"2016 Tacoma - New Engine After Timing Chain Cover?!"

Came across this post in another forum I frequent:
https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=453586&newpost=8339874

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So admittedly not a car guy, but have driven Toyotas forever, I think this is #7 between me and my wife. Almost all of them have gone over 200K miles.

My current truck, 2016 Tacoma Off-Road with 131K miles, I brought in for an oil change/inspection to our local Toyota dealer in December. Long and short of it is, they told me it was leaking oil and needed significant repairs, the main one being a timing chain cover. Along with both rear shocks and the power steering gear/rack. Add in some additional fluid exchanges and the total bill was over $8,000. I love the truck, and did the work since I've done nothing other than brakes and tires since buying it new in 2016.

About a month later, my Low Oil light comes on. I check it and sure enough the oil is low. Bring it back in (figuring it had to be something they forgot to do in Dec), and they say it was 2 quarts low. Tell me to bring it back in 1000 miles later to have another look.

Just got back from the dealership and it burned another 1.5 quarts, and their tech now recommends I replace the engine. I'm flabbergasted - no way am I spending another $5-6K on a truck that's worth $20 on it's best day.

I was planning on having this for many more years, but seems to me there's no way this is a coincidence? Again, this is a reputable Toyota Service Center, but I had ZERO issues with this truck for 9 years, then I spend $8K and due to real bad luck my engine needs replacing 4 months later? Is it possible this is something they caused, or at a minimum should have noticed while doing the timing chain/power steering? I never would have signed up to do the original repairs if I knew I was looking at $15K, not 8.

Any advice would be much appreciated!"

Having not researched the Tacomas as much, I'm assuming the engine in the 2016 Tacoma is similar to the 5th gen 4Runners. I am aware that some 5th gens are prone to having a leaking timing chain cover. After reading this post, this sounds like a good case to not have the repair made. Any differences between this 2016 Tacoma and the 5th Gen 4runner that wouldn't end up with the same result? Any theories what caused this? I'm hoping the poster can find a solution that doesn't involve an engine replacement or major repair bill (especially having it just fixed).

 

Only thing I know is that 2016 was the first year of the 3rd Gen Tacoma and has the 3.5L v6 and not the 4.0 v6 that is in the 4Runner.

 

You are being too paranoid.

The amount of 4Rs that this has happened to is nothing compared to what was sold.

 

Let's just establish facts here that a 2016 is a 3rd Gen tacoma and the engine is the 2GR-FKS, 3.5L The 5th Gen 4R is the 1GR-FE, 4.0L. These two things are very different.

The rest of the story is just too much to comment though.

 

3.5 in the turd gen had issues initially with the CPS. Never heard of oil burning issues but remember that 1 engins doesn't mean they will all do it.

 

the 3.5 V6 has always been the archilles heel with the 3rd gen Taco, the 6 speed auto especially has always had a lot of complaints with mismatched power band and shift, the manual is not much better regarded either but at least one could dictate shift points. Had they stayed with the 1GR I would have bought at least one with the manual. Alas.

 

This thread would have benefited from a quick powertrain google search for relevance (or lack thereof) to a 4Runner forum.