Noticed possible oil leak ... - Page 3 - Toyota Yaris Forums

Hershey · 06-11-2010, 12:59 AM

LUCAS , thanks for looking for the leak that both our YARIS have . The timing chain cover sealant has a leak problem for YARIS in EUROPE . If you do a search for " YARIS timing chain cover leak " or " TOYOTA Yaris timing chain cover leak " you get plenty of hits for the YARIS in EUROPE and other TOYOTA models . Here's one for a 2008 sedan like we have , www.carsurvey.org/reviews/toyota/yaris/r125809/ . We took a copy of this to service center and they ignored it . Here's a very similar experience with an MATRIX , http://matrixowners.com/index.php?showtopic=86281 . They too want to replace the head gasket thinking if not the gasket it'll take care of the timing chain cover since that's part of the teardown . Thinking kill 2 birds with 1 stone . For us that's overkill . Last , I noticed there's what looks like a discoloration to the timing chain cover of the '08 that's described about the MATRIX cover . Wonder if the synthetic is being absorbed into it from the inside . The cover seems quite thin . I'll get a picture of it and hope it shows up . Take a look at cover of the 2010 for comparison . Both have synthetic . Sedan has 21,000 + miles and 2010 6,500 + .

Hershey · 06-11-2010, 01:04 AM

I'd like those who use a 5w-30 synthetic or lighter syn to take a look for this leak or look at the seal on the back of timing chain cover for any sheen or what looks like oil seapage ( wet ) and report back either way . Others that don't use a synthetic can take a look and report back too . Especially those who use a 5w-20 conventional . Thanks to those who do .

Hershey · 06-11-2010, 09:17 PM

here's a picture of the timing chain cover for the '08 sedan that has a discoloration to it , almost like it's stained . I'm wondering if this is due to the synthetic oil seeping into the aluminum cover from the inside . This is mentioned in this topic for a '03 MATRIX , http://matrixowners.com/index.php?showtopic=86281 . Have used 5w-30 synthetic since 1,200 miles or so . THe 2010 cover is not discolored as of yet . Here's the pics ...

Hershey · 06-11-2010, 09:28 PM

used the blacklight for the '08 sedan and it looks like the oil is seeping from the timing chain seal in the back above the top of the large ledge that's part of the engine block . Must run down onto the ledge and run down underneath it onto the the other square ledges and further down along the seal to the upper lip of the oil pan . Go to pics above to see the drops of oil on the large ledge and smaller ledges below it .

Hershey · 06-12-2010, 12:23 AM

here's a pics of the seal where it's most likely seeping / leaking out on both 2008 sedan and 2010 3 door ...

Hershey · 06-19-2010, 12:43 AM

changed out the 5w-30 synthetic oil with the dye from '08 sedan and replaced with regular SHELL 5w-30 . Recleaned the seal and area where oil accumulates . There was a small amount of oil around and below the seal pictured above . This fill will be dumped in about 2,000 miles to get rid of leftover syn and dye . Then keep using the SHELL conventional 5w-30 from now on . Hoping the seeping will slow / stop with the conventional . Putting a postive note to the myth that synthetics can cause oil leaks . Time will tell . Will do the same for the 2010 3 door and its leaking timing chain seal .

Lucas13 · 06-19-2010, 02:00 AM

Keep us posted, hopefully the conventional will make a difference!

Hershey · 07-02-2010, 10:08 PM

checked for leak today and there was only one drop of oil attached to the lowest ledge of the block after driving for 458 miles on the oil change of SHELL 5w-30 conventional . Recleaned the whole area . Will check again at end of week since it will be very hot and that's when the leak is at its worst . Then will drop the oil and refill with another batch of the regular SHELL 5w-30 since there's around 1/2 a quart of synthetic left in it and should be mostly conventional after that .

Hershey · 07-03-2010, 11:59 PM

decided to drain oil and refill with the SHELL conventional 5w-30 ( $2.12 a qt. ) with TOYO ( Denso ) oil filter ( $3.50 each ) . More dye was to be found in the extracted oil of 467 miles along with any synthetic oil . Also took an empty gallon ( 4 qaurt ) jug of 10w-30 PLATINUM used for lawnmowers and poured used oil from oil filter / oil pan into it and showed little over 3 quarts of oil removed . That leaves over 3/4 of a quart of oil that stays in the engine . Cleaned where oil seeps and gathers . Also cleaned off oil pan and around oil filter base . Will be keep close attention for any leaking . Will do the same to the 2010 3 door liftback .

Hershey · 07-07-2010, 11:51 PM

well discovered it's the plastic head gasket for both cars that leaks oil . Makes it look like the timing chain seal was seeping oil . The head gasket is above it . Go to the topic " 2010 OIL LEAK " for more details .

06-11-2010, 12:59 AM	#37
Hershey Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: northeast Posts: 2,897	LUCAS , thanks for looking for the leak that both our YARIS have . The timing chain cover sealant has a leak problem for YARIS in EUROPE . If you do a search for " YARIS timing chain cover leak " or " TOYOTA Yaris timing chain cover leak " you get plenty of hits for the YARIS in EUROPE and other TOYOTA models . Here's one for a 2008 sedan like we have , www.carsurvey.org/reviews/toyota/yaris/r125809/ . We took a copy of this to service center and they ignored it . Here's a very similar experience with an MATRIX , http://matrixowners.com/index.php?showtopic=86281 . They too want to replace the head gasket thinking if not the gasket it'll take care of the timing chain cover since that's part of the teardown . Thinking kill 2 birds with 1 stone . For us that's overkill . Last , I noticed there's what looks like a discoloration to the timing chain cover of the '08 that's described about the MATRIX cover . Wonder if the synthetic is being absorbed into it from the inside . The cover seems quite thin . I'll get a picture of it and hope it shows up . Take a look at cover of the 2010 for comparison . Both have synthetic . Sedan has 21,000 + miles and 2010 6,500 + . Last edited by Hershey; 06-11-2010 at 01:29 AM.

06-11-2010, 01:04 AM	#38
Hershey Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: northeast Posts: 2,897	I'd like those who use a 5w-30 synthetic or lighter syn to take a look for this leak or look at the seal on the back of timing chain cover for any sheen or what looks like oil seapage ( wet ) and report back either way . Others that don't use a synthetic can take a look and report back too . Especially those who use a 5w-20 conventional . Thanks to those who do . Last edited by Hershey; 06-11-2010 at 01:21 AM.

06-11-2010, 09:28 PM	#40
Hershey Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: northeast Posts: 2,897	used the blacklight for the '08 sedan and it looks like the oil is seeping from the timing chain seal in the back above the top of the large ledge that's part of the engine block . Must run down onto the ledge and run down underneath it onto the the other square ledges and further down along the seal to the upper lip of the oil pan . Go to pics above to see the drops of oil on the large ledge and smaller ledges below it . Last edited by Hershey; 06-12-2010 at 12:03 AM.

07-02-2010, 10:08 PM	#44
Hershey Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: northeast Posts: 2,897	checked for leak today and there was only one drop of oil attached to the lowest ledge of the block after driving for 458 miles on the oil change of SHELL 5w-30 conventional . Recleaned the whole area . Will check again at end of week since it will be very hot and that's when the leak is at its worst . Then will drop the oil and refill with another batch of the regular SHELL 5w-30 since there's around 1/2 a quart of synthetic left in it and should be mostly conventional after that . Last edited by Hershey; 07-03-2010 at 11:31 AM.

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06-19-2010, 12:43 AM	#42
Hershey Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: northeast Posts: 2,897	changed out the 5w-30 synthetic oil with the dye from '08 sedan and replaced with regular SHELL 5w-30 . Recleaned the seal and area where oil accumulates . There was a small amount of oil around and below the seal pictured above . This fill will be dumped in about 2,000 miles to get rid of leftover syn and dye . Then keep using the SHELL conventional 5w-30 from now on . Hoping the seeping will slow / stop with the conventional . Putting a postive note to the myth that synthetics can cause oil leaks . Time will tell . Will do the same for the 2010 3 door and its leaking timing chain seal .

06-19-2010, 02:00 AM	#43
Lucas13 Drives: 07 Yaris LB Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 179	Keep us posted, hopefully the conventional will make a difference!

07-03-2010, 11:59 PM	#45
Hershey Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: northeast Posts: 2,897	decided to drain oil and refill with the SHELL conventional 5w-30 ( $2.12 a qt. ) with TOYO ( Denso ) oil filter ( $3.50 each ) . More dye was to be found in the extracted oil of 467 miles along with any synthetic oil . Also took an empty gallon ( 4 qaurt ) jug of 10w-30 PLATINUM used for lawnmowers and poured used oil from oil filter / oil pan into it and showed little over 3 quarts of oil removed . That leaves over 3/4 of a quart of oil that stays in the engine . Cleaned where oil seeps and gathers . Also cleaned off oil pan and around oil filter base . Will be keep close attention for any leaking . Will do the same to the 2010 3 door liftback .

07-07-2010, 11:51 PM	#46
Hershey Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: northeast Posts: 2,897	well discovered it's the plastic head gasket for both cars that leaks oil . Makes it look like the timing chain seal was seeping oil . The head gasket is above it . Go to the topic " 2010 OIL LEAK " for more details .