Oil leak on '04 DC Tundra

seefutt · #1 (**permalink**) 04-25-2005, 09:59 PM

I just got my '04 DC Tundra back from the dealer to fix an oil leak that was starting to drip between the engine and tranny. Vehicle had only 11k miles on it and the fix was to REMOVE engine, replace rear main seal, re-seal oil pan with FIPG(Toyota grey RTV). According to the dealer, Toyota recommended this fix because they are aware of this problem. I randomly looked underneath a couple other '04 DC's and noticed they were leaking too! Has this happened to anybody else?(or maybe you should look)

TundrastruckDave · #2 (**permalink**) 04-26-2005, 09:58 AM

That... DOES NOT... sound good! Not good, AT ALL!!

Even though my DC only has about 2000 miles on it so far, I guess I'd better check it, when I get home today!

btw: exactly "where" do I need to look for this leak?!

Thanks,
Dave

Falco04 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-26-2005, 01:26 PM

This is the same problem I noticed at the 5k oil change. It was blamed on a sloppy job from the 1k change. I guess they will have to fess up now. Almost ready for the 10k change. A new truck shouldn't leak.

04 DC, TRD Sandstone, ARE Topper.

seefutt · #4 (**permalink**) 04-26-2005, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TundrastruckDave

That... DOES NOT... sound good! Not good, AT ALL!!

Even though my DC only has about 2000 miles on it so far, I guess I'd better check it, when I get home today!

btw: exactly "where" do I need to look for this leak?!

Thanks,
Dave

It will be "wet" right where the engine and tranny meet. If your steering rack has an oily film on the surface, most likely it's been dripping (about a drop every 3 days on mine).

Falco04 · #5 (**permalink**) 04-26-2005, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seefutt

It will be "wet" right where the engine and tranny meet. If your steering rack has an oily film on the surface, most likely it's been dripping (about a drop every 3 days on mine).

I first noticed it on the steering rack, but it was engine oil, not power steering or trans fluid. Very slow leak, took weeks for the oil to penetrate the mud. Once clean, it showed up right away. How long to pull the engine and replace? Thanks

mitchr · #6 (**permalink**) 04-26-2005, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seefutt

I just got my '04 DC Tundra back from the dealer to fix an oil leak that was starting to drip between the engine and tranny. Vehicle had only 11k miles on it and the fix was to REMOVE engine, replace rear main seal, re-seal oil pan with FIPG(Toyota grey RTV). According to the dealer, Toyota recommended this fix because they are aware of this problem. I randomly looked underneath a couple other '04 DC's and noticed they were leaking too! Has this happened to anybody else?(or maybe you should look)

Unreal

offensj1 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-26-2005, 10:53 PM

I can't understand why they can't just remove the trans and fix it from there ?

seefutt · #8 (**permalink**) 04-27-2005, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falco04

I first noticed it on the steering rack, but it was engine oil, not power steering or trans fluid. Very slow leak, took weeks for the oil to penetrate the mud. Once clean, it showed up right away. How long to pull the engine and replace? Thanks

They had to confirm the leakage, then checked if there were any TSB's out on it (there wasn't any, but Toyota was AWARE of the problem

). Then parts were ordered (rear main seal, a bolt?). It took a couple days to pull the motor, install the correct amount of FIPG to the oil pan area and to install the rear main. The dealer I took it to wanted a couple more days for the sealant to dry real good and somebody from "Toyota" wanted to "bless" the work.

Falco04 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-10-2005, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offensj1

I can't understand why they can't just remove the trans and fix it from there ?

That is what my dealer is going to do next Monday. They say no engine pulling is necessary.

fredmertz · #10 (**permalink**) 05-10-2005, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seefutt

I just got my '04 DC Tundra back from the dealer to fix an oil leak that was starting to drip between the engine and tranny. Vehicle had only 11k miles on it and the fix was to REMOVE engine, replace rear main seal, re-seal oil pan with FIPG(Toyota grey RTV). According to the dealer, Toyota recommended this fix because they are aware of this problem. I randomly looked underneath a couple other '04 DC's and noticed they were leaking too! Has this happened to anybody else?(or maybe you should look)

I just noticed a leak in the same location on my Truck too

Is it confirmed the engine has to be pulled ?

Thanks

seefutt · #11 (**permalink**) 05-10-2005, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falco04

That is what my dealer is going to do next Monday. They say no engine pulling is necessary.

That is odd. According to my dealer after they consulted with Toyota Corp.; "Reseal oil pan with FIPG(RTV)". The easest way to remove the oil pan is to remove the motor. I spoke with the tech that worked on mine and he sez that the leak was coming from the poor seal between the oil pan and engine block(not enough RTV and poor surface prep(greasy?). The rear main seal was replaced cuz the motor and tranny had to be separated and it was called out as part of the "fix".

EricZ · #12 (**permalink**) 05-11-2005, 12:26 AM

Is this for double cabs only?

Rlockyer · #13 (**permalink**) 05-11-2005, 02:04 AM

Either the engine or the trans have to be pulled to replace the rear main seal.
I can't imagine getting the pan off without pulling the engine. I'd be worried that they're just planning on slopping a "bead" of sealant on the outside.

As far as "couple more days for the sealant to dry real good", Toyota FIPG is ready to drive in 2 hours.

Falco04 · #14 (**permalink**) 05-11-2005, 04:51 PM

While the warranty is in effect I don't care how they fix it, but that it gets fixed. Two years and 20k miles left. If is done incorrectly it will fail on their dollar. I see this as a factory oops, seal installed on a Monday or Friday? This is the best highway driving truck out there, I will stick with it as long as the bugs are worked out under warranty. Once I start paying for repairs, I may be singing a different tune and Tundra's hold there value right? I want to keep my TuRD .

heloking44 · #15 (**permalink**) 05-12-2005, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falco04

While the warranty is in effect I don't care how they fix it, but that it gets fixed. Two years and 20k miles left. If is done incorrectly it will fail on their dollar. I see this as a factory oops, seal installed on a Monday or Friday? This is the best highway driving truck out there, I will stick with it as long as the bugs are worked out under warranty. Once I start paying for repairs, I may be singing a different tune and Tundra's hold there value right? I want to keep my TuRD .

I had the same problem about a year ago. The dealer first started out changing the rear main seal. We gave the repair about a month. I thought a month would be ample time for the leak to reappear. Well, it did and this guy was anything but happy! They ended up resealing the oil pan. After the repair I noticed that there were two oil pan sections. The dealer or stealership resealed both. After reading everyone’s threads, I noticed that you guys mentioned that the color was gray. Well, the color they used one mine a year ago is black! After reading and writing about the subject again has triggered that "I better check again" reflex. My 04 DC has 20K and is awesome in every way except for fuel economy and HP. As for the HP, I think I am more pissed that Toyota upped the HP in the 05. Oh well, I'll live with it. These buyer remorse thoughts don’t emerge that often.

Sorry for rambling.

Matt