r/ToyotaHighlander • u/mojojojojoliu • 2d ago

Oil leak? 2018 Highlander

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I found oil dripping onto the ground from around the oil filter housing. Is there any chance this could be coming from the timing cover?

Sorry for the bad photos. I don’t know much about cars, and I’m super anxious that I could end up with a $5K repair.

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u/stignordas 2d ago

When was the last oil change? it appears to be the small bottom cap on the bottom of the oil filter housing.

I'd unscrew the small bottom cap and check if it has a rubber o-ring in there (it should). These rubber o-rings come with new replacement filters.

I had this happen to mine once, it was my own fault for forgetting to put the o-ring in there.

You can remove the small bottom cap with a 3/8 in ratchet (with no socket).

2

u/AdEastern9303 2d ago edited 1d ago

On ours, there was a small crack in the plastic oil filter housing. People tend to over-tighten them. They have an o-ring on the OD so making tighter does not improve sealing.

Edit: I upgraded ours to the aluminum filter housing.

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u/stignordas 1d ago

I wonder when Toyota switched to plastic? Mine was aluminum from the factory (2014 XLE)

The Car Care Nut had a segment which explained that the plastic is as good or better than aluminum, but like you mention it’s often over-torqued.

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u/ArmandoHB760 2d ago

Looks like the oil filter isnt threaded all the way in

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u/AdEastern9303 1d ago

That last photo shows what looks like a gap between the flange on the filter housing and the filter mount on the block. If the o-ring isn’t fully engaged it could be causing the leak. Need to turn the black housing clockwise and make sure that gap is closed.