CarFix Answers

2008–2021 Toyota Land Cruiser: Oil leak at the back of the engine (cam tower)

Likely causes, ranked

  1. Cam tower sealant seepShop
  2. Other oil leaks (timing cover)Shop

Real-owner fix counts will appear here as reports come in.

DIY or shop: See DIY or shop section

Parts to check

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Symptom: Oil residue at the rear of the heads and a burning-oil smell.

Likely causes

  1. Cam tower seal. IH8MUD members list cam tower leaks among the common 200-series repairs, along with radiator and water pump leaks.

DIY or shop?

Shop.

Useful steps

  1. Confirm the leak source.
  2. Monitor slow seeps.
  3. Check the radiator and water pump while you're there.

Vehicle focus: 2008–2021 Toyota Land Cruiser.

Safety / mechanic note

Oil on hot exhaust is a fire risk.

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Recalls & service bulletins

No recalls or service bulletins are listed for this page yet.

NHTSA complaints: Count unavailable: NHTSA files some model years in this range under shared or missing model names, so a model-specific count isn't possible (checked 2026-10-15).

Always check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Sources

What actually fixed it?

Had this problem? Tell other owners what the real fix was. Reports are counted above; we never show made-up numbers.

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