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Main seal was fixed with 55,000ish on it. Now at 133k it's leaking bad. Absolutely crazy. I have a 2008 four cylinder Camry and no issues. What the hell is wrong with Lexus?
Why can they not get a real fix for this?
What do you mean by main seal? Timing chain cover? Crankshaft seal? My RAV4 has the dreaded timing cover leak I'm not going to repair it I wash the engine bay once in a while it can leak until the car is put out to pasture.
What do you mean by main seal? Timing chain cover? Crankshaft seal? My RAV4 has the dreaded timing cover leak I'm not going to repair it I wash the engine bay once in a while it can leak until the car is put out to pasture.
Google: rear main seal leak. People mention it all through this thread. Along with the timing cover leak.
Main seal was fixed with 55,000ish on it. Now at 133k it's leaking bad. Absolutely crazy. I have a 2008 four cylinder Camry and no issues. What the hell is wrong with Lexus?
Why can they not get a real fix for this?
My Honda Accord developed a rear main leak with 1000 miles on the ODO. I had a 93 Ford ranger with a 4L V6 that developed a rear main leak every other oil change (every 6K miles) while it was on warranty …then it went off warranty. I’m not excusing Toyota/Lexus - just sharing my experience with another brand. It shouldn’t be happening and oil leaks are enormously frustrating, but it could always be worse. I have owned a couple of Audis, and they were terrible leakers. I think every seal leaked on my last Audi.
Yep, common issue across all models with 3.5 - ES350, Camry, Tacomas, RX350, etc…
For most engines, it is more of a seepage than a leak. You may never notice low oil on the dip stick. It usually leaks where the timing cover, block, and head meet, the area above the PS pump. In our 07 ES350, and now our 18 RX350, the oil seeps down the block behind the pump and drips onto the CV shaft. I clean the area every time I do an oil change. On the ES I went to a thicker oil - 10w/30. This greatly reduced the seepage. On the RX, the seepage is less and I am still using 0w/20. The Car Care Nut guy did a video on this. To fix it, the engine needs to come out. Some folks clean the seepage area and apply silicone sealer externally. I may do this at next oil change.
Yep, common issue across all models with 3.5 - ES350, Camry, Tacomas, RX350, etc…
For most engines, it is more of a seepage than a leak. You may never notice low oil on the dip stick. It usually leaks where the timing cover, block, and head meet, the area above the PS pump. In our 07 ES350, and now our 18 RX350, the oil seeps down the block behind the pump and drips onto the CV shaft. I clean the area every time I do an oil change. On the ES I went to a thicker oil - 10w/30. This greatly reduced the seepage. On the RX, the seepage is less and I am still using 0w/20. The Car Care Nut guy did a video on this. To fix it, the engine needs to come out. Some folks clean the seepage area and apply silicone sealer externally. I may do this at next oil change.
Yup, silicone is ALOT easier than pulling the engine!
There is always a fair amount of oil covering the bottom of the oil pan when I change the oil, but the oil is coming from up higher, not the pan. I can't really tell for sure where the oil is coming from so I took some pictures hoping someone might recognize something that is a probable oil leak location on these engines. The first picture is looking directly up from where the oil drain plug and the other pictures are from the right side wheel well area. Thanks for any suggestions.
Probably timing cover leak, as you drive air blows the oil around. Wash the engine bay once in awhile that's what I do on my RAV.
Yeah, you are right. I searched for timing cover leak on this engine and of course the Car Care Nut video came up. I guess fixing it is out of the question since it requires taking the engine out.
Yeah, you are right. I searched for timing cover leak on this engine and of course the Car Care Nut video came up. I guess fixing it is out of the question since it requires taking the engine out.
Not worth it like I said wash the engine twice a year.* Leak on my RAV4 has stayed about the same for years and it has the infamous cam phaser rattle which hasn't become worse either.
*this is important or the various rubber pieces on the car will be eaten away for example CV axle boots.
Not worth it like I said wash the engine twice a year.* Leak on my RAV4 has stayed about the same for years and it has the infamous cam phaser rattle which hasn't become worse either.
*this is important or the various rubber pieces on the car will be eaten away for example CV axle boots.
Thanks. I will wash it off on the next oil change. I've mostly owned Ford or Nissan cars and while they definitely had some issues, I never had issues with oil leaks except for the occasional valve cover gasket. I talked my wife into getting a Lexus based on all of the "bullet proof" claims that you hear. I don't see how they have such a continuous high rating when they use swiss cheese for sealant. It is kind of disappointing that this issue has been around in some form or fashion for a very long time and they refused to fix it. Sounds like something Land Rover would do instead of Lexus.
There is always a fair amount of oil covering the bottom of the oil pan when I change the oil, but the oil is coming from up higher, not the pan. I can't really tell for sure where the oil is coming from so I took some pictures hoping someone might recognize something that is a probable oil leak location on these engines. The first picture is looking directly up from where the oil drain plug and the other pictures are from the right side wheel well area. Thanks for any suggestions.
Yep. Unfortunately, that is the infamous timing cover leak.
02-18-24, 09:34 PM
2016 RX 350 build 8/16
