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Oil Cooler Failure (no recall) Beware

51K views 46 replies 29 participants last post by  jvanauken  
#1 ·
Other bad news about repair. Replace the oil cooler tubes and rubber hoses if you haven't already done so. They are on the front of the engine. Old style uses rubber hoses which will age and crack then drain your entire crankcase of oil without you knowing. If you are on the interstate or highway you will drain and cook your engine in about 2 minutes and the oil light won't come on till it's too late. The new replacement removes the rubber hoses and replaces them with stainless steel tubes. There is no recall or extended warranty for this repair. Toyota has abandoned the owners with this devastating event and its repair. Be warned and aware. Sorry to all. :surprise:
 
#3 ·
I think it only applies to the 3.5L 2007-2010 gen2 vans with the tow package. 2008-2010 vans without tow package aren't affected since they don't have oil coolers. Gen1 (3.0L) and 2004-2006 gen2 (3.3L) don't have engine oil coolers and therefore don't have these oil cooler lines. I believe the 2011 and newer 3.5L vans with tow package have the all metal oil cooler lines (where equipped), but not 100% sure about that.

There are a few threads on here about doing the replacement yourself. I replaced the oil cooler lines on my 2007 last year at around 130k miles.

-Mike


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#4 ·
When this failed on my 08, I talked to a Toyota rep after replacing the part myself and seeing how they improved the oil line. The only announcements they made were a 'warranty enhancement' or service campaign sometime between 2014 and 2016 where they would replace it for free if it failed.

Luckily mine failed only 1/4 mile from my house and was still leaking when I got home so no damage was done. There was a comical black trail of oil leading through my neighborhood into my garage for weeks aftewards, haha.

No safety issue means no recall but I can't imagine how many engines that part took out. The rep gave me $100 in dealer credit in exchange for an email and a receipt, it's better than nothing.
 
#5 ·
a few years ago i told my brother about the oil cooler rubber hose issue, and he took his 2010 highlander 3.5L v6 to stealership after scheduled the recall appointment for checking the hose, and he called me right after the appointment, said stealership looked at it, rubber hose not leaking yet, therefore they wont' replace it.

i ended up asking him to buy the $55 oem stainless hose online and install it myself, 30 minutes job, from this lesson, i found stealership useless, wasted time.
 
#6 ·
I don't about the USA or other places.


This 'was' a campain in Canada. I think due to the fact that all of ours had the towing package. They would replace the line with the upgraded one. Line did not have to leaking.
 
#26 ·
do have any other info about this being a campain in Canada? is it over?
recently the local montreal toyota dealership quoted $700 for parts and $300 labor for replacing this with the upgraded part.

I saw the warranty enhancement but the vans i'm looking at don't qualify. I was hoping in Canada this issue would be considered a recall as all the vans have the tow package.
 
#9 ·
I believe the VVTi line WAS recalled, so you may want to check your VIN with a Toyota dealer and see if yours has already been done. The warranty replacement was a more oil resistant hose, but newer 3.5L have an all metal line and that can be retrofitted to the older 3.5L.

My local dealer upgraded our 2007 to the newer rubber line many years ago as warranty/recall even though our original wasn't leaking. If your van has the newer rubber line, I wouldn't bother updating to the metal one. If your van has the older rubber line, I would replace with metal, but see if the dealer will do it for you (either metal or newer rubber) for free. AFAIK, there is no outward way to tell the difference between the older and newer rubber line.

I think the VVTi line replacement is a bit more involved than the oil cooler lines. There are lots of videos out there about it as it affects all the older Toyota 3.5L engines.

-Mike

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
#10 ·
There was a recall for the rear head VVTi upper hose (LSC-90K), but only a tech service bulletin (TSB-0201-11) for the cooler. There are multiple very comprehensive threads on this (it's pretty much old news now...), so let's not reinvent the wheel here.

The original upper lines were marked ACM which is Polyacrylate. It’s OK for clean oil, but may have sensitivity to contaminates found as oil ages (corrosive blow-by). The newer hoses are marked ACM FKM, or fluorinated rubber (Viton?) which should be much more chemical resistant and typically have a yellow strip IIRC.
 
#11 ·
Our Sienna's oil line blew as we were driving at highway speeds. I pulled over the second the dash lit up and had the 2010 towed to the dealer. They told me they knew this high pressure oil line was an issue and paid for the majority of the repair when I pressed them. If suggested if they knew these were an issue and discussed with me before a failure, then I would have no problem paying for preventative repairs. If it fails with them not telling me, then its on them. We also spoke about how their admission of fault should cover any future engine repair from oil starvation. Moot point as we traded in the van a few months later for peace of mind. The 2017 XLE is pretty nice!!
 
#12 ·
Correcting my earlier post about there only being a TSB for the oil cooler line leakage: Warranty Enhancement Program ZE2 does extend the warranty on all 2007 thru 2011 Sienna vans with the old style hybrid (steel & rubber lines). Owner notifications letters were mailed in 2014/2015. At this point coverage is for 10 years from new vehicle purchase date or up to 150k miles. Engine damage is also covered.
 
#13 ·
I'm bringing this post back from the grave as our oil cooler line just sprang a leak tonight on our 2011. I found info on warranty enhancement ZE2 which covers 2007-2011 siennas with this condition. Has anyone been successful getting Toyota to respond in case of engine damage?

My wife called me after the van "bogged down" after leaving a stop light. She pulled over and shut it off. I came by, checked it out and saw the oil pan covered in oil. I grabbed oil and added about 5 quarts which means she was scary low. Started it up and saw a stream of oil from the oil cooler hose so I shut it off right away. Leaving the van in the parking lot tonight until I can talk to Toyota in the morning. The engine sounded fine after adding the oil but I'm still worried permanent damage may be done.
 
#42 ·
I'm bringing this post back from the grave as our oil cooler line just sprang a leak tonight on our 2011. I found info on warranty enhancement ZE2 which covers 2007-2011 siennas with this condition. Has anyone been successful getting Toyota to respond in case of engine damage?

My wife called me after the van "bogged down" after leaving a stop light. She pulled over and shut it off. I came by, checked it out and saw the oil pan covered in oil. I grabbed oil and added about 5 quarts which means she was scary low. Started it up and saw a stream of oil from the oil cooler hose so I shut it off right away. Leaving the van in the parking lot tonight until I can talk to Toyota in the morning. The engine sounded fine after adding the oil but I'm still worried permanent damage may be done.
Stubborn, what ended up happening?
 
#16 ·
[QUOTE="sideshowalan, post:


Easy to see if its leaking, but if it has the rubber hoses, just plan to replace it or have it replaced. It's a $200 fix at the dealer. I wouldn't let that weigh too much into your purchase decision. The real problem is that they fail catasrophically and pump all the oil out in seconds. Mine was fine on my 2010 when I replaced it this year at 160k miles. That would be some bad luck to blow out on the drive home.
 
#15 ·
A leak would be easy to see, the high pressure line would sprays the oil out with a lot of force.
Looking to see if it's the old rubber or new metal line would be useful before driving it, just shine a flashlight up while looking underneath the front end.
 
#17 ·
Also looking at a 2008 with ~160k
At 100k/6years ago it had oil cooler line failure of some sort - found in Toyota.com service records.
Is the possibility for damage then make this one too risky?
FLUID LEAK-ENGINE ~|~CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE IS LEAKING SOME TYPE OF OIL. ADVISE ~|~FOUND OIL COOLER PIPE RUPTURED. ~|~REPLACED OIL COOLER PIPE AND GASKETS. DEGREASED ENGINE BAY AND CHANGED ENGINE OIL AND FILTER. RECHECKED OK. NOTE: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AS WELL. VEHICLE NEEDS BANK 2 SENSOR 2 02 SENSOR PART #89465- 08090 PARTS AND LABOR $333.39 +TAXES
 
#20 ·
Other bad news about repair. Replace the oil cooler tubes and rubber hoses if you haven't already done so. They are on the front of the engine. Old style uses rubber hoses which will age and crack then drain your entire crankcase of oil without you knowing. If you are on the interstate or highway you will drain and cook your engine in about 2 minutes and the oil light won't come on till it's too late. The new replacement removes the rubber hoses and replaces them with stainless steel tubes. There is no recall or extended warranty for this repair. Toyota has abandoned the owners with this devastating event and its repair. Be warned and aware. Sorry to all.
Just had them done at the dealer for free.
Other bad news about repair. Replace the oil cooler tubes and rubber hoses if you haven't already done so. They are on the front of the engine. Old style uses rubber hoses which will age and crack then drain your entire crankcase of oil without you knowing. If you are on the interstate or highway you will drain and cook your engine in about 2 minutes and the oil light won't come on till it's too late. The new replacement removes the rubber hoses and replaces them with stainless steel tubes. There is no recall or extended warranty for this repair. Toyota has abandoned the owners with this devastating event and its repair. Be warned and aware. Sorry to all. :surprise:
Just had them done at the dealer for free. TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE
!I will post pic of receipt if anyone asks me to.!
 
#21 ·
Again, Warranty Enhancement Program ZE2 does extend the warranty on all 2007 thru 2011 Sienna vans with the old style hybrid (steel & rubber lines). Owner notifications letters were mailed in 2014/2015. At this point coverage is for 10 years from new vehicle purchase date or up to 150k miles. Engine damage is also covered.
 
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#31 ·
There is confusion of the vvt oil line with the oil cooler piping.
My oil cooler is leaking and I can dirvie it; leaks are likely through
the two rubber elbows.
I want to avoid the grief of replacing the cooler piping assembly,
and take my chances on replacing the rubber elbows.
Does anyone know the part numbers for the two elbows ??
(maybe I can't find them cuz they only number the assembly,
but I thought a member bought them but decided to install the assembly)
(I have rarely been as angry as I was when I learned that
the Toyota dealership service I used for 4 years knew that
my 2010 (92,000 )might fail like this, and no verbal or written warning
was made.) (fortunately my vvt oil line is steel without an elbow).

(fixed the formatting)
 
#33 ·
Hello,

Noob here. So my ‘08 Sienna had this issue but I was able to get it “fixed.”

My van dropped all it’s oil a total of three times due to this issue. First repair was a local shop and they replaced the Vvt oil line. $500. Second repair was the same shop but replacing the oil cooler line. Another $600. Then I find out about the recall and call up the dealership. They tell me, “No problem, we’ll just replace the repaired parts with our warranty, etc.” Ok, so we get the Toyota warranty and parts, yadda yadda.

Two weeks down the road the engine starts sounding like a banshee hammering kitchen pans and, sure enough, I know what I’ll find under the hood. Oil on every surface, steaming and smoking all down the block and under, leaving a cartoon slime trail down the street.

So NOW, I take the van back to the dealership and they say, “Well, it doesn’t seem to be the same issue which we warranties. But, you’re going to have to replace the camshaft. Entirely. It’s been damaged.” $5,640.

Now my question is: has anyone had luck getting Toyota to own up to ENGINE DAMAGE associated with this repair? Obviously the dealership is bullshitting me (pardon my French) about what caused the issue. As far as I’m concerned, Toyota’s little white lie toasted my engine.

For reference, I’m the original owner. 150,640 miles. Ran like a dream until it didn’t. Regular oil changes at 4,000 or so (I know it’s a little high). No other mechanical issues ever with this vehicle.

One little oil spill, and I’m out a vehicle which should have had 5 good more years.

Has anybody heard of Toyota dealing with an issue like this?

thanks, all!
 
#34 ·
No sense in even talking about recourse until we know for sure EXACTLY WHAT FAILED THIS TIME. Did the yellow band rubber segment on the VVTi line go again? Did they take off your new metal Oil Cooler assembly and put on an old metal/rubber hybrid assembly? Did they not tighten the bolts and a gasket blew out? Did they not install the oil filter housing correctly? Did a front or rear crankshaft seal blow out (which happened to me....)?

If necessary, ask for access to the van for an independent auditor. You must have a root cause before you can expect corrective action.
 
#39 ·
By the 2010 model year you should have had an all-steel line as factory standard. I thought the last hybrid rubber/steel units were history by then. You might have a bad banjo bolt seal that is leaking.
 
#40 · (Edited)
Just took my 2010 Sienna (9/2009 build date) in to have this done. Read up on here about this problem, checked, and yep they're rubber. Unfortunately it's two years past the extended 10 year service window. Cost is $464 out the door. More than I'd like to spend on preventative maintenance, but better than gambling on the 12 year old rubber hoses to still be good. Also it's cold and raining and I've got other work to do.