2008–2021 Toyota Land Cruiser: Oil leak at the back of the engine (cam tower)
Likely causes, ranked
- Cam tower sealant seepShop
- 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
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
These are search links; confirm fitment for your exact engine and trim. Affiliate disclosure
Symptom: Oil residue at the rear of the heads and a burning-oil smell.
Likely causes
- 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
- Confirm the leak source.
- Monitor slow seeps.
- 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.
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.