My last thread was about that broken bolt in the lower intake manifold. It was my first time really doing any kind of work under the hood (previous has just been brakes, suspension and fluid stuff ) but with everyone's help I managed to drill and tap in new threads, throw in new gaskets and stopped the coolant leak! Thanks guys, couldn't have done it without your help! Here's a pic of the old girl somewhere in Northern BC 90' 22re




Now onto the next issue.

I have 2 non dripping oil leaks that only spew out when the engine gets warm enough/builds up enough pressure (highway mainly). I'm pretty sure it's the valve cover leaking out in the front but I also noticed a lot of oil coming out of the rear of the engine. It might be the valve cover (hard to tell because low visibility there) but it could also be a camshaft seal, plug, or whatever it's called. Is this a difficult job? Do I have the remove the entire camshaft and reset the timing afterwards? Couldn't find much info on this subject.

 

There are "half moon" cut outs in the head (probably access to machine the head for the cam)

The cut out is sealed with a rubber "half moon" **AND** a bit of FIPG sealer

There are after market alum half moon plugs as well

http://www.22reperformance.com/parts...and-seals.html

 

Does the timing have to be messed with?

 

No, just valve cover removal.

 

valve cover gasket sets are pretty cheap.

if you are going to pull the valve cover, i'd blow the engine off clean at the car wash first, then adjust the valves while you have the valve cover off.

 

check the PCV valve to while the cover is off

 

Already has a new PCV valve and grommet as of a few months ago. Just bought a feeler gauge for the valve adjustment. After doing some research here, it looks like you guys like to do it with the engine cold and set the intake to 0.007" and exhaust to 0.011, correct? Or should I do it according to the FSM which is 0.008 intake and 0.012 exhaust hot? If it makes any difference it's getting pretty cold where I am now and I do all my work on the driveway.

Also are there half circular plugs for the front and rear? If you look at this diagram from the fsm it only shows the half circular plug for that front and a rear plate with a gasket on the rear http://web.archive.org/web/201008061...e/cylinder.pdf What's the name of that gasket?

 

Well I finally got to taking off the valve cover to see what's up. Looks like the previous owner did not put any rtv on the half moons when he last had the valve cover off. Pretty obvious that it was leaking from there because the seating was covered in oil. Also my timing chain and everything down there all look like they're in great condition.

On a side note what purpose do these plugs serve?

 

The cutouts are necessary so that the machine tools are able to enter the head casting to cut the cam bearing bores during manufacture of the head.