Asking for a friend. Mechanic is claiming the rear main seal needs to be replaced and it will cost $3300.

#1 - How likely is a catastrophic failure on a vehicle with a very slight leak (i.e. not staining the driveway so far). Is an immediate fix necessary?
#2 - Is $3300 as exorbitant a price as it seems to me? Mechanic estimated about 18 hours of mechanic time.
#3 - Anybody you would recommend for a 2nd opinion/cost estimate on the NE side of town (Crosby, Atascosita, Humble area)?

Not an immediate issue even if it is dripping onto garage floor.

It is a huge job on any car front wheel drive or rear wheel drive.

I'd get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinion.

Many times rear main is misdiagnosed for other leaks: oil pan, or valve cover, or sometimes even timing cover.

Just took my 2011 LC 200 in for same "rear main seal leak". Two Toyota dealers told me the same story and hyperbole of catastrophic engine failure.

75k miles later I finally took it to my LC mechanic. It was the oil pan that needed to be changed. $300 and I was good as new.

Rear main seal on my old CX-5 seeped. Just check the oil regularly until it gets worse.

I also know a guy that'll drop the trans and replace the seal for $600 or so….

The leak itself is not an issue unless the buildup becomes a fire hazard. The issue is running low on oil. So until it is leaking faster than you can put it in, it is just messy.
Just check the oil regularly and if/when you need other work done, perhaps on the transmission, do it then.

I wouldn't mess with it.

A job like that is intrusive. Something unrelated is likely to get damaged or broken during the course of the repair.

I'd drive it and keep an eye on it.

Switch to some synthetic oll if not already. It may reseal itself.

I'd get another opinion. It's pretty much impossible for a Toyota to have serious problems with only 131k.

Jack Boyett said:

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I'd get another opinion. It's pretty much impossible for a Toyota to have serious problems with only 131k.

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