Checks, in order
- Clean and find the highest wet pointDegrease the front and sides of the engine, drive it, and look again. Oil runs down, so the source is the highest wet spot. Oil at the front cover seam near the water pump is the timing cover; oil along the top edge of a bank is a cam cover gasket.easy $ · under about $50
- Pull a coil and look in the plug wellsOil pooled around a spark plug is a plug tube seal, replaced with the valve cover gasket. Dealer quotes for this run around $700 per side; it is a reasonable driveway job on the 1UR with patience.medium $$ · about $50 to $500
- Timing cover seepReported mostly on 2011–2013 trucks at 60,000–75,000 miles. Dealer quotes are about $2,000–2,200 because the front of the engine comes apart; under 6 years/70,000 miles Lexus covers it. One owner resealed it with FIPG while doing the water pump, which is the efficient way to do it out of warranty.hard $$$ · shop-level job, $500+
- Not the engine?Oil at the back of the transmission or on the transfer case is the transfer case input shaft seal, the subject of Lexus tech tips L-TT-0176-15 and L-TT-0198-16. Check the transfer case fluid level if you find it.medium $$ · about $50 to $500
Applies to: Lexus GX 460, 2010 to 2023, with the 1UR-FE 4.6L V8 and the A760F 6-speed automatic. Air suspension items apply to Premium (2010–2013) and Luxury (2014+) trims with rear air springs; KDSS was standard on most US trucks. Secondary air injection items apply to 2010–2013.
Tools and parts for these checks
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| ITEM | USED FOR | BUY |
|---|---|---|
| UV leak detection kit | Pinpointing exactly where a leak starts | Shop on Amazon |
| Engine degreaser | Cleaning the area so the leak shows up | Shop on Amazon |
| Bluetooth OBD2 scanner with live data | Reading and clearing codes and watching live sensor data | Shop on Amazon |
More Lexus GX 460 problems
- Check engine light with flashing 4LO and TRAC OFF, won't shift past 3rd or 4th when cold (P2714) (Transmission)
- Check engine light with 4LO and TRAC OFF flashing, codes P0418, P2440, P2442, P2445 (2010–2013) (Emissions)
- Truck sits lower on one side, leans right, or KDSS feels stiff after a lift (Steering & Suspension)
- Rear end sags, rides soft or bottoms out, compressor runs a lot, or a Check Air Suspension message (Steering & Suspension)
- Pink crust around the front of the engine, coolant smell, or slow coolant loss with no puddle (Cooling)
- Steering wheel flutter or vibration at 55–70 mph that balancing did not fix (Steering & Suspension)
All 8 Lexus GX 460 symptoms in the interactive troubleshooter →
General guidance from owner experience. Confirm torque specs, fluid capacities and procedures in the factory service manual. Brakes, steering and anything structural: if in doubt, have a qualified shop inspect it before driving.