There are YT videos showing the repair process prior to the -FKS engine so, although they may have found a solution subsequent to the 2020, its an issue with the basic design of the 2GR and I see it (the problem) even mentioned with regards to other makes and even 4-cylinder motors with overhead cams. Do a search within YT for <timing chain cover leaks> to see what I mean. I had no idea this was apparently quite as common as it appears.

 

And with today's increasingly thinner oils, even a small leak can drain out quickly.

 

Engine is out, work proceeds. Water pump displaying start of a leak; will replace at the cost of parts alone (after all, it's out anyway, might as well.....). Wonder if the mechanic knows that if he steam cleaned it before starting, everything would go so much easier.....guess not.

 

it would indeed be quite satisfying for the engine to be power washed before going in. along with the engine bay and surrounding areas.

 

So the engine has to be pulled to do the timing cover?

 

Yup. Watch the CCN video

 

Yeah, because there's no space between the engine and the frame. This is the perfect opportunity to replace everything (belt, WP, gaskets, seals...).

 

Exactly. Having brake fluid flush while it’s there.

 

Everyone that buys the V6 should be warned about this potential that seems to have been around for a long time and from what I read it is robotic manufacturing not putting enough sealant.

 

To be fair, I don’t think the issue arises with a high percentage of engines.(define ‘high’). I did see in one video of a guy doing the repair job that he extends the line of sealant back along the seam line between the block and the cylinder head away from the join with the timing cover…may be helpful. But, yes, once you’ve paid to have the drive train pulled, might as well get a lot of other “best by” dated stuff done too, especially if you plan on keeping the car ‘till death do us part”. I think the only car I’ve had less than 100,000 miles was a 2003 Camry that my daughter tried to relocate a Jersey barrier with. She is now driving the ‘04 Camry with 415,000 km on it that I replaced the ‘03 with.

 

Interesting…I just had a call from the service writer “offering” to do an injector service and, get this, a transmission service (!) saying it was recommended at the 96,000 km mark! (I declined…have been planning to get those later this year when I get to 140,000 km or start to see fuel efficiency drop off). This from the Lexus dealership no less. (Transmission service shows up nowhere in printed literature from Lexus)

 

Job completed. They left the dashcam connected the whole time so I was able to see the work being done plus the test drive. Timing cover gasket replacement, water pump and serpentine belt replaced, brake fluid flush and replace, 4-wheel alignment, $5350Cdn.total for everything (well, except sales tax which is not under Lexus control). Labour, $3,500. Parts $1,800 includes water pump @ $318, belt @ $83, and a whole bunch of gaskets and sealants, coolant, oil & filter, plus 4-wheel alignment and "shop supplies". All $ Cdn, multiply by 0.7 for approx US$. They even cleaned the engine! 200 km drive home yesterday with no issues noted, no leaks, no vibrations, no shifting issues. No reprogramming of anything needed (must have left battery connected except for starter & alternator...also hence full cam recordings). I'll be looking at transmission fluid change in another 10-20,000 km. Should be good for "lifetime". Nice shop, well laid out. Almost as nice as the reception/sales area.

Now, the car in the bay next to mine was getting a new engine(!!). Hope it was a warrantee job..

Decorative cover removed for clarity.

 

Thanks for posting all that you have on this problem - sorry to hear about it and how much it cost you. The engine bay looks nice and clean now! We have about 50,000 miles on ours and I went and checked and it looks good with no visible leaks. I'm curious, with all that you did, why you didn't replace the spark plugs while they had it all torn apart? Also, did you get a new thermostat when you replaced the water pump?

 

Great questions Miles: I've posted on the spark plug thing in a different thread. Essentially, I am in Canada and Lexus Canada only requests that you change the plugs at 192,000 km or 12 years. Now, 192,000 km is 120,000 miles. Consider that the engine comes out of the same factory as US engines...in fact the car was built in Kentucky. So why the difference? Simple...government regulations and Lexus US wishing to avoid the cost of having to do work on the emission systems. Many (most?) of the US states require emissions testing at regular intervals and, should your car fail, you have to repair it. So, to "guarantee" that you never have to pay for that repair (whatever it should be...anyone ever hear of a catalytic converter failure in recent years?), Lexus requests you "pay an insurance fee" equal to the price of changing out the plugs at 60,000 miles. Even if I did live in a state (only one province in Canada currently has a regular emission testing requirement and I don't live in that one), that had a regular emission testing regime, I'd be sorely tempted to say "to h*ll with it...I'm willing to take the chance" and forego the "pleasure" of "buying" that insurance by replacing plugs that don't need replacement for any technical reason. As I said to the service writer, "I track my fuel consumption constantly; as soon as I see it starting to drop then I'll do the plugs". As for the new thermostat...the mechanic did not notice any issues there...he did find evidence of a leak just starting on the pump however. And, since the front end of the engine was dismantled, might as well just do the belt anyway.
As an interesting side note should you have not read the whole thread...the writer DID say that Lexus Canada "recommends" that the transmission fluid be replaced at the 110,000km (or 60,000 miles) mark! So there! Don't ask, don't question...I don't know! I'll be getting it done at around the 130-140,000 km mark anyway, same as I did on my Gen 6 ES. BTW, that bit about transmission fluid does NOT show up in any printed literature from Lexus Canada that I can find.

 

Actually, I agree with him 100% about the transmission fluid drain & fill. That's exactly when I plan to do it, along with the scheduled spark plug change. Available evidence seems to suggest that the fuel-saving design heat-stresses the fluid and hastens the loss of its protective qualities.