Toyota Engine Oil Leak: VVT-i Valves, Vacuum Pump and Alternator Replaced

The owner booked the Toyota in for regular servicing and an aircon problem: water dripping inside the car below the dashboard, and gas that needed topping up often. While checking the car, our technician found the engine leaking oil, and a cracked front driveshaft boot.

We sent an itemised quote, all original parts, for what was needed to stop the oil leak. The owner approved it with the servicing and the driveshaft boot. On the aircon, the gas was low with no leak outside, which pointed to the cooling coil inside. The owner needed the car back sooner, so the cooling coil was left for later. We cleared the aircon drain pipe and did the rest in one visit.

After the car was collected, it had to be towed back to us. Our technician removed the alternator to check it and we quoted a replacement. The owner chose an original alternator, and we waived the labour.

Our technician found the oil leak during the servicing check and listed the parts needed to stop it: the valve cover gasket with plug seal, both VVT-i valves, both cam sensors, the oil cap and the vacuum pump with its gasket. We sent the owner an itemised quote, and the work started once the owner approved it.

For the alternator, the car was towed back to us after collection. Our technician removed the alternator to check whether it was faulty, then we quoted a replacement. The new alternator was fitted once the part arrived.

First visit (oil leak repair):

• Replaced the valve cover gasket and plug seals.
• Replaced both VVT-i oil control valves with Toyota genuine parts.
• Replaced both cam sensors.
• Replaced the oil cap.
• Replaced the vacuum pump and gasket.

The same visit also covered the servicing, replacing the cracked driveshaft boot and clearing the aircon drain pipe. The aircon cooling coil was left for later at the owner's choice.

Second visit (after tow, alternator failure):

• Diagnosed the alternator fault.
• Replaced the alternator.
• Labour for the alternator replacement was waived.

On this Toyota, the full oil leak repair was itemised as follows:

• Valve cover gasket with plug seal: $210
• VVT-i valves x2: $390 ($195 each)
• Cam sensors x2: $370 ($185 each)
• Oil cap: $55
• Vacuum pump with gasket: $495
• Labour: $280

Oil leak repair total: $1,800 before GST

Alternator (replacement): $1,350 (labour waived)

Oil leak repair and alternator together: $3,150 before GST

These figures cover the oil leak and the alternator only; the servicing and the driveshaft boot were separate items. Each item was quoted and approved before the work began.

This Toyota (engine oil leak repair, VVT-i valve replacement, alternator replacement) was handled at 1 Car Service, an independent workshop in Sin Ming AutoCity, Singapore. We hold a 4.9★ rating from 1,836+ Google reviews.