Higher mileage Toyota and Lexus models are more prone to leaking oil from their various seals and gaskets as they age. Similar to the timing cover leaks from the 2GR-FE 3.5 liter V6 we see more often than we’d like, Toyota’s sealing epoxy can fail and leak oil as it dries out over time. The most common source of an oil leak on older 2.4 2AZ 4- cylinder , 3.0 1MZ V6 and 3.3 3MZ V6 engines is the lower oil pan gasket. The symptoms are straightforward – oil on the ground and, in rare cases, oil on the exhaust pipe under the engine. The exhaust pipe often times will smoke if enough oil gets on it. To repair the leak, the oil pan must be removed, the old epoxy cleaned off, and new epoxy applied before being reassembled. CARspec exclusively uses Toyota’s Fix In Place Gasket (FIPG) for it’s quality and durability:
Toyota FIPG
FIPG is black in color and usually is obvious where it’s been applied, as seen here on this 2AZ 2.4 liter 4-cylinder reseal:
Toyota Oil Pan Gasket
To ensure a proper seal, CARspec lets the FIPG sit for 3+ hours before filling the vehicle with fluids. This ensures a strong seal. As Eden Prairie and Chanhassen’s independent Toyota and Lexus repair and service shop, we stock both FIPG and all the necessary gaskets to seal most Toyota and Lexus upper and lower oil pans the same day, in addition to stocking other gaskets that can fail and cause other oil leaks. If you’ve got an oil leak on your Toyota or Lexus, don’t hesitate to give as a call at (952)426-4798 and make an appointment today!
