I recently replaced the head gasket in a 1996 tacoma 5vz-fe engine. I have the Factory Service Manual and followed the installation procedure within. When I removed and reinstalled the cams I was careful to insure all the pieces went where they belong. The caps are marked so there is no confusion and I labeled my intake and exhaust cams so they went back in the same head they came out of. All the components should be replaced exactly where they came from.

Upon start up after reassembling the engine there was a bit of whistling noise that came from the top end that gradually went away. I assume this was the cams because there was little oil in the heads. Before I installed them the FSM says to oil them with motor oil and reinstall, I did, as well as the journals and then the whole upper head was bathed in motor oil before I put the head covers on.

Today when I started it (4-5 days since head gasket job) I heard that whistling noise again. It gradually went away and I have this very paranoid sensation its my cams for some reason. It could also be a bad bearing or belt issue as I spilled some coolant in that area while refilling. It was rather cold this morning when I started it too.

My question is, am I boned? Did I screw something up and am slowly grenading my engine. Am I just paranoid since I'm a noob and this is my first head gasket job? Did I miss something important?

Please advise.

 

I have never heard metal on metal make a squeal or a whistle type noise

I would look more for a belt or a vacuum leak

Bad bearing causing a belt to squeal.

 

Before you pulled the cams did you put the service bolt in place and remove it when cams were reinstalled?

 

Yep, I used the valve cover bolt to hold the subgear in place. I'm just really anxious about my reinstall, like I might of overlooked some detail.

Funny story, the last guy (shade tree mechanic) who removed the cams didn't take the bolt out, when I was inspecting them I found my missing valve cover bolt resting in a small recessed area that I think delivers oil into the head, on the very precipice of falling down down down.

 

Thanks for the replays everyone. I did find my alternator mounting bolts were loose tightened them belts up and haven't heard it since. I'll keep you posted though.

I just worry so cause the cams just glide along in those housings, I always imagined they had bearings. Damn!