Is there an oil leak that cannot be fixed?

i would pass. the gen 3 engine has reached it's useful life. it is nothing like gen 2, unfortunately.

if you really want a v, look for a 2015, with less than 100k on it. you ight be able to save it before the head gasket blows.
gen 3 has several issues that gen 2 did not have, making them ticking time bombs.

 

If a dealership is trying to sell a car with that kind of half-a** multi-point inspection - I'd run away FAST!!!

I read a thread, awhile ago where someone tightened an oil sender sensor so much that they cracked the engine block thread-in. Obviously you can patch that, but how many heat cycles will that last. Real fix is new or used engine block.

The reason your 2009 didn't have issues is because it was properly maintained. Do you have the full service history of that car??? and it's a Gen3.

Just Saying....

 

actually, late 14's got a piston and ring upgrade which continued after that. if you get the vin, someone here has the cutoff point. we've seen a ton of blown head gaskets here, but have no way of knowing what percentage of gen 3's have had it happen.
there are many possible causes, but nothing definitive.
egr clogging, incorrect cooling pump software, too infrequent coolant changes and acidity checks, 10k oil changes instead of 5k and more have all been blamed, but no one knows for sure.

watch

657835921

 

and dealers have been accused of putting in head gasket sealer, which only covers up the problem long enough to get through any warranty.
the problem is, these cars are in such demand, they can get away with it.

 

Built before new rings and pistons.

Timing chain covers are the common leak point. Around $1200-$1500 to fix. On rare occasions it’s the oil pressure switch, maybe $250 installed or the insertion point, much is more expensive but even rarer. Usually the timing chain cover and it will make a mess all over the engine.

As noted above, 2010-15 hatchbacks and 2012-17 v’s are problem childs that could cost you $10k with blown head gaskets, engines, brake by wire systems and hybrid batteries. Plus a covered inverter could strand you without warning.

The v wagons have lower crash test results until a 2015 refresh. Buy conventional Camry, Corolla or Civic if you are on a budget and can’t swing a 2018 or newer Toyota hybrid.

 

Lots of people fall in love with v's.

There was a lot to like about them.

So much so that almost all of them have been used up, or are already in the hands of their 'final' owners.

The ones that are for sale now (2024) are not great choices, apart from maybe the 2017s.

Time to move on and look at something else.

 

rav4?

 

They have another person, just called, who wants it, and said they're on their way

 

Good luck to them

 

Plus it didn't have the more bonehead gen 3 designs.

The service history for ours I'll assume to be abysmal. Should self-immolate any day now.

^ This.

 

Gen3 as a frequently seen car is quickly becoming history. I already see more gen2s than 3’s.

Nationally only 1% of a given model year makes it to 200,000 miles. The rest are junked, abandoned in Tom’s yard or on life support in Mendel’s garage.

It does not bode well for aftermarket hv battery suppliers who already have a hard time keeping the smoke in.