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I just purchased a 2014 Lexus RX 350 from CarMax (100k mi, $20k). Inspection reveals a very mild rear engine seal leak/seep, as the photo shows here. (Fortunately, the front timing cover showed no sign of leak).
I consulted the Lexus dealership and an independent mechanic about the oil seep at the rear engine seal, they both recommend keeping an eye on it but no action for now.
My questions are:
How common is the rear engine seal leak?
Would this be as bad as the front timing cover leak?
I got a 10-day return from CarMax, should I return this one and keep looking for a better one?
The 3rd-gen RX 350 is my favourite car, and I love its white exterior and tan interior. I just can not decide whether to keep or return this car. With this market, it is really hard to find the right condition at the right price. I'm not in desperate need of it, but it seems too difficult to find a good one in this market.
Thank you so much!
If the vehicle I own develops the same symptoms [and diagnosis], I would keep an eye... just as suggested by the mechanics.
On the other hand If I was about to purchase a vehicle with the condition, I would ask the cost of repair and then estimate the purchase price of similar vehicle with no known defect/condition [make sure the seller has not discounted for the fact]. Once those two numbers are established, I will ask for adjustment in price knowing fully well that the seller may not agree to the full difference. I would also establish a number in my mind that I should not offer higher than a certain based on my level of liking/need/features/maintenance-history etc. Do keep in mind that RX being the most popular model, there will be plenty to choose from, and it is just a matter of price.
I just purchased a 2014 Lexus RX 350 from CarMax (100k mi, $20k). Inspection reveals a very mild rear engine seal leak/seep, as the photo shows here. (Fortunately, the front timing cover showed no sign of leak).
I consulted the Lexus dealership and an independent mechanic about the oil seep at the rear engine seal, they both recommend keeping an eye on it but no action for now.
My questions are:
How common is the rear engine seal leak?
Would this be as bad as the front timing cover leak?
I got a 10-day return from CarMax, should I return this one and keep looking for a better one?
The 3rd-gen RX 350 is my favourite car, and I love its white exterior and tan interior. I just can not decide whether to keep or return this car. With this market, it is really hard to find the right condition at the right price. I'm not in desperate need of it, but it seems too difficult to find a good one in this market.
Thank you so much!
I would return it. Why risk buying a car with a possible rear main leak? Rear main leak require the transmission and maybe the engine to be removed. Not a cheap repair.
Note: the rear main leak is much worst than a timing cover leak. The rear main seal leak will get worst and oil can gush out the engine, where as a timing cover leak could just weep for years with minimum oil loss.
I’d vote return unless the vehicle is a unicorn of options you have to have.
How are the maintenance records on the car and how many owners? If it’s got good records with 1 or 2 owners that’s favorable. But the RX is not a rare car, just certain options are rare. It shouldn’t be hard to find others.
I’d vote return unless the vehicle is a unicorn of options you have to have.
How are the maintenance records on the car and how many owners? If it’s got good records with 1 or 2 owners that’s favorable. But the RX is not a rare car, just certain options are rare. It shouldn’t be hard to find others.
Thank you for your opinion!
The car has 2 owners, 1stly as a lease for 3.5 years, and 2nd owner had it for 7 years.
The car has regular 5k oil change intervals at an independent shop, it missed some brake fluid flush, etc.
It has some (minor~moderate) damage to the panel above the right rear door (The damage is not shown on CarFax but I have a paint measure revealing that). It got alignment in 2023 and 2024, I guess the accident happened in 2023. The tire situation suggests it needs alignment again. But it drives smoothly.
CV boots leaks and other a few things are fixable and should be covered by Carmax, so I don't worry about it.
I really liked the white colour and the clean tan interior. The cleanliness is definitely above average.
Also, it makes a rattling noise near the AC vent on the dashboard when driving on rough road surfaces.
Buying a used/new car is not as easy as pre-pandemic. Almost every car on the market seems to have a big issue now. I'm a bit tired of searching.
This will help you research dealer service history on any Lexus: If you have the VIN you can go the the Lexus Drivers Site, join for free and after entering the VIN look up the dealer service history. I do this for all used Lexus or Toyota vehicles (Toyota has a similar site). Be warned that the site is sometimes cranky about finding service histories. https://www.lexus.com/My-Lexus/account/create-account
To see the service history at Lexus Drivers do the following: On the page that lists the car whose VIN you entered there will be a line that states Vehicle Health Report Learn More - click this box Then on the next page it will state My Service On the right side it will state Service History View History - click this box to see the service history The it will slowly take you to a page you need to scroll down to see the service history Each entry will be a line, click on the + at the side to see more about each entry
Sometimes you have to travel a few hundred miles or more to find the perfect car. I have done this a few times, actually flying somewhere and driving the car home. I bought my RX350 that way.
True ... but show me a Lexus/Toyota with no seepage at about 100K miles. Granted that that seepage is an onset of leak.
Salim
Seepage is generally not an issue, but warns of a full on leak eventually at the worst time. Heck my 2015 Rx350 front cover was seeping when I bought it, but luckily that leak is in a low pressure area that will just seep and generally never allow oil to flow out of the engine in large amounts at one time.
A rear main seep is a warning of a potential full-on oil leak that can occur at any time. A rear main seep is not what you want to see in your engine. It needs to be repaired ASAP. Best case the rear main seal goes out while the car is parked; worst case the rear main seal goes out while on the highway and dump out most of the engine oil. Bye bye engine.
07-23-24, 08:36 PM
2GR-FE (3.5L, V6) engine rear main seal leak/seep
