Vehicle is Lexus ES300 2002, now with 323k miles. I last did the VCGs at 248k right at five years ago. Just started leaking after 75k on the gasket(s).
The car uses about 1/2qt of oil every 7.5k OCI (which I find remarkable for a 320+k engine! - and that has never changed, really). It's now 1k before next change (e.g., 6,500 into OCI) and I checked the dipstick and it was down to the "add" line. Never seen that before, except when the gaskets leaked. There had been an oil spot under it which I attributed to a leaking PS return hose (known problem on these) which I was postponing until next summer. Now I realize it was oil, too, as I stuck my hand carefully/awkwardly back and confirmed it is in fact now leaking from the spot they normally do - the bank 1 front corner, which is bang on the firewall and gets no air flow.
The car had no leak prior to a month or two ago - last time I checked the oil. usually the gaskets are good for about 150k; I checked my records and I used Fel-Pro VCGs last time and nothing suspect. The only thing different is that the car has been sitting a lot since COVID, only has done 4k mi since March vs. the normal 18 to 20k it does annually. Oil is Mobil 1 10w-30 HM with a few ounces of Lubegard Biotech/blue.
This set of gaskets was installed properly and good quality. Wondering why it's leaking again sooner than normal?
I will kick this can down the road until next summer and do the gaskets, timing belt, ps hoses, etc. all at once in a nice long weekend of pain. This car still looks good and drives wonderfully, so it's going to stay around with someone in the family a long time still, I think.
The car uses about 1/2qt of oil every 7.5k OCI (which I find remarkable for a 320+k engine! - and that has never changed, really). It's now 1k before next change (e.g., 6,500 into OCI) and I checked the dipstick and it was down to the "add" line. Never seen that before, except when the gaskets leaked. There had been an oil spot under it which I attributed to a leaking PS return hose (known problem on these) which I was postponing until next summer. Now I realize it was oil, too, as I stuck my hand carefully/awkwardly back and confirmed it is in fact now leaking from the spot they normally do - the bank 1 front corner, which is bang on the firewall and gets no air flow.
The car had no leak prior to a month or two ago - last time I checked the oil. usually the gaskets are good for about 150k; I checked my records and I used Fel-Pro VCGs last time and nothing suspect. The only thing different is that the car has been sitting a lot since COVID, only has done 4k mi since March vs. the normal 18 to 20k it does annually. Oil is Mobil 1 10w-30 HM with a few ounces of Lubegard Biotech/blue.
This set of gaskets was installed properly and good quality. Wondering why it's leaking again sooner than normal?
I will kick this can down the road until next summer and do the gaskets, timing belt, ps hoses, etc. all at once in a nice long weekend of pain. This car still looks good and drives wonderfully, so it's going to stay around with someone in the family a long time still, I think.
