liazon

iTrader: (1)

What is your expert's opinion?

I recently had the 1st timing belt service done on my 11 year old 66k GS430 at a local reputable shop. I found out after the service that they don't change the cam and crank seals unless they are actively leaking (which they weren't).

However, a few calls to Lexus dealerships and an hour of CL reading later, I've read many posts where opinions do differ. Some owners and their mechanics replace the seals as a preventative measure since it's fairly easy to do during the course of the service. I've also read several posts where people talk about their seals leaking and having to deal with that.

Just as many 'experts' seem to say one as the other.

So, what is your input based upon what you have learned from your mechanics??

Preventative: Replace the seals during every timing belt service
Unnecessary: If they aren't leaking don't replace them

Thanks,

CIGLexus

iTrader: (1)

You should be fine, but they should have done it. Any shop worth anything would have at least suggested it.

burny

they should have been replaced since timing belt was replaced. I would have done VVtI gear as well at that point. You could just get a new rubber o-ring and rebuild the VVtI in about 15 minutes. My passenger side cam seal was leaking at about 130,000 miles. Went ahead and did both cams, rebuilt and replaced vvti and did crank seal.

liazon

iTrader: (1)

update:
I spoke w/ my mechanic again. He is saying that the cam seal on a VVTI 4.3L v8, the cams have to come out to replace the seal. According to him it's a whole other job and unless they are leaking one that isn't normally done at the time of doing the timing belt.

I asked him why the seals came with the OEM timing belt kit. He said on most engines, including some other Lexus models, the cam seal just pops off and is easy to replace. But that that isn't the case with my engine.

Again, conflicting answers depending who you talk with!

I hate being ignorant.

lextout

i would change the cam and crank seals every time u do the tbelt, else the cam seals will leak on the alternator and damage that.

badblackgs

iTrader: (1)

I did my timing belt and water pump with new tensioner when i first bought my gs430 about two years ago. I was going to do the cam seals as preventative maint. until i discovered the cams had to come out. visually i could see that they were not leaking so i chose not to do them. now i developed a gnarly oil leak from my driv. side intake variable valve cam gear. now i fully regret not not having done it when i had the timing belt off. now i have to do it all over again plus pull the intake cams out to do it. lesson learned.

gs300by

Your mechanic shouldve just done it since he was replacing the timing belt. Trying to make money off you

intoran

From what I've heard it's a pretty big job. I skipped it on mine at 12 years of age and 45k miles.

liazon

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the replies. I contacted one of the service managers at a large Lexus dealership in Dallas. He's been there for over 20 years and a friend of a friend so I know he's shooting me straight. He said if there is no evidence of leakage or staining they don't usually do the cam seal. Furthermore, as it's in an oil environment, it's lubricated all it's life and can last pretty much indefinitely (given you provide it with a good clean oil environment by changing the oil regularly.)
Of course nothing is for sure in life, but that made me feel more comfortable.

Now if i can just find an SRT intake/ecu.......