Toyota Probox: High-mileage engine oil leaks (rear main seal, cam and timing cover) and rising oil use
High-mileage engine oil leaks (rear main seal, cam and timing cover) and rising oil use is a common fluid leaks fault on the Toyota Probox on the 2002 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $250 to $1,300 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 6 documented faults on the Toyota Probox.
- Vehicle
- Toyota Probox
- Engine
- 1.5L / 1.3L
- Years
- 2002 onward
- Fuel
- petrol
- System
- Fluid Leaks
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
As these engines pile on commercial mileage the 1NZ-FE/2NZ-FE develops oil seepage, with the rear crankshaft (rear main) seal the recognised weak point, followed by cam-cover and timing-cover gasket weeps. Owners and engine references also note rising oil consumption after roughly 150,000-200,000 km, driven by ageing valve-stem seals and tired piston rings, so a well-used Probox can burn as well as leak oil. There is no recall; this is wear and gasket ageing on a hard-worked drivetrain. The risk is a car that runs low on oil between services, which then accelerates the timing-chain and bearing wear above. Check for a dirty, oil-filmed lower engine and ask about top-up frequency.
What you would notice
- Oil film, wet crustiness or drips on the lower engine, bellhousing area or sump
- Oil spots on the ground where the car is regularly parked
- Needing to top up oil between scheduled services
- Blue-ish smoke on start-up or hard acceleration in worse cases
- Burnt-oil smell after a hard run
How to check it
Where to look. Lower engine - rear crankshaft seal at the engine-to-gearbox joint, cam cover and timing cover
Look under the engine and along the back of the block for oil seepage; a heavy oil film around the rear main seal / gearbox mating area or a wet cam-cover edge signals a leak.
Pull the dipstick to check oil level and condition, and ask the seller how often they top up oil between services.
On the test drive watch the mirror for smoke on start-up and under load.
What it costs to put right
$250 to $1,300 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Do you ever have to add oil between services, and how much?”
- “Are there any known oil leaks, and has the rear main or cam-cover seal been done?”
- “Does it use or burn oil, or smoke on start-up?”
- “Can I see the oil-change and top-up history?”
Now check the Toyota Probox you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- uscarsnew.com - Toyota 1NZ-FE/FXE 1.5L: rear crankshaft oil seal the weak point, leaks from chain cover / tensioner, oil consumption after ~100,000 miles
- vehiclefreak.com - Toyota 1NZ-FE common problems: high oil consumption and oil leaks/sweating, rear crankshaft seal weak point
- motorreviewer.com engine profile #170 (1NZ-FE/FXE): oil leaks and oil consumption at high mileage
Toyota Probox buyer questions
Is high-mileage engine oil leaks (rear main seal, cam and timing cover) and rising oil use serious on a Toyota Probox?
We rate it major and common on the Toyota Probox. As these engines pile on commercial mileage the 1NZ-FE/2NZ-FE develops oil seepage, with the rear crankshaft (rear main) seal the recognised weak point, followed by cam-cover and timing-cover gasket weeps. Owners and engine references also note rising oil consumption after roughly 150,000-200,000 km, driven by ageing valve-stem seals and tired piston rings, so a well-used Probox can burn as well as leak oil. There is no recall; this is wear and gasket ageing on a hard-worked drivetrain. The risk is a car that runs low on oil between services, which then accelerates the timing-chain and bearing wear above. Check for a dirty, oil-filmed lower engine and ask about top-up frequency.
How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Probox?
$250 to $1,300 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Toyota Probox years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2002 onward Toyota Probox. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Look under the engine and along the back of the block for oil seepage; a heavy oil film around the rear main seal / gearbox mating area or a wet cam-cover edge signals a leak. Pull the dipstick to check oil level and condition, and ask the seller how often they top up oil between services. On the test drive watch the mirror for smoke on start-up and under load. Look here: Lower engine - rear crankshaft seal at the engine-to-gearbox joint, cam cover and timing cover