$4100 estimate from dealer for services needed with <50000 miles

For one thing, oil seepage is not the same as a leak. IMHO it's more of a cosmetic defect, a blemish, nothing at all like an actual oil leak that coats everything below, leaves stains on the driveway and risks an engine fire. It's only seepage so ignore it. I'm pretty sure I don't like this dealer. As for fixing an A/C that's working fine? Nope! Wheel alignment based on time/mileage? Nope! If the tires are wearing normally, postpone that until you buy a new set. Throttle body and injector service? It would probably cost the same if you waited months or years until some symptoms eventually showed up.

 

take all that money to the nearest casino and put it on black. you're odds of a productive result are much higher.

 

The "time and mileage" based items are all based on a non-Hybrid! The Engine on a Prius does not work nearly as hard or need as much expensive, dealer profit service.
This is common for a money grabbing dealer, not for a Prius.

 

The reseal timing cover cost is majority labor. Toyota says you have to pull the engine to do it. Anyway, as long as you are comfortable with the “use” of oil between changes, you can “monitor but ignore” the leak.

 

The Gen 3 use of oil can usually be remedied with a good cleaning and an oil catch can, can't it? I doubt a seeping cover would cause any noticeable oil usage between scheduled changes.

 

]Recommended Services for your 2012 Toyota Prius
VIN # JTDKN3DU7C1489309
From recent visit on: 4/30/2019 Mileage at visit: 49,147
Task/Observations Recommendation Estimate
Task: Check brake fluid level and condition
Observation: Found brake fluid is discolored Perform brake system fluid exchange $288.00<Way overcharged, should be about $125. Tri-yearly IS GOOD for this, but way overcharged. Consider DIY, watch @NutzAboutBolts video on this. If you have a garage and are able to raise the whole car and remove all 4 wheels, it's a moderate skilled DIY. I did this, with my wife pushing the brake pedal, took about 2 hours. Two pints of Toyota DOT3 fluid were about $8 apiece.
Task: Inspect engine for oil leaks
Observation: Found engine oil seep Reseal engine front timing cover $3380.00<Decline, check for yourself (through passenger wheel well). If minor, just monitor for the time being. If warranted, they are WAY overcharging. Owner's here have had this done for $1500~2000. Here's where you're looking;


(Back wall of front passenger wheel well, plastic liner partially loosened and flexed back.)


Task: Time and Mileage based recommendations
Observation: Based on time and/or mileage and after checking available service history: Perform air conditioning system refresh service $175.95<Decline, if AC seems to be performing ok. If not, price is not bad, but a little high, should be $150 at most.
Task: Time and Mileage based recommendations
Observation: Based on time and/or mileage and after checking available service history: Perform fuel injection and throttle body service $202.95<Decline. Watch @NutzAboutBolts video on throttle body cleaning, consider DIY. This is an easy DIY, most anybody can manage this. For Fuel injector cleaner, just add something like Techron cleaner to the tank occasionally , and use Top Tier gas.
Task: Time and Mileage based recommendations
Observation: Based on time and/or mileage and after checking available service history: Perform four wheel alignment $129.95<Decline, unless you're noticing uneven tire wear, poor drive feel, or recently hit a curb hard.
Estimated Total: $4176.85

(@NutzAboutBolts videos pinned at top of third gen maintenance forum.)

 

My (comparatively reputable) dealer charged $110 for the brake fluid change, minus discount coupon.

 

Welcome to PriusChat!!

Save $160+, and for $12 at the local autoparts store (or Sprawlmart) you can buy this :

KOOL-IT Evaporator &amp; Heater Foam Cleaner - Lubegard

 

timing cover leak in rampant in ford focus (car my son bought). i torqued the bolts some and if that doesn't help, heavier oil should.

 

Let the dealer give you a free alignment check with a print out, then decide on the alignment.
Changing brake fluid is a good move, get a better price elsewhere.
Do install or have installed a oil catch can, do not let the dealer change the valve cover gasket.
A bottle of fuel cleaner and ignore the air conditioning reconditioning, unless anyone has ever heard of a toyota needing it, (wife just got a Honda, the factory didn't charge the air conditioner, and it's common with Honda's, not Toyotas)

 

You should ignore that dealer service advisor upselling you work at inflated prices. If it were me, I'd drop this dealer and find a competent independent mechanic to do your work.

By what standard is the fluid "discolored". No chance they checked it for moisture content, which is the real problem you want to avoid. Pass.

Let it seep and add some oil. Pass.

This is not required unless you are having problems with your air conditioning. I don't even know what an "air conditioning refresh service" is, but you don't need it.

You don't need this at 50K. Pass.

Unless you are experiencing a pull to one side or other, or abnnormal tire wear, you don't need this. Pass.

Here's what you need at 50K miles unless you are having specific problems that require addressing: the scheduled 50K service.

 

You shouldn’t return to this dealer.

Toyota publishes all of the scheduled maintenance requirements for Prius. It came with your car. Nothing the dealer mentioned is a scheduled maintenance item except brake fluid, which is due much later. On the other hand, there are things you’re supposed to do which were skipped.

At 50K miles, I suggest you have the transaxle fluid changed. Use only Toyota brand oil. Should cost $100-$125 at a good garage. Don’t use Oil Changers or a QuickLube-type operation.

Then there’s engine oil & filter, of course. Cabin air filter, which you can do yourself (no tools needed).

At 60,000, engine air filter. Easy DIY.

At 100,000, the two coolants (Engine and Inverter. Same fluid, different systems in the car). At 120K miles, spark plug replacement.

The transaxle fluid change isn’t on Toyota’s list, but a lot of Prius owners think it makes sense to change at 30,000 miles and every 60,000 thereafter. There are a few other items we do here on PriusChat, but your car doesn’t have enough miles for any of them.

 

Here is a link to the 2012 Prius Maintenance Guide.

Guide

 

Wow..now I know why I always attempt to do my own maintenance! Not sure I could pull off a timing cover reseal though. However, I'm really skeptical that your vehicle actually needs it.

 

The clearances on most modern engines are fairly small, and heavier oil does not do them any favors. Back in the day we routinely ran 20W-50 in our cars, now it's all 0W-20 or lighter. Heavier oil may slow the seepage, but it won't do the engine bearings any good.

 

I am sure it doesn’t at 50k miles. How I know? I have 60k mi on my 2014 prius and when I saw there is oil sprayed around my oil filter cap and the surroundings including the timing cover like the one pictured by Mendel Leisk I found out the oil filter cap might be loose/over torqued and sprayed oil upwards as well as to the black cross beam. So I wiped everything that I could and will keep an eye out if it oil gets over everything again. Will update in two weeks.

 

What's your torque on your filter?

 

Time to fix that.

It would be a shame to save all of that gas money, only to give it back to a dealer that would shamelessly ROB their most loyal customers in this way.

I don't have any problem with legalized gambling or lotteries, but I've always considered them to be a tax on people who are not very good at math.
What dealerships like this one do is much worse - because they are taking advantage of people who do not, or in some cases cannot take the time to educate themselves on car maintenance - which is fundamentally different than car repair, without the excuse of using the tax revenue for (insert air quotes here) "education."

Advice:
This isn't the first....or the worst of these types of posts for this car and this make.

1.) If you insist on remaining loyal to the Toyota brand, I'd report this dealer to whatever sad excuse that Toyota has for customer care in North America.

2.) Find out who owns the dealership and show them the "estimate" and this thread. It's possible (although not probable) that they do not understand what's afoot in their service department.

3.) The timing chain cover defect is well known. Do what everybody does these days:
Complain!!
How To File a Complaint About Your Vehicle | Edmunds

(Fun Fact! The above Edmunds like features a photo of........................a Prius!!)

4.) DO NOT let this Toyota dealership touch your car ever again.

 

OP posted this thread over 3 months ago, and it was their 1st post. (although joined 5 years ago?)

Lets just all have some hope that they refused the services offered.

And lets also hope that anyone else stumbling across this thread gains some knowledge on the subject.

@ETC(SS) very well spoken!....next time let it all out!