istundra

iTrader: (2)

Hi,

My car is at 90K and does not have any leaks.

My mechanic and I think we shouldn't touch the VVTI cam seal because no leak. We fear if we touch it, it may leak.

Is it necessary to change it although there isn't leak? Please let me know as my car on lift right now...

thanks,

Aristo722

If it aint broke don't fix it I guess.... I dont know?!

burny

90k is early bro

istundra

iTrader: (2)

perfect. no touch the cam seal.

just doing timing belt & water pump job & plugs.

my 1st 90K service on the '03 GS300

burny

do thermostat too and even tensioner and idler pulley.

JeffTsai

iTrader: (1)

In my experience, the seal will go bad with how much time has passed. Mileage isn't as big of a factor. You could have a 3 year old GS with 300k miles and it won't leak a drop out of there. Now on the other hand, you could have a 16 year old GS with 30k miles and it will probably be leaking.

In my experience, on average the seals will break down and start leaking once the car approaches the 10-12 year mark or so.

istundra

iTrader: (2)

just finished and it is misfiring. we think it is the 10 yr old spark wires going bad, so parking the car for now until next weekend when i get fresh wire set.

we did change the CRANK seal but left the VVTI Cam Seal. Now based on Jeff's comment, I'm kinda worried but i don't want to go back in. Perhaps i just keep an eye on it. It is a 2003 GS300 w/ 89,999 miles!

GsLexx

Your best bet is to do everything all at once. If you are going to do a tune up and take everything apart to do the timing belt...it be smart to replace all your seals, thermostat, spark plugs, coil packs, valve cover gaskets. You are only going to save yourself in the long run.

ttaylor993

I was going to second the recommendation to change the VVT-i cam seal. You may as well since you were already in there and you are only talking about a $5 part and another 5 minutes of work. But since you've already finished, unless you want to take the belt off again, I'd just keep an eye on it like you said. Also keep on eye on the VVT-i pulley itself. It is prone to leak with age too. Oil will come from behind the pulley if it is the seal and from the front of the pulley if it's the pulley itself.

4rcedfed

I second the replacement from experience too. Mileage sometimes doesn't mean anything(I agree with Jeff), in hotter climates rubber gets hard and brittle fast. Anything expendable, which are seals and hoses need to be changed out. And once you take apart half the motor, I always change expendable materials. "If it aint broke don't fix it" only works with some parts.