to the water pump or vice versa. Good Luck!
Alright, let's get some facts straight. -seepage and leakage are two different things -oil seeping out of the timing cover but never hitting the ground is usually not worth fixing -these things seep all of the time, especially from the timing chain tensioner gasket -I have never seen one actually leak -water pumps fail on these all the time and are removed before the timing cover -importance of repairs are often based on the pressure applied to the service adviser to sell more repairs and not on the value to the customer Avi
The Stealers......I mean the dealers are always on the prowl for un-informed customers.....they will bend u over as much as they can till u put ur foot down. Untill u can verify the leak urself, don't agree to any repairs......even if they show u the leak. Who's to say they didn't put the oil there to make it believable. VS980 4G ?
Exactly! That's why It's important to verify, then quantify. This is reason #4,946 to DIY the oil changes. If somebody drags out the ramps and wrenches, then they're usually a bit more aware of any leaks, creaks, cracks, and squeaks in their car. I KNOW there's no leaks, weeps, or seeps in my motor because I check and change my own oil. One of the reasons that I drive a Toyota every day but haven't bought one since 1989 is the dealer network. (My 2010 is a company car.)
