help with valve cove replacement trouble.

[1933beer]

my 4runner has 130k and the valve covers started leaking. I got the parts and had a few days off so I went about replacing. I ran in to a problem today when I tried to put them back on. The round rubber seal for the spark plugs wont go around / over the spark plug cylinder on the engine. I checked to make sure I put them in right. I tried to start the bolts and see if it would go over it just seemed to smash the rubber seal. I tried get one side started on the back hole kinda angling the cover and then using a thin screw driver to work the rest of it on. I need more hands if that is the way.

please tell me there is a trick to get them to go over

I put the other side on with the old ones in that part wasn't leaking anyway. fyi I can't use the old ones they were brittle and broke getting them out.

that's in advance

 

[nissanh]

Lets see a picture or two.

 

[1933beer]

what do you want a picture of?

 

[1933beer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5fAXAuGozI


15 minutes in on this video is what I did to remove them

 

[Myrunr2010]

Valve covers, spark plug seals, top/bottom, as much as you can. If you say everything is right but it's not going together, you're not giving anyone information they can help you by.

Mine where a little tight when I put them on, but it just took a little working it back and forth, so there's got to be something wrong

 

[1933beer]

Valve covers, spark plug seals, top/bottom, as much as you can. If you say everything is right but it's not going together, you're not giving anyone information they can help you by.

Mine where a little tight when I put them on, but it just took a little working it back and forth, so there's got to be something wrong

I am not sure how else to explain the issue the parts were in a kit. the rubber part for the valve covers was correct.

If I flipped the seal over and put it back in I think it would a large enough diameter to go over the tube on the engine. I suppose I could verify that with one I did not use.
OR I could measure the distance of the inner ring of the new gasket and the out diameter of the tube it goes over to illustrate the difference in size.

 

[Soneill]

I am not sure how else to explain the issue the parts were in a kit. the rubber part for the valve covers was correct.

If I flipped the seal over and put it back in I think it would a large enough diameter to go over the tube on the engine. I suppose I could verify that with one I did not use.
OR I could measure the distance of the inner ring of the new gasket and the out diameter of the tube it goes over to illustrate the difference in size.

The spark plug deal goes on the valve cover not the engine. I sometimes use a rubber hammer and a few easy taps to get them to seat.

 

[1933beer]

here is a pic of 2 new seals. the one on the left would allow the spark plug tube to start I think but would be up side down.

I hope you can see how the seal flares out.

the one on the right shows how it is installed but will not go over the tube

 

[baja1]

they have to be snug....you just put a little oil on em and run your finger inside them to slip over the tube....

 

[OneOffStroker]

I tried get one side started on the back hole kinda angling the cover and then using a thin screw driver to work the rest of it on.

Continue doing this. Start at the rear seal, running a small screwdriver around it while pressing it down. It will slip over the plug tube. Then do the middle one, then the front one. They can't be done all three at once, but one at a time and you'll have the valve cover on in a matter of seconds with just your won two hands. Don't let it defeat you.

 

[weekendclimber]

I took a screwdriver and poked it down around the outside edge of the spark plug tube to get the seal to correctly sit on the inside of the spark plug seals.

 

[1933beer]

I flipped them over lined it up and it goes on.
Thanks for helping

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

I flipped them over lined it up and it goes on.
Thanks for helping

You did it wrong. There's been quite a few posts about the position of the seals. The open flared side goes down like this ^| |^.
The procedure above where someone described going from one end of the cover to the other with a small screwdriver or pick and running it around the tube until the seal drops around the tube is the way you do it.

 

[1933beer]

Continue doing this. Start at the rear seal, running a small screwdriver around it while pressing it down. It will slip over the plug tube. Then do the middle one, then the front one. They can't be done all three at once, but one at a time and you'll have the valve cover on in a matter of seconds with just your won two hands. Don't let it defeat you.

Well this sucks I tightened down the bolts. I looked for other threads to see what was said. I guess I am not searching with the right words. I wanted to know what happens if I leave it this way.

 

[Myrunr2010]

Well this sucks I tightened down the bolts. I looked for other threads to see what was said. I guess I am not searching with the right words. I wanted to know what happens if I leave it this way.

You will definitely lose oil if you leave it that way. It'll fill the spark plug tunnels first, then start dripping down looking like your valve cover gaskets are bad. When I did mine, I somehow managed to get one side right and the other wrong. Thankfully the side I had to redo was the intake side so it was easy to get to.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Well this sucks I tightened down the bolts. I looked for other threads to see what was said. I guess I am not searching with the right words. I wanted to know what happens if I leave it this way.

Well, it might be OK but I would think the OEM design and placement is for a reason. I could speculate on this judging on the design but I'm not an engineer.

 

[1933beer]

I looked at the how too video and the one the guy uses in the video is a little different than the ones I have. I couldn't see the one side of my old seals as I destroyed them.

 

[Myrunr2010]

Well, it might be OK but I would think the OEM design and placement is for a reason. I could speculate on this judging on the design but I'm not an engineer.

I can tell you from experience, if the seal isn't put in the right way, it will eventually leak, and will get progressively worse

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

I can tell you from experience, if the seal isn't put in the right way, it will eventually leak, and will get progressively worse

That's what I thought. The way the seals are designed and placed in, the flared part faces down so when pressure (crankcase pressure) goes against, it seals. Put in upside down, that pressure will squeeze out the seals, where they ride against the spark plug tube, and allow the pressure to escape. Would probably affect the PCV operation also.