I am now replacing my manifold and after taking things apart today I noticed some things I'd like your opinion on. It's a '99 4Runner 4cyl with 180k miles.

This air intake, should it be this dirty? Is it a sign of an underlying problem?



Also on the subject of underlying problems - thick oil build up all over the place. Is this a sign of something out of the normal or something to be expected?



Manifold with cracks:



And finally, original spark plugs that I just replaced. I did this first and thought it was my sputtering and ticking problem. Which it wasn't, obviously. Just look at that manifold! Getting the DeathCougar kit ordered tomorrow.



One final question if you read this far - can I drive without my skid plate for a week? I drive about 1 mile to work and back. I live in the south and it's pretty warm. Applying deep penetrating oil for my manifold removal and need that plate off. Thanks all!

 

Throttle body bore needs cleaning looks like pretty normal build-up.
Oil on block coming from leaky valve cover gaskets?
Those plugs are nasty......
PCV valve, air filter, plug wires, inspect vacuum lines or cracks....

Do you know the maintenance history?

 

You can drive without the skid plate and be just fine, I took mine off when I first got the truck because it was bent far out of shape and was held on by all different sized bolts that were cross threaded in, I left it off and drove trouble free for 2 years.

 

Leaky valve cover gasket - hard to replace? Never replaced one.

 

Thought you were asking about GM engines...

 

Gravy

 

Gee-dunk... 4 nuts just remove all the stuff on top.

4 gromments under the nuts and one long rubber strip that goes around the edges.

 

Wow, I think even I can handle that!

 

if your really bothered buy that oil, then try getting some solvent in a spray bottle, like a windex bottle, and squirting it on there every little bit, while the motor is cold. then once you can see its getting kind of runny, use PRECISION power washing to scrape it off

 

i say precision power washing because i have many times just dove right in and sprayed something off that was never meant to come off.

 

and you can pick up a barrel of solvent at a tractor supply for like fifteen bucks

 

Is there a strong solvent that you recommend? I've used Purple Power to degrease things and seemed to work but it's not very strong stuff. Now if I could put that IN the power washer maybe...