The Highlander has an oil leak

"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling) 09/01/2020 at 19:00 • Filed to: Toyota Highlander, 2019 Oppo Wives' Car of the Year

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It has 3,200 miles and we’ve owned it 11 months; didn’t get the 6-month/5k mile service because of COVID-19 and it had under 2,000 miles at the time. When they were doing the inspection, apparently it was leaking out of the timing chain cover and they told us that we had to leave it and take a loaner.

Not that any of this is a surprise, I was actually mildly worried about the car when we bought it. This was the newest one in stock we had seen and it had been in inventory for almost 6 months by the time we got it. I was more worried about the battery than the oil, but oil/fluids were second on my list since they were older than the original purchase date would have you expect. The other one we looked at was in rough shape because it was a showroom display vehicle that had a completely dead battery when we got there (so nothing worked at all)...

The Camry is quite the downgrade, with the most basic everything that I think the car can have (we don’t own a car that requires a key, without automatic climate control, without a sunroof, without automatic headlights, without navigation, etc). About all it has is an infotainment system, power mirrors, power windows, power locks, remote trunk unlock, remote lock/unlock, and a backup camera (which is required by law). Oh, and the driver’s seat has power controls, which is the biggest luxury it seems to have. I now understand why you would spend the thousand or  so less to buy the like-trim Lexus RX450hL instead of the Toyota Highlander, aside from the greater utility of the Highlander (plus that openable rear window ). Then again, we couldn’t deal with the idea of looking that bougie, which also pushed us toward the Highlander.

Hoping to review the loaner car before I return it with the likely week or longer we’ll be stuck with it.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 19:14

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Wow, that’s close to a record. My 2013 outback was leaking oil at 18,000 miles when we first noticed. By 36,000 it was getting a new short block after they had replaced the cam carrier seals like 3 times or something. The short block was due to it using 1 qt of oil per 1,000 miles driven . I’m happy to report the new short block is doing well at 80k+ and only burns about 1/2 qt/ 3,000 miles now.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 19:31

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If it makes you feel any better, my Civic is also leaking oil. I had to make a trip across the city at lunch, and after it was warmed up, it was letting off a nice cloud of burning oil.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 19:32

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My Accent has never leaked any oil...or fluids of any kind! Well, except for that power steering pipe a month ago, but that’s been it in 176,000kms....the old girl is doing well so far!

I’d prefer the Camry to the Highlander, personally...not an SUV person...

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 19:51

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Obviously I've never owned anything that didn't leak oil.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 09/01/2020 at 21:51

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On the upside, it definitely didn’t leak enough to cause a problem. But it was visible and apparently they’re careful with these due to a history of catastrophic failure with older ones. It might be some hose, too, they just said that it was ultimately around the cover, so they couldn’t be sure exactly what it was until they get a proper diagnosis...

Still, that’s not many miles and who knows how long it has been leaking.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/01/2020 at 22:03

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It’s an SUV in name only. It’s more of a tall wagon. Hers doesn’t even have the roof rack, so it’s not even that tall compared to my car.

The main thing is that the Camry is an LE, so near the lowest spec possible, while the Highlander is legitimately outfitted with almost everything you’d expect on a high spec luxury car from maybe a decade ago. Automatic wipers, heated and cooled ventilated seats, automatic climate control, automatic ... practically everything (including lights and a lift gate that opens for you), etc. The Camry just has nothing at all. It’s even a shitty automatic, not a luxurious CVT (a good CVT is the smoothest automatic transmission) , so it fails to choose gears correctly frequently...

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > BaconSandwich is tasty. 09/01/2020 at 22:19

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Not really, but I guess misery loves company, so I can join the oil loss club with you.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/01/2020 at 22:20

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You have never owned anything half as boring and common as our Highlander, either, so you have that up on us.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 09/01/2020 at 22:23

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*looks at the Accent in his driveway*....but I like low spec!

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/01/2020 at 22:30

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I used to, now I appreciate all the little luxuries I take for granted.

And this isn’t really a base car. Like a Corolla or Yaris with the base spec (and probably a manual) feels honest and authentic. It’s designed to be cheap and it’s not ashamed of that fact. This Camry has a giant gaping maw fascia and a design that says, “I’m not an economy car”.

onlytwowheels > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/01/2020 at 22:31

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1997 F150 with 4.6L V8 and 190k miles, only leak was from o- ring seal on an a/c line.

Long_Voyager94 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 09/02/2020 at 06:54

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Man, even 1/2 qt every 3k miles is a lot of oil IMO.

That’s what my beat to hell 250+k mile 3.0 V6 uses between changes!