Coolant Valley Plate Leak
#46
Instructor
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: VA via TX, PA, FL, and SC
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Will replacing pink with red coolant prevent this leak. Saw on one of the GSF video, guy saying that pink is not compatible with silicone used in the gasketing compound. He was replacing OEM pink with old red OEM coolant at 26k miles on GSF. Any one heard this to be true.
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ahmerx (12-23-20)
#48
Well, it looks like I've got this going on. Was under the truck 3 weeks ago doing a brake bleed, and no signs of the leak. Did an oil change today, and saw crusted red stuff everywhere. Overflow bottle empty, and radiator a cup or two low as well. o_O. Will be taking it in for this repair as I am headed out on a road trip next week.
Question - is there anything else that I should do while the intake is off, labor-saving wise?
Question - is there anything else that I should do while the intake is off, labor-saving wise?
Last edited by azfj60; 04-23-21 at 11:50 AM.
#49
Holy @#$@#. I took it to a "trusted" Toyota dealer, and they're quoting me 15 hours of labor. That seems about double what I've seen online. How to verify? Or do I just go get the truck, pay the diagnostic fee and find a different dealer?
#50
Super Moderator
I think 15 hours is the book time for job so will probably hear that quoted at many dealers.
Last edited by Acrad; 08-22-21 at 12:24 PM.
#52
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Provincia
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Hi, I know it's an old post, and I wanted to know if you could solve it, since at this moment, I have the same leak on my 2010 GX460 with 73,000 miles, could you solve the problem?
#53
@azfj60 I have a 11 with 132k on the odo. Noticed the coolant level dropping on the expansion tank from when the truck had 117k miles some 8 months ago. It's a valley plate leak and see the leak at the same spot as shown on your pics, the leak is so small that I had to refill only a half gallon during the 8 months and ~15k miles from since when I noticed. I have also been on a 7k mile road trip with the leak, no issues. This leak is completely external to the engine block and there will be no damage to anything, just keep monitoring the expansion tank every few hundred miles.
seen a step by step procedure on the ih8mud forum and also few detailed videos on youtube with the Tundra having the same issue, I'm planning on fixing it DIY, dealer is quoting exorbitant labor. it's a time taking process but with patience should be able to knock it off, remove the intake, disconnect few air injection pump hoses, knock sensors and should be able to get to the valley plate.
seen a step by step procedure on the ih8mud forum and also few detailed videos on youtube with the Tundra having the same issue, I'm planning on fixing it DIY, dealer is quoting exorbitant labor. it's a time taking process but with patience should be able to knock it off, remove the intake, disconnect few air injection pump hoses, knock sensors and should be able to get to the valley plate.
#54
@azfj60 I have a 11 with 132k on the odo. Noticed the coolant level dropping on the expansion tank from when the truck had 117k miles some 8 months ago. It's a valley plate leak and see the leak at the same spot as shown on your pics, the leak is so small that I had to refill only a half gallon during the 8 months and ~15k miles from since when I noticed. I have also been on a 7k mile road trip with the leak, no issues. This leak is completely external to the engine block and there will be no damage to anything, just keep monitoring the expansion tank every few hundred miles.
seen a step by step procedure on the ih8mud forum and also few detailed videos on youtube with the Tundra having the same issue, I'm planning on fixing it DIY, dealer is quoting exorbitant labor. it's a time taking process but with patience should be able to knock it off, remove the intake, disconnect few air injection pump hoses, knock sensors and should be able to get to the valley plate.
seen a step by step procedure on the ih8mud forum and also few detailed videos on youtube with the Tundra having the same issue, I'm planning on fixing it DIY, dealer is quoting exorbitant labor. it's a time taking process but with patience should be able to knock it off, remove the intake, disconnect few air injection pump hoses, knock sensors and should be able to get to the valley plate.
Regarding the hours, I called local Lexus dealer, 8 hours, $1500 out the door, no questions, no BS. Toyota service manager wouldn't even admit to this engine existing on Toyota vehicles ("it's tighter on a Lexus, hence the doubling of hours"). Then switched story to he needed to charge more hours than Lexus since Toyota labor rates were $140 and Lexus was $195. WTH??? He insisted that parts were a big part of the cost, and when confronted with a few o-rings, a tube of FPIG, and a few gallons of coolant he reluctantly had to admit that it was less than $100 in parts. It just pisses me off that they try to scam you. Will be talking to the service manager, and give him a chance to make it right there. He's new (service manager) and a long time LC guy, hence me taking my truck there. My local mechanic said 4 hours labor, but that sounds pretty low. Maybe I shoulda, but I have a trip in two days. Don't need coolant leaks.
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LokiGx (04-28-21)
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azfj60 (04-28-21)
#56
I posted this a few months ago but it doesn't hurt to remind people. My 2 local Lexus dealers wanted $1,700 to change all the fluids in my 460 (except antifreeze) My local Independent Toyota specialist charged $605 including a full check up and I guarantee they still made money, But! they don't have to pay for a multi million dollar facility and hundreds of employees.
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azfj60 (04-28-21)
#57
I posted this a few months ago but it doesn't hurt to remind people. My 2 local Lexus dealers wanted $1,700 to change all the fluids in my 460 (except antifreeze) My local Independent Toyota specialist charged $605 including a full check up and I guarantee they still made money, But! they don't have to pay for a multi million dollar facility and hundreds of employees.
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azfj60 (04-28-21)
#58
I ended up paying $1400 for it. Just over a hundred bucks in parts, including FIPG (pricey!), 2 intake gaskets, coolant and 2 o-rings. Will monitor coolant loss over the next roadtrip, ~2K miles. Already had to add a cup or two to the overflow, but chocking that up to normal re-fill burping and air pockets. No leaking so far, leaving all the underhood plastic crap off so things are easy to check on. I'm with the "right first time" philosophy on this one.
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texas008 (02-16-24)
#59
Super Moderator
5.7L but basically the same repair
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texas008 (02-16-24)