OK, so I searched but can't find answer. I am blowing oil from the driver's side valve cover, and obviously need new gasket so I can stop explaining the smoke and burning smell to my smug friends. Question is -- can I change that one without pulling the intake plenum, throttle body, etc? (I obviously do for the passenger side, but don't need to change that one yet). Thanks.

 

MANY times the leak isn't from the actual valve cover but caused by someone putting the front cam bearing and or valve cover on with no FIPG (Form In Place Gasket, sold by Toyota), causing it to leak either under the bearing or over the top of it. Seals need to be installed with FIPG. FIPG is just about the stickiest damn s**t on the planet.

Where exactly is the leak?

 

While I haven't actually tried it, I'm pretty sure there is not enough room to get the valve cover out with the throttle body in place.

Think of this as an opportunity to replace both gaskets, and the pcv valve (in the passenger side cover).

My three pieces of advice:
1. Label, document, record. You have to pull a bunch of simple hoses to remove the plenum, and you don't want to be wondering where everything goes.
2. Use a heat gun (actually, a hair dryer is plenty hot) to warm up the recalcitrant hoses. It will slightly soften the rubber and make them easier to get off. The easily accessible ones will respond to brute force, but the Pair hose is very hard to reach and you can use every edge you can get.
3. To install the valve cover gaskets, you need RTV on four spots around the cam bearings (it's in the book). Make sure the metal is clean enough to eat from before you apply the RTV; it's very sticky, but won't hold well to oily anything.

 

Yes you can,

But I would not recommend it for reinstall. You will smear the FIPG all around trying to shoe horn it in there.

Picture below if it removed without taking off the throttle body.

Just drain the radiator down a bit, and then pop the TB off, it really is not that big of a deal.

Mike


[IMG][/IMG]

 

Just be sure you don't break the tits off the plastic valve (two small vacuum hoses attached) under the pax side of the TB!! You'll also have to remove the hose to the pax side PCV because you'll be pulling your hair out trying to figure out what's holding it on~

 

All
Thanks
Funny, I asked the Toyota parts guy and he was like "oh, no sealant needed" Dope
Anyhow, who the hell designs a system where you need to take the @$#! plenum off before putting a new gasket in, PCV valve, etc????

 

No sealant required? Great help there, maybe that is his way of selling more gaskets.

Who designed it? Some Japanese engineer who has never worked on his own vehicle. I have heard the packaging of the 3VZE described as an onion. To get to the part you want to replace you have to peel off all of the layers above it.

 

And cry while your doing it

 

I wasn't there, so he may be a dope, but remember that the valve cover gasket is about 30" long and you put sealant on about 2" total. (And that 2" is the part that does all the work ....)

 

Just around the corners. My drivers side leaked due to lack of RTV in one of the corners.

I pulled the TB and got it done. Make 100% sure you torque the bolts to spec, they only take like 8ft-lbs. Most guys break em off...

 

do they sel replacment gaskets for the cam shaft cap seals that hold th cam down cause that is where my oil leak is that is right by the valve covers that also leak a little.

 

When I rebuilt mine, I bought a full engine seal kit. The front and rear camshaft seals for both heads were in that kit.

As for individually, not sure.

 

nice, mine just started leaking after a new engine install...i didnt put any fipg cause the gasket seemed so rubbery and new that it seemed ok. now it leaks, and oil pressure has started to suck. i hope its from that little leak or im in for some heartache.

 

To Squiddy,
If you take the plenum off, it is a good time to lengthen some of the hoses underneath. The objective is to be able to fold the plenum over easily and rest it on the passenger side of the car, on a pad. You don't have to remove any vacuum hoses that way and next time the job is fast and easy. I moved my PCV valve outside the plenum, per good advice of some of the stalwarts on this site. There are some little coolant hoses to remove under the plenum and then just lay it over.

 

Oooooh...that's a good idea.Thx.

 

i would reccommend unhooking the pcv hose running from the plenum to the pas side valve cover before folding over the plenum as this hose was very cooked and brittle and mine broke when removing it, unless your hose is fairly new it won't flex.

 

He's right. I broke 2 and I've never broken bolts before and I used a torque wrench (faulty).

 

It's all moot now as blown head gasket has "solved" this dilemma!

 

or not ...new engine put in place, running great, but now leaking at same spot. AGHHH.

 

If the valve cover is not bent or warped it should not be leaking if its installed properly. Get the correct gasket and put it on exactly right along with RTV where toyota requires it usually in the ends and corners. When tightening the bolts make sure they are bearly hand tight all round. No breaking them off now.