So I picked up a 94 PU with 22re (2wd) and started researching... It has 263,000 on it. I started getting curious about timing adjustments for various reasons and started reading about the plastic chain guides. It isn't making any weird sounds that I can tell, however I am thinking of replacing them with the metal ones anyway. So I wanted to open the valve cover and check it out. This brought up a few questions.

When I took of the oil cap on the cover the oil is 1" away from the top. Is this normal? I seem to remember on other vehicles that I could see the valves and springs when opening the cap.

(1) Does this mean the oil is over filled?

(2) If it is normal, does that mean i should drain the oil before i remove the cover?

(3) can I reuse the valve cover gasket or will I have to get a kit and replace it as well as the half moons and rubber grommets?

Thanks for looking at my post! I am excited to work on this engine but I am still very much learning all the ins and outs. So glad there is a community with a wealth of info on this engine!

 

Oh and I should not that I had just started the engine to listen to it before I took off the oil cap. Is it just needing to settle down maybe?

 

so i inspected it further and it was just a shelf right under the oil cap. no oil actually up to the cap. but my other questions i would stil like to get some answers to...

Do i need to drain oil to take valve cover off? Do i have to replace valve cover gaskets? someone please pop in and tell me. thanks!

 

and one more question... i am replacing O2 sensor today. do i need to put rtv on to seal the gasket on the flange, or is that overkill?

 

i know they are pretty noob questions but can someone respond please? also started noticing a ticking noise when i started it up. reading what could be the cause at the moment...

 

No you don`t need to drain the oil to pull the valve cover.Is it time to change the oil? Just bought the truck Good idea to change the oil.

You do want to be sure things are clean you don`t want to get dirt in the engine.

Valve cover gasket it is good to have one just in case your luck is like mine. Mine would break taking it off Yours might also.

Make sure to get the set with the half moons.

Your O2 sensor gets a gasket these can be a real pain not uncommon to break studs and have rounded off nuts.

If you put RTV on there it will stink so bad as it burns off If you want to put anything on use Permtex #2

 

thanks for the response. now i have more problems. i posted in the newbie tech about trying to find rear wheel hub assembly. im going crazy trying to figure it out.