How much have you been quoted for valve cover gaskets?

[GrampsT4R]

I have an oil leak. Could be a loose oil filter but I really doubt it. I just got the car. In a 24 hour period there are about 8-12 drops accumulated on the pan I put under the car.

Question is, how much will I be looking at to fix? I know it's a pretty straightforward to do and I have a garage with air tools but I've never done something that involved and I don't really have a whole day to dedicate to it.

Any ideas?

 

[JBurt]

if you think it could be a loose filter try that first. it's easy and free.

can you see where the oil is coming from?

your best bet to finding a price would be to call your local shops. everyone will be a little different.

if you think you could do it, look at a write up or two. it definitely wouldn't take a while day

 

[PitbullRescuer]

They're easy to do. But even easier and somewhat more common is loose valve cover bolts. Try tightening them down a little and see if the leak stops.

 

[GrampsT4R]

Thanks. I'll try both this week.

 

[subiedrewbie]

I just did mine 2 days ago. It's not bad. Just be organized if u do the job. I think $400 if you have someone do it

 

[t4r4life]

30 mins if you are fast, first time it took me little under 2 hours.

 

[extrmsob293]

I was quoted at $350 for everything including new spark plugs but i went ahead and did it myself. It took me about half a day because i have to clean up the valve covers and polished it. It is a PITA taking everything apart and put it back. I recommend Felpro gasket if you are going to do it yourself. GL

 

[wc11]

About $500 up here at the dealer.
It included an engine shampoo to clean it up after.

 

[Brique]

I've looked into it, myself, because my gaskets are leaking, too. Quotes I got I'm Nashville are in the $400 range.
After reading up on these forums, I'm starting to think i might be able to do it myself.

My plan of attack is to use a write up to get the intake plenum off, then clean everything off and tighten the bolts to spec. Then I'll put her back together and see if that does the trick. If it doesn't, them phase 2 will be to go back and do the gaskets, but then I'll have some experience with the first half of the job. It's a nice incremental approach that might help me work up the courage to attempt my timing belt, which is due in 15k miles.

 

[Semper_Fi]

got a quote this weekend for 275, but as stated above I just had a couple of bolts loose on the bottom of one of mine so I went thru them all and tightened them

 

[2000se]

If I remember correctly...

I had the dealership do both sides for 340 including new Pcv.

 

[GreenbowCounty]

Sounds like you’re worse off than where I was. I was having smoke coming through my old aftermarket ones and exiting to the sides of the hood, no leaks, so picked up a set from the dealer for about $47?? and coordinated with [MENTION=82580]justwoody1[/MENTION] to install them. Ended up costing me a set of 01, 02 clear tails that I had replaced with smoked LEDs and took about two hours. Not an issue since! If you can and have time, definitely search for a forum member with some experience but if not then yeah you’re looking at anywhere from $400 up. Dealer quoted me $450. Sorry :sorry:to hear about the leaks.

 

[2fas2c]

Just did this job a week ago.

A lot of people make light of the job but if you have little mechanical experience it could be tough. I would rate it a 4 out of 10 on the hardness scale.

While you're in there you may as well replace the "cam caps" or plugs and the "half moons" make sure you get ALL traces of old FIPG off the head, use Acetone. I also replaced my plugs, plug wires, spark plug tube seals, PCV and PCV grommet, valve cover bolts and crush washers. I highly recommend using Toyota "FIPG" for sealing. You might as well replace all these parts while your in there they will be dried out and crumbling.

After removing the plenum, you will have to disconnect and move the wiring harness aside be careful there is a hard plastic cover that will crumble in your hands and if you are not careful you will drop the pieces of it into the head, and then you'll have to pick it out with tweezers, ask me how I know? lol. You can replace the plastic cover with run of the mill plastic loom protector.

It is not that bad a job just time consuming and if you don't know what everything is it's probably best to label all vacuum hoses wiring etc. and take note of how it is routed in the bay. I would say most places should be charging around $350-400 to do this job.

A good way to find some solid write-ups on this job is to Google search "5VZFE oil leak"

 

[Zbaldo]

If you have someone do it then it probably won't be a bad idea to get the valve clearances checked since they'll be there anyway

 

[Diesel_Dog]

For those who have done the job, did it permanently stop the leak /seep? Mine seem to seep a little bit, but I don't notice any oil missing on the dip stick. I've tried torquing them down a bit, cleaning and a couple months later you can see some oil residue on the heads / covers. It doesn't bother me that much, but if new gaskets / lobes / ect would stop the seep I might put it on my list of things to do.

Thoughts?

 

[2fas2c]

My valve covers looked like someone spilt 2 or more liters of oil on them, they pretty much looked black. Since I did the VC's and half moons dry as a bone, not even a hint of a leak.

 

[2fas2c]

To the OP another thing to watch for is do NOT over-tighten the VC bolts I used an inch-lb torque wrench ( sorry I can't remember the spec. ) but from what I remember very little is required to tighten them down, that's why you should be sure to replace the bolt crush washers as they are typically compressed to half their original thickness.

 

[JBurt]

it's very little. 4.7ftlbs or there abouts. tightening them worked for me

 

[Brique]

The spec thread says 53 inch lbs.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

30 mins if you are fast, first time it took me little under 2 hours.

Never in a million years could you do them in 30 min. To simply unbolt the intake manifold and re-bolt everything back up takes 30 min.

I used to do these at the dealership often. I'd say a reasonable time if you've done them before is at the MINIMUM an hour.