The Mighty Highlander

[Bridgecity]

If you think it still has life left in it and you have no desire to replace then it's likely worth putting 2-3k into to repair.

Another point of view, it gives you an opportunity to upgrade.

[TheHire]

How many kilometres on it?

We just took in on trade a wicked clean '04 Highlander with, wait for it, 462,000KM. Zero rust and the thing is in insanely good shape. I have really started to appreciate these things.

[Revelations]

I learned a thing or two about these recently. I got a 2002 on trade, owner said it was leaking oil and the valve guides were shot, it had 267,000 km. If it sat longer than 20 minutes a massive smoke plume would occur at start. Upon some research, I unplugged the PCV at the rear valve cover and the smoke never happened again. The rear valve cover needed replacement, not the pcv. The insides had gummed up preventing the system from working properly. The oil leak also disappeared (it was minor but present). Interestingly, none of this made the vehicle unsellable on a retail level (body/underside/interior all in great shape) What broke this Camel was the manual heater control unit was shot. Seems common and the reason why good working heater controls are impossible to find or super expensive.

If it is your rear main, I know these bring decent money at auction 

[Firm]

Just fix it, $2K is like 2-3 months payment on something newer. Even if you decide you want to upgrade, once it's repaired you'll probably get $4-5K for it and more than recoup your money, vs trying to sell it with a big oil leak, you're going to have a much tougher time.

[Tortoise]

If you think it still has life left in it and you have no desire to replace then it's likely worth putting 2-3k into to repair.

Another point of view, it gives you an opportunity to upgrade.

It definitely has some life left in it, but it's by no means mint. If this leak hadn't started I was going to deal with a rear suspension clunk, rear brakes and a new windshield.  The body is in decent shape but there's some rust here and there. 

And, and upgrade would be nice.

How many kilometres on it?

We just took in on trade a wicked clean '04 Highlander with, wait for it, 462,000KM. Zero rust and the thing is in insanely good shape. I have really started to appreciate these things.

245k km. I also really appreciate these things, they are super solid, relatively simple, and go about their business in an easy manner.

I learned a thing or two about these recently. I got a 2002 on trade, owner said it was leaking oil and the valve guides were shot, it had 267,000 km. If it sat longer than 20 minutes a massive smoke plume would occur at start. Upon some research, I unplugged the PCV at the rear valve cover and the smoke never happened again. The rear valve cover needed replacement, not the pcv. The insides had gummed up preventing the system from working properly. The oil leak also disappeared (it was minor but present). Interestingly, none of this made the vehicle unsellable on a retail level (body/underside/interior all in great shape) What broke this Camel was the manual heater control unit was shot. Seems common and the reason why good working heater controls are impossible to find or super expensive.

If it is your rear main, I know these bring decent money at auction 

Good insights.  FYI, the issue with the manual heater control is a nut behind the temperature knob comes loose, so you end up twisting the whole assembly and something breaks.  When I bought it I reached out to Johngenx who mentioned I should have a look at it. Sure enough, mine was loose. I tightened it, and it's been fine since.

About the auction values, I presume interest falls for older east coast cars that have lived in a salt belt.

Just fix it, $2K is like 2-3 months payment on something newer. Even if you decide you want to upgrade, once it's repaired you'll probably get $4-5K for it and more than recoup your money, vs trying to sell it with a big oil leak, you're going to have a much tougher time.

My shop figured it would be more than $2k, so say $2500.  I was also going to put a grand into it to get us another year or two. I agree the leak will make it harder to sell, but there might be someone mechanically inclined out there who would be willing to take on the repair. One nice thing is that I have all the service records since new.

I'm still driving it, but parking over a piece of cardboard.  I think I'll swap the PCV valve.  It seems easy and cheap enough.

[Tortoise]

One thing that has been bugging me.  I've been doing annual oil changes on the HL, which has worked out to 10,000 km.  It doesn't get used much, but a mix of trips to the ski hill, running around town, towing the boat (~1000 lbs) camping. 

Always used a good synthetic and high quality filter.

Could this have contributed to the leak?  Or is it just luck of the draw at this age?

[RRocket]

One thing that has been bugging me.  I've been doing annual oil changes on the HL, which has worked out to 10,000 km.  It doesn't get used much, but a mix of trips to the ski hill, running around town, towing the boat (~1000 lbs) camping. 

Always used a good synthetic and high quality filter.

Could this have contributed to the leak?  Or is it just luck of the draw at this age?

Just bad luck.

Also..try a Hail Mary pass. Try some rear main seal stop leak (Blue Devil , AT-205 or similar).

[Firm]

Yeah, I don't think the oil change intervals contributed, though 10K is stretching it on an older vehicle IMO. Like Ron, I wouldn't be opposed to tossing in a can of rear main repair from one of the reputable brands; Blue Devil, Rislone, etc). Won't hurt anything at this point, and if it works, it works.