Leaking engine oil

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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 08:09 AM
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Leaking engine oil

Took my car to the Tuffy shop that my cousin who owns a body shop reccomended. It’s where they bring cars that need engine work that come into the shop.
I’d never had a pre-purchase inspection before buying it as I was pressed for time and I bought the car in Indianapolis on a snowy December day. Having worked at my cousins body shop decades before, I knew the basics to look for.

The oil drip isn’t severe so I’m not too worried. I had Tuffy do an inspection yesterday. They said everything on the car is ok.
They said the timing cover gasket and camshaft gasket need replaced to solve the oil drip. Their quoted cost was $670.

In forum terms, what are the parts I need and can I do it myself? I googled “timing cover gasket and camshaft gasket 3g tl acurazine” but didn’t get results that matched.
So I thought that maybe their terms for timing cover gasket and camshaft gasket may be different than used here.

Sorry if this is basic to you guys. I was a painter at the shop. Lol. I’ve only done the basics myself such as brakes, suspension and smaller engine components easy to access.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 08:26 AM
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Is your car due for a TB/WP service? If so, I would have them do all at this time.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 08:51 AM
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No, it has 135k miles on it and it was done at about 120k.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Joecop67
Took my car to the Tuffy shop that my cousin who owns a body shop reccomended. It’s where they bring cars that need engine work that come into the shop.
I’d never had a pre-purchase inspection before buying it as I was pressed for time and I bought the car in Indianapolis on a snowy December day. Having worked at my cousins body shop decades before, I knew the basics to look for.

The oil drip isn’t severe so I’m not too worried. I had Tuffy do an inspection yesterday. They said everything on the car is ok.
They said the timing cover gasket and camshaft gasket need replaced to solve the oil drip. Their quoted cost was $670.

In forum terms, what are the parts I need and can I do it myself? I googled “timing cover gasket and camshaft gasket 3g tl acurazine” but didn’t get results that matched.
So I thought that maybe their terms for timing cover gasket and camshaft gasket may be different than used here.

Sorry if this is basic to you guys. I was a painter at the shop. Lol. I’ve only done the basics myself such as brakes, suspension and smaller engine components easy to access.
My 2006 TL has the exact same issue, the leak is so slow I don't even need to add oil between oil changes. I figure, unless the leak gets real bad, I won't bother with the cam seals until the next TB change, which at my current rate of driving is about three years away.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 09:20 AM
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So the timing cover gasket and camshaft gasket are part of the process of changing the timing belt?

Considering i I just changed the oil 2 weeks ago and drive the car less than 10 miles a day 5 days a week, I may never need to change it. Lol
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Joecop67
So the timing cover gasket and camshaft gasket are part of the process of changing the timing belt?

Considering i I just changed the oil 2 weeks ago and drive the car less than 10 miles a day 5 days a week, I may never need to change it. Lol
The cam shaft seals are an optional step during a timing belt change and is often skipped by shops. That said, in order to change the seals you need to pull the timing belt and the timing cover, so while you're in there, it is almost no extra labor to do the cam seals.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 09:36 AM
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So to change the seals it isn’t required to remove the timing belt and the water pump or it is?
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Joecop67
So to change the seals it isn’t required to remove the timing belt and the water pump or it is?
No, you absolutely need to remove the timing belt to change the cam seals and the water pump.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 09:53 AM
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If possible, post a few pics of the engine designating the areas of the leaks.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 10:01 AM
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Originally Posted by zeta
If possible, post a few pics of the engine designating the areas of the leaks.
I can try that later.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by horseshoez
No, you absolutely need to remove the timing belt to change the cam seals and the water pump.
If the timing belt and water pump need to be removed to replace the gaskets they said, I’m leaving it as is and just monitor my oil level.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 10:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Joecop67


If the timing belt and water pump need to be removed to replace the gaskets they said, I’m leaving it as is and just monitor my oil level.
I believe the timing cover gasket (not to be confused with the cam seals) can be replaced without pulling the timing belt. Then again, why bother?
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by horseshoez
I believe the timing cover gasket (not to be confused with the cam seals) can be replaced without pulling the timing belt. Then again, why bother?
To keep oil spots from my driveway and garage.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 11:01 AM
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Joecop67, just to clarify.

The gaskets on the lower, rear and front Timing Belt Cover Assemblies are #'s 3; 6; 9 on the link below:

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/v-2006...ing-belt-cover

These covers help keep out moisture and road debris from all the moving components and sensors underneath.

If either or both Camshaft Oil Seals are leaking, #13 on the link below:

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/v-2006...ft-timing-belt

It's likely, over time, that oil seepage will show up 'outside' the Timing Belt Cover Assemblies, depending on the location of the 'leak'.

If you are concerned about 'oil seepage' on the driveway, the main culprit that causes that is the tranny side crankshaft Rear Main Seal on your 6MT; #21 on the link below:

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/v-2006...-block-oil-pan

Although, if the leaks at the camshaft seals are severe enough, I suppose you would have it hit the driveway in those areas as well.

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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by zeta
Joecop67, just to clarify.

The gaskets on the lower, rear and front Timing Belt Cover Assemblies are #'s 3; 6; 9 on the link below:

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/v-2006...ing-belt-cover

These covers help keep out moisture and road debris from all the moving components and sensors underneath.

If either or both Camshaft Oil Seals are leaking, #13 on the link below:

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/v-2006...ft-timing-belt

It's likely, over time, that oil seepage will show up 'outside' the Timing Belt Cover Assemblies, depending on the location of the 'leak'.

If you are concerned about 'oil seepage' on the driveway, the main culprit that causes that is the tranny side crankshaft Rear Main Seal on your 6MT; #21 on the link below:

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/v-2006...-block-oil-pan

Although, if the leaks at the camshaft seals are severe enough, I suppose you would have it hit the driveway in those areas as well.

Could be right. The price of the parts were $43 for the timing cover gasket set and $43 for the camshaft gasket set.
So a total of $86 in parts and $583 in labor.

The only drip spots I’m seeing is below the oil pan area.
The drain plug and filter are clean and dry. I’ve got cardboard under it to keep it from the garage floor, not worried about the blacktop driveway.

Last edited by Joecop67; Aug 29, 2018 at 12:04 PM.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Joecop67
Could be right. The price of the parts were $43 for the timing cover gasket set and $43 for the camshaft gasket set.
So a total of $86 in parts and $583 in labor.

Got to love that 100+% mark-up on parts, lol.
Technically, you don't even need to replace the TB cover gaskets, unless the rubber is hard; cracked non-pliable. I just wiped mine down real good to remove crude/oil when doing the CLS6's TB eight years ago. At that time they were good as new.

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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 03:05 PM
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Can’t see any obvious oil leaks from the top. I’d have to get under it. Either jack it up as far as I can or take it to my cousins shop, put it on a lift and take pics then.
I have pics from the top and one of the cardboard after about 3 weeks. My oil level is still between the dots on the dipstick.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 03:17 PM
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As I mentioned above, my car also has leaking cam seals; there is exactly zero evidence of those leaks from the top side of the engine.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 03:35 PM
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Ok then, I guess I won’t worry about it. Thanks everyone.
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Old Aug 29, 2018 | 08:55 PM
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^
That's what Rob Van Winkle would do!
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