Oil Leak 07 - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

cajuntundra · #1 (**permalink**) 12-08-2008, 07:58 PM

My mom has an 07 Avalon that leaked oil all over the garage this weekend. At first I thought she hit something while talking on the phone and damaged the oil pan. Not the case, when I looked in the engine I noticed that oil was pooling on the frame right behind the radiator and it looked like some had been thrown up on the passenger side of the engine compartment. When we brought in( on a wrecker) they said it was a common thing, some sort of valve that had ruptured. Before she noticed the oil leak, she drove to my sisters house about 5-6miles away. When she was leaving is when she noticed oil on there garage as well. When I got there it looked like maybe 2qts had leaked out at my sisters house and then another 2-3qts at my moms house. Two questions, is this really something that is happening to the new Avalons and what kind of engine damage can we expect if any? Should we demand a 100k warranty on the engine or do you guys think we're safe? Thanks in advance!!!

cajuntundra · #2 (**permalink**) 12-09-2008, 09:02 PM

I talked to Toyota today and they said its the VVT-i pipe that was the cause of the leak. The Celica has a metal pipe so why not make the same pipe that is on the FLAGSHIP out of the same material?? I'll keep everyone up to date.

AVOWNER06 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-18-2009, 11:13 PM

HAVE INCLUDED QUOTE OF SAME PROBLEM BELOW MY REPORT,
Our 06 Avalon let us down over 600 miles from home due to this high pressure oil line rupture. The valve lifters start to sing and you smell oil smoke in the car. Being a Sunday there was no place for the two women to even go to a toilet while we waited for a tow. The dealer in South Carolina said immediately on Monday morning that they cannot get the oil lines because they have five already on back order. They gave me a Pria, a chick car to drive.

My wife drove the pria for a week and the only way i got our car fixed was to call my own dealer in Naples, FL and have him send his last oil line to Florence, SC. Here is what he said: "I saw this coming when we started to get oil leaks and ordered a quantity for my customers." Then I had to drive to Florence to pick up the Avalon and the car still smells like an old truck three months later! My local dealer tried to wash out the oil again and did not succeed so i tried it with a wand at the car wash but the car still stinks up the garage every night.

Wrote to the President of Toyota and called Japan. They turned the case over to a nice lady in California to tell me that all Toyota pays is the tow and motel room. I said you owe us for three days lost time at work, gas and another day trying to get the smell stopped.Toyota also needs to put a new exhause system from front to back or find and stop the smell.

Next the car BROKE DOWN AGAIN at night with my wife when the fan belt broke which at 46,915 miles is due to being soaked with oil three months before. Power steering went out and sounded like a chain rattling around under the car. Toyota's procedures should have called for fan belt replacment with a hot oil leak of this magnitude. Towed it in again and had to pay $152.00 for the belt replacement in order to get my car back.

TODAY I TOLD THE NICE LADY THAT THIS IS IT WITH ME AND I AM GOING ONLINE AND TO THE LOCAL PAPER. She said fax in your repair bill for the belt which i did and she says she is calling our dealer to see what he will do about the smell and coating of oil oozing out of everything under the car. Toyota will not commit to any more at this point. SOUNDS LIKE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT POTENTIAL. 1. Many cars have defective oil pipes, 2. several people will get stranded every month, 3. people who have had their leaks fixed may have steering failures due to the messed up belt.

THE QUOTE FOR THE OTHER CAR.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cajuntundra

My mom has an 07 Avalon that leaked oil all over the garage this weekend. At first I thought she hit something while talking on the phone and damaged the oil pan. Not the case, when I looked in the engine I noticed that oil was pooling on the frame right behind the radiator and it looked like some had been thrown up on the passenger side of the engine compartment. When we brought in( on a wrecker) they said it was a common thing, some sort of valve that had ruptured. Before she noticed the oil leak, she drove to my sisters house about 5-6miles away. When she was leaving is when she noticed oil on there garage as well. When I got there it looked like maybe 2qts had leaked out at my sisters house and then another 2-3qts at my moms house. Two questions, is this really something that is happening to the new Avalons and what kind of engine damage can we expect if any? Should we demand a 100k warranty on the engine or do you guys think we're safe? Thanks in advance!!!

ROKTOY829 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 06:00 PM

The design on that oil line is a joke. As a toyota tech to look at the hoses you think they would have made a better quailty line. We have several cars down due the back log.

Bob Frick · #5 (**permalink**) 03-23-2009, 08:31 AM

This happened in my 05 around 60K; it wound up being covered under a TSB as a warranty item. In my case (and a lot of others) it involved a leaking tube up around the valve cover. Don't remember the exact technical problem, but I think it was TSB 063 or TSB 065.

peachestoo · #6 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cajuntundra

My mom has an 07 Avalon that leaked oil all over the garage this weekend. At first I thought she hit something while talking on the phone and damaged the oil pan. Not the case, when I looked in the engine I noticed that oil was pooling on the frame right behind the radiator and it looked like some had been thrown up on the passenger side of the engine compartment. When we brought in( on a wrecker) they said it was a common thing, some sort of valve that had ruptured. Before she noticed the oil leak, she drove to my sisters house about 5-6miles away. When she was leaving is when she noticed oil on there garage as well. When I got there it looked like maybe 2qts had leaked out at my sisters house and then another 2-3qts at my moms house. Two questions, is this really something that is happening to the new Avalons and what kind of engine damage can we expect if any? Should we demand a 100k warranty on the engine or do you guys think we're safe? Thanks in advance!!!

Well.........I just waved bye bye to my Avalon (06).........cranked her up this morning to warm up for the babies and came back out to a pool of oil...........I called Toyota Mall of Georgia and they advised of a "problem that Toyota is aware of".....the part I did not like was "National Backorder"....I advised I needed to get it towed in and they gave me the info for the towing company they use..........tow truck guy said they haul em in all the time..........that's nice to hear......

Gonna be interesting to see what they have to say about "costs"........

peachestoo · #7 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 11:46 AM

Quick update..........my dealership just confirmed it's the VV whatever and they are working on getting me a rental car cause apparently it's gonna be a long wait for this part..........stay tuned

peachestoo · #8 (**permalink**) 03-26-2009, 12:37 AM

Update..........

My dealership called this afternoon and offered me a "rental" at no charge. Even said it could be up to 3 - 4 weeks, wholly on their ticket, repairs included.

Toyota is assuming responsibility for the mishap and paying my way out so I am not inconvienced nor strapped.

Told me they would not call me daily to update me on "arrival" of the part, but they would call me when it comes in. If I wanted to ask any questions, I could call them. I don't care as long as they get my car fixed at no charge to me. I actually appreciated that, not being bugged everyday with nothing.............long as I have transportation............keep my car, do it right..........

I guess it depends on the dealership and how you conduct yourself?

Toyota Mall of Georgia Rocks!

peachestoo · #9 (**permalink**) 03-29-2009, 09:11 PM

Update - well, they put me in a rental car, as promised however it ws a small Corolla. Told me they would call me in next day or two to upgrade me. I asked if they were going to upgrade me to a Solara (wink), and at least I got a giggle. True to form, they called me late Friday afternoon and put me into a Camary.

Anybody got any idea how I get that oil off my concrete driveway? It was all pristine white until this..............now it's a mess..........

cajuntundra · #10 (**permalink**) 03-29-2009, 09:43 PM

I used floor dry at my moms and sisters house. Its just like kitty litter. As for her car its in arbitration. They fixed the car for free but my parents are worried about the car doing it again, like on the interstate at high speed. That is when the real damage could be done, say the VVTI valve breaks and falls into the timing chain, what a mess. I'm saying that because it has already happened to a buddies mom. He is a Toyota Tech, he felt that Toyota should give her a new engine, after a few rounds that's what she got. That's a more severe case than what happened to my parents car. I'll keep you guys updated.

benbeaux · #11 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 11:32 AM

I use cheap kitty litter. Pour it on & grind it in with your foot...kinda like smashing a bug or putting out a cigarette. Let it soak a day or three & sweep up. Repeat if necessary.

I've got my eye on our Avalon...hopefully our dealer won't hose us. I'm not holding my breath.

peachestoo · #12 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cajuntundra

I used floor dry at my moms and sisters house. Its just like kitty litter. As for her car its in arbitration. They fixed the car for free but my parents are worried about the car doing it again, like on the interstate at high speed. That is when the real damage could be done, say the VVTI valve breaks and falls into the timing chain, what a mess. I'm saying that because it has already happened to a buddies mom. He is a Toyota Tech, he felt that Toyota should give her a new engine, after a few rounds that's what she got. That's a more severe case than what happened to my parents car. I'll keep you guys updated.

Thanks for the info on that repeat thingie...........my bgf and I were discussing something similar to that this evening...........
Our scenario involves the vvti going on the interstate, car dies and getting creamed from behind..........I've got two car seats in the back of my car.........4 & 2........

peachestoo · #13 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benbeaux

I use cheap kitty litter. Pour it on & grind it in with your foot...kinda like smashing a bug or putting out a cigarette. Let it soak a day or three & swep up. Repeat if necessary.

I've got my eye on our Avalon...hopefully our dealer won't hose us. I'm not holding my breath.

Thanks for the advise on the litter guys.........

I heard/felt a loud thump underneath the car prior to this happening, knowing what I know now..........then again, hind sight is 20/20

I'm still pleased with the dealers eagerness to fix/assist me with this problem.......my battery is already dead from sitting there, went by today to get some stuff out of my trunk...........had to get a tech to get me into it..........see if they hit me up for a new one and what else they "find wrong" with it.........

cajuntundra · #14 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 12:11 PM

Careful how you fill out your paperwork if you go the arbitration route. My mom put that she uses the car for work 90% now do to the Louisiana Lemon Law a work vehicle doesn't qualify. She uses the car to get to work and get around town, it isn't a company car nor does she get an allowance. They have a lawyer looking at the paperwork, words and phrases.
I could be wrong too, when I think company car/truck I'm thinking something that 1) has the company logo or other decals 2) the person driving doesn't own it 3) the person is getting some sort of allowance, not fuel but someone else paying all or part of the note.

CCTUNDRA08 · #15 (**permalink**) 04-07-2009, 11:21 AM

i know this is lengthy but their is a lesson to be learned at the end. before i purchased my tundra i had an 06 avalon with all sorts of oil leak problems. i had first taken it in for a tsb. it was some sort of oil leak coming from the timing chain cover it wasnt a bad leak but i could tell it was leaking when i would change my oil. they had my car almost three weeks and guess what it was still leaking when i got it back. so i wasnt gonna take it back so it could sit there another three weeks so i just lived with it. im not very trust worthy of the mechanics at that toyota dealership but i did purchase my tundra their.

Anyways so a couple of thousand miles over my powertrain warranty im coming back from the local supermarket my a/c stops working and the car starts making a funny noise. so when i get home i start the inspection to figure out what the hell is wrong. after a couple of minutes i see there is a puddle of dark fluid under the car

im like what the hell. so i get in the car and boogie on over to the new MIKE SHAW TOYOTA that just opened its only like 5 miles away from my house.
so i get the normal dealership bullsh*t yall know what im talking about. awhile later they come a tell me that its my powersteering pump and for yall who dont know how much an 06 avalon powersteering pump is well it is quite pricy like in the range of 400 GODD*MN dollars. i told that service rep that pump better be made of gold

. The total cost for everything including parts and labor was around 1500. well i wasnt about to pay that and plus i was pissed about the price of the pump. so i asked them to top off the power steering so i could take my car somewhere else and i asked them if the car would be ok to drive just a couple of miles and they said it would be alright. so i leave a/c still not working windows down and i start smelling something burning and im thinking to myself NOT GOOD! well im headed to a local mechanic shop and these guys are very trust worthy i would recommend these guys to anyone i would put 1 years salary on these guys thats how much trust i have in them. So this is where it gets interesting. so lance tells me it would be awhile before he can take a look at it and thats what i figured so i catch a ride home. So lance gives me a call the next day and dont forget i did explain to him what the dealership told me. But guess what the dealership was WRONG! it was that damn pipe that was leaking oil and that smell when i left the dealership was was my engine running on no freakin oil. he said if i would of drove the car a couple of more miles i would of blown the engine. So the dealership totally misdiagnosed the problem and these guys are suppose the be F**KIN certified mechanics YA RIGHT! Well after lance fixed my car i went back to MIKE SHAW TOYOTA and let them know what had happened and that they really F'D up and i was going to file a report with the BBB. i dont think they liked that since they had only been open about a month. So like i said about the lesson dont always believe the crap a dealership gives you cause you might be in for a big surprise and the end.

oh ya p.s.: I forgot the reason the a/c wasnt working but it had to do with the oil leaking on something. But all is good.