Need help! Oil leaking passenger side ..cam seals??
#31
Lexus Fanatic
It's hard to be certain as only you can touch the inside of the cover but it looks like rubber dust from the belt not oil residue...?
The cord material encased inside the rubber is EXTREMELY strong so microscopic bits of rubber flying off is fairly normal and not a huge concern. But, since the cover is already off this is an excellent time to evaluate the timing belt. If is the original from the factory you might consider changing it.
The cord material encased inside the rubber is EXTREMELY strong so microscopic bits of rubber flying off is fairly normal and not a huge concern. But, since the cover is already off this is an excellent time to evaluate the timing belt. If is the original from the factory you might consider changing it.
Drawing a parallel to my wife's water pump shaft seal leak. Being a GM the orange color made it obvious that coolant was leaking. But, suprising, or not surprising to people who do this for a living, orange was everywhere, drops clinging in places common sense would say that's not from the water pump, that has to be something else leaking. But no, it was the water pump. I know in that case one has to use probability plus common sense, replace the pump which is "known," and check for leaks after that (meaning almost certain this year/make/model if you replace the water pump, you have no more leaking, based on the hundreds of others online who had the same issue). Might be the same with our cars. Seems like valve cover gaskets are step one? although OP did that...
edit p.s.--say the pass side valve cover is in fact leaking, can any oil get to that inside cover? To me, it does look like oil. And the black part if you will looks wet, or grime, not dry dust....jmo
Last edited by Johnhav430; 02-26-20 at 05:38 AM.
#32
Lexus Champion
When you did the cover did you do the moons as well? There are half moon caps in the rear and also RTV sealing points in the front that if not done can leak even after doing the main cover seal
#33
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
The timing belt water pump was done by lexus at 60k miles (100k kms) 5 years back so it should still have a bit to go before the next change. It does look a bit like old oil on the black cover part under the timing cover, I hope its from a previous leak that went down there? I will try to clean it when i have a chance to take it apart again and see if it will leak from there again. This car is very frustrating right now with this on going leak and me cleaning it daily, hoping it will magically stop. The weather is getting cold and snow is here so very hard for me to find time to take it apart and see..
When i did the valve covers i saw the half moon and left them alone it looked ok still. I didn't put any RTV or sealants since i read these valve cover gaskets for this gen did not need it. I also don't see or feel a leak behind where the half moons are and all around the valve cover.
hope there is and easy fix or can get this resolved myself. before i have to bring it to The dealer and get charged an substantial amount!!!
When i did the valve covers i saw the half moon and left them alone it looked ok still. I didn't put any RTV or sealants since i read these valve cover gaskets for this gen did not need it. I also don't see or feel a leak behind where the half moons are and all around the valve cover.
hope there is and easy fix or can get this resolved myself. before i have to bring it to The dealer and get charged an substantial amount!!!
Last edited by dtrulez; 03-03-20 at 01:22 PM.
#34
Lexus Champion
That's your issue. If you didn't use any RTV you are leaking at the front of the cover where the long flats meet the raised section, the manual specs RTV at the moons and at the transition from the flat to curved section.
#35
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Just a small update. I found a warmer day to remove the valve cover and added Rtv at both sides corners of valve cover at the front where it goes from flat to round, and the two half moon. I tighten them and let it sit for half the day hoping that would of fixed it. But it didn't now Im really thinking its the Passenger CAM seal. I checked all around the Valve cover and it looks dry, I tried wiping the bottom front corner of the VC where it touches the P/S reservoir hose (super tight spot! where i originally suspected the leak dripped down and around from) and it seems dry to me as well.
I have seen some pictures of other peoples cam gear leaking where the t-belts drowned in oil, but i couldn't really find much pictures of other cars online to compare how cam seal leaks really look. Since this type of car and leaks are newer to me . i have attached a picture of mine if you guys can take a look and see if it looks like its leaked? Im not sure if its just me but it seems to leak more visibly, only when i park overnight facing downhill on my decline driveway.
seems to be a thick blob of oil collecting here
the bottom part looked a bit wet and the bolt that held the lower cover on was wet.
For some reason the inside of the T belt cover wasn't really wet at all other then the rubber seal on the bottom edge of it.. Not sure if it leaked all out on the black backing plate, or the oil got splashed all over the seal from the belt spinning. The Tbelt is still dry .
any insight would be helpful! I really don't want to spend a couple thousand to replace this 20 dollar seal!! the belt is not due for a long time and it seems too early to be leaking...
thanks
I have seen some pictures of other peoples cam gear leaking where the t-belts drowned in oil, but i couldn't really find much pictures of other cars online to compare how cam seal leaks really look. Since this type of car and leaks are newer to me . i have attached a picture of mine if you guys can take a look and see if it looks like its leaked? Im not sure if its just me but it seems to leak more visibly, only when i park overnight facing downhill on my decline driveway.
seems to be a thick blob of oil collecting here
the bottom part looked a bit wet and the bolt that held the lower cover on was wet.
For some reason the inside of the T belt cover wasn't really wet at all other then the rubber seal on the bottom edge of it.. Not sure if it leaked all out on the black backing plate, or the oil got splashed all over the seal from the belt spinning. The Tbelt is still dry .
any insight would be helpful! I really don't want to spend a couple thousand to replace this 20 dollar seal!! the belt is not due for a long time and it seems too early to be leaking...
thanks
#36
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
Just a small update. I found a warmer day to remove the valve cover and added Rtv at both sides corners of valve cover at the front where it goes from flat to round, and the two half moon. I tighten them and let it sit for half the day hoping that would of fixed it. But it didn't now Im really thinking its the Passenger CAM seal. I checked all around the Valve cover and it looks dry, I tried wiping the bottom front corner of the VC where it touches the P/S reservoir hose (super tight spot! where i originally suspected the leak dripped down and around from) and it seems dry to me as well.
I have seen some pictures of other peoples cam gear leaking where the t-belts drowned in oil, but i couldn't really find much pictures of other cars online to compare how cam seal leaks really look. Since this type of car and leaks are newer to me . i have attached a picture of mine if you guys can take a look and see if it looks like its leaked? Im not sure if its just me but it seems to leak more visibly, only when i park overnight facing downhill on my decline driveway.
seems to be a thick blob of oil collecting here
the bottom part looked a bit wet and the bolt that held the lower cover on was wet.
For some reason the inside of the T belt cover wasn't really wet at all other then the rubber seal on the bottom edge of it.. Not sure if it leaked all out on the black backing plate, or the oil got splashed all over the seal from the belt spinning. The Tbelt is still dry .
any insight would be helpful! I really don't want to spend a couple thousand to replace this 20 dollar seal!! the belt is not due for a long time and it seems too early to be leaking...
thanks
I have seen some pictures of other peoples cam gear leaking where the t-belts drowned in oil, but i couldn't really find much pictures of other cars online to compare how cam seal leaks really look. Since this type of car and leaks are newer to me . i have attached a picture of mine if you guys can take a look and see if it looks like its leaked? Im not sure if its just me but it seems to leak more visibly, only when i park overnight facing downhill on my decline driveway.
seems to be a thick blob of oil collecting here
the bottom part looked a bit wet and the bolt that held the lower cover on was wet.
For some reason the inside of the T belt cover wasn't really wet at all other then the rubber seal on the bottom edge of it.. Not sure if it leaked all out on the black backing plate, or the oil got splashed all over the seal from the belt spinning. The Tbelt is still dry .
any insight would be helpful! I really don't want to spend a couple thousand to replace this 20 dollar seal!! the belt is not due for a long time and it seems too early to be leaking...
thanks
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