My 97 runner's valve cover gaskets seem to be leaking. I wasn't going to have it fixed because I was planning to sell it soon. But now it looks like I'll have to drive it for 2 more years. Was going to buy a 2012 tacoma but with the details slowly coming out, looks like I'll have to wait for the 2014 tacoma.

2 questions for you all

1. should I fix it at all or just leave it? Not dropping too much oil but I do get a few drips where I park.

2. How much would I expect to pay to have it fixed? No way I can do it myself. I had a mechanic friend say ~$400.

What you guys think?

 

They're about 3-400 bucks to have a mechanic do it. I left mine alone but then my truck blew the headgasket and it was pretty much given at that point.

 

Holy Crap 400 dollars, looks like all those years of automotive school paid off.

Lets see 2.7 hours flat rate for the job, and you can get a set of Fel-Pro gaskets at advance auto parts for 32.99

average independent shop rate $70 to $80 an hour, you do the math

and aliitle oil on the ground is alot of oil on the exaust manifold

its realy not that bad of a job and you wanna make sure and do the rear cam plugs while your at it

 

for $400 you could buy all the parts (from the stealership ) and all the tools need and still have plenty of money left over for beer

 

before you go replacing them completely, try tightening the bolts down (not too much, as it's aluminum!). when i just replaced my plugs and wires a couple weeks ago, the bolts were loose! it's a common problem that can be shored up, until you do the time-intensive replacement where you have to remove the plenum, intake, blah blah 3-day-weekend...

 

I thought this was going to be a hard task to complete on my 1999 4runner but it was actually fairly easy took me about 3 hours to do. hardest part was moving the stupid electrical wiring harness out of the way. Be sure not to over tighten the valve cover bolts. I paid about $50.00 for the fel-pro gasket set at Orielly auto.

 

Thanks guys. There's no way I'm going to do it myself. So I guess what I'm asking is should I just leave it alone if I'm going to sell it in 2 years?

If I do fix it, what's a reasonable price to pay a mechanic? I know its cheaper if I did it myself but that's not happening.

 

Did you try the tighten the bolts recommendation?

If your "friend mechanic" is gonna charge $400... find new friends... My good friend rate... 30 pack and some pizza, you bring the parts. or $100 and i will go pick up the parts and pizza/ drinks.

If it was a 22re... I would only require a 12pack. Wouldn't even be able to finish a beer before i would be done.

 

No, you can't wait two years if it is leaking. Oil can also get into your spark plugs if the gaskets is leaking. Maybe pull a couple plugs and take a look. But the short answer is you'll have to get it done.

It is a good idea to check the valve cover bolts as mentioned. They are lightly tourqued from the factory and to come loose over time. perhaps you just need to tightent them a little

GL

 

So I tightened the bolts today, they were all pretty loose. I could only access the 4 bolts on the lower parts of the valve covers. Is there an easy way to access the 4 on top without pulling everything off?

 

Can you tell us more about the rear cam plug? I just did one side and I didn't remove plugs. I just added a new bead of gasket seal, new gasket and torqued to spec. I cleaned the surface thoroughly of course.

 

See YouTube. Valve cover gasket 4runner. Sone guy and a 14 min video breaks it down. Good luck