95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Valve cover gasket replacement and other maintenance

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 08:39 AM
  #1  
uberhahn's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Valve Cover Gasket

I will be replacing my valve cover gaskets next weekend. I have a Fel-Pro gasket kit with rubber gaskets.

To RTV or not?

uberhahn
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 08:42 AM
  #2  
profuse007's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: TX
RTV at the corners. torque twice, at cold and after engine warm, to ensure a tight seal.
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 11:26 AM
  #3  
uberhahn's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
valve cover and other maintenance items

I would like to do some other maintentance this weekend as I do my valve-cover gasket replacement. So, this is what's planned, but check my logic and suggest added things while I'm in there.

1- Seafoam treatment
2- Drain oil
3- Change gasket
4- New spark plugs
5- New oil

The truck has roughly 100K miles. I'd like to change the plug wires on the driver's side, but may hold off for $$.

Does my sequence make sense? Is there something else I should do while in there?

uberhahn
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 11:34 AM
  #4  
ugadawg95's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 0
From: Bethlehem, GA
Might want to consider a coolant flush, diff fluid change, and possibly a tranny fluid flush. Possibly a PCV change. Clean the throttle body, the MAF...I just got finished doing all of that this past weekend: Dont forget to anti-size the plugs before installing them. If you are going to change the wires, I'd do all of them at once.

Keep on Truckin'
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 11:40 AM
  #5  
midiwall's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,048
Likes: 2
From: Seattleish, WA
Originally Posted by uberhahn
1- Seafoam treatment
2- Drain oil
3- Change gasket
4- New spark plugs
5- New oil
Are you doing this all at once? The reason I ask is that you should let the Seafoam work for a bit before changing the oil & plugs. Figure 100-200 miles of mixed driving (local & highway).
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 11:45 AM
  #6  
Buck01's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
while the valve cover is off. Does it make sense to adjust valves?
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 11:46 AM
  #7  
Elton's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,261
Likes: 7
From: Siletz,Oregon
i had 132k mile on my stock plug wires its still ran great but new ones are only 37 bucks so i changed them anyways
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 11:54 AM
  #8  
DoubleZero4x4's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, AZ
I'm not trying to hijack the thread but since it was brought up....

What is Seafoam treatment?
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 12:14 PM
  #9  
midiwall's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,048
Likes: 2
From: Seattleish, WA
Originally Posted by DoubleZero4x4
What is Seafoam treatment?
It's a process where you take your rig to the nearest beach and run it through the waves. It must be saltwater though, so an inland salt dredge will work, or you can mix 3 cups of salt to one gallon of water, then slowly pour it over the engine, making sure to get some in the intake. Repeat this process twice a day for 3 days, being sure to let the previous application completely dry before moving on to the next.


Or. you could SEARCH (blinking yellow clickable text on the thread headerline) and find the real answer:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f123/seafoam-injector-intake-cleaner-good-stuff-64836/
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f123/seafoam-verdict-69490/
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 12:17 PM
  #10  
Bob_98SR5's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 5
From: Los Angeles
uber,

title changed. please put in some key words, even just one

bob
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 12:19 PM
  #11  
EWAYota's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,586
Likes: 1
From: Richland, Washington
Originally Posted by midiwall
It's a process where you take your rig to the nearest beach and run it through the waves. It must be saltwater though, so an inland salt dredge will work, or you can mix 3 cups of salt to one gallon of water, then slowly pour it over the engine, making sure to get some in the intake. Repeat this process twice a day for 3 days, being sure to let the previous application completely dry before moving on to the next.



On a lighter note, I was in the same position, didn't know what seafoam was, but I was fortunate enough to be here when the seafoam threads where popular. Check those links, great info inside of them, and again, use the search button. Besides the great people on this board, that function is the best resource available. Tons of great information and the push of a few buttons.
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 12:27 PM
  #12  
midiwall's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,048
Likes: 2
From: Seattleish, WA
Originally Posted by EWAYota
I was this ][ close to unleashing the SEARCH! message from hell.

It's been a while since I've used that...
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 12:55 PM
  #13  
ebelen1's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 0
From: Socal
Originally Posted by Buck01
while the valve cover is off. Does it make sense to adjust valves?
I thought our valves didn't need adjusting but if they did, this is a huge job.
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2006 | 03:20 PM
  #14  
rngrchad's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 858
Likes: 0
From: Currently reside in Ohio
My preferance is no rtv.......just the gasket mated on meticulously well prepped surfaces.
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2006 | 04:16 AM
  #15  
uberhahn's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Check my logic...valve cover gasket replacement

Planned for this weekend is my valve cover gasket replacement. This is the sequence that I will follow. Please double check my logic and suggest additional inspections/maint. items.

The truck is now roughly at 100 K miles. Timing belt done at 93K. Recall I had a overtorqued plug that melted one of the coils (#1, pass side, front). My oil leak started once I re-tapped and helicoiled.

1- Seafoam treatment
2- Drain oil
3- Take off valve cover
4- clean mating surfaces
5- install new gaskets (plug seals as well)
6- Re-install valve cover and torque cold
7- install new Denso plugs
8- add new Synth. oil
9- Warm engine
10- Re-Torque valve cover

Am I missing anything? I plan on checking valves, but doubt anything has moved.

Any input is appreciated.

uberhahn
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2006 | 05:57 AM
  #16  
midiwall's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,048
Likes: 2
From: Seattleish, WA
Why did you repost this? It's really confusing to have two threads with basically the same info...

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92475


And why didn't you do what the moderator asked you to do in the other thread?
Originally Posted by Bob_98SR5
uber,

title changed. please put in some key words, even just one

bob
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2006 | 06:24 AM
  #17  
Cebby's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 11,199
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh, PA
I merged ALL three of your threads that were on the same subject into one. Let's try not to confuse the readership too much, OK?
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2006 | 09:28 AM
  #18  
uberhahn's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Sorry about the double post. Didn't realize the first got renamed. Unfortuantely, I don't live on Yotatech to see everything... sorry about the confusion.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bigjstang
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
21
Jun 2, 2025 03:56 PM
RedRunner_87
95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners (Build-Up Section)
84
Jun 1, 2021 01:51 PM
MMA_Alex
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners (Build-Up Section)
25
Apr 18, 2017 05:07 AM
Jnkml
95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners
3
Jul 6, 2015 01:20 PM




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:58 AM.