Intake Plenum on 5VZ-FE

[Mudflaps]

Just a quick question.....does anyone know what is an appropriate replacement gasket/gasket material for the intake plenum on a 5VZ? I know they come with the funky metal gaskets, but could anybody tell me what options I have for replacement and what is better or worse as far as metal or paper gaskets? I know not much in this field


".....asking for a friend :becky: "

 

[mtbtim]

The OEM Toyota gaskets are the best you can get. Why try to reinvent the wheel? Just use the high quality Toyota plenum gaskets and call it a day. The advice I just gave you can be said for all the gaskets, seals, and parts on these rigs. You can't go wrong with OEM but quite often you can go majorly wrong with aftermarket. Aftermarket does has it's place though but not for things like gaskets and seals and other parts on the engine.

 

[Devbot]

Literally nothing wrong with felpro gaskets. $40 for a plenum/manifold set online. When I went through my knock sensor fiasco people like Napa and O'Reilly's wanted to charge $150+ for OEM gaskets. Outrageous.

 

[gamefreakgc]

The plenum is machined flat like the heads from the factory, which is why it has metal gaskets like the heads. If yours look like mine did, they had been removed one too many times and got scratched up and didn't seal as well anymore and the metal gaskets weren't a perfect seal anymore. The Felpro gaskets have a small rubber lip on the gasket surface to make up for these imperfections over time.

Either will work. If yours is beat up, Felpro will work better. A sanding job with some fine grit sandpaper can also help.

 

[under40daddy]

Chiming in to confirm: also had a knock sensor issue, I've had no issues with my felpros.

 

[Mudflaps]

Thanks for all the quick responses. I appreciate the advice about the OEM stuff being best bet, as well as the advice about the FEL-PROs. Seems to be a recurring pattern with OEM Toyota parts (imagine that). Now I get to play the "whose-got-it-and-what-price-for-how-much-shipping" game :decision:. I've never had an issue with FEL-PRO stuff before, but I know every engine has it's own quirks that arent always readily apparent.

Off to the auto parts

 

[photoleif]

Thanks for all the quick responses. I appreciate the advice about the OEM stuff being best bet, as well as the advice about the FEL-PROs. Seems to be a recurring pattern with OEM Toyota parts (imagine that). Now I get to play the "whose-got-it-and-what-price-for-how-much-shipping" game :decision:. I've never had an issue with FEL-PRO stuff before, but I know every engine has it's own quirks that arent always readily apparent.

Off to the auto parts

i went with the vincos gasket set for a 5VZ-FE engine replacement and it has worked fine for two years. B01HOGIVUS is the amazon asin. at the time it was mis-labeled as for a chevy 3800 or something, but it was indeed appropriate for our engines. it was very nice having *every* gasket and washer and such that you'd need. i got a second of these for another 5VZ-FE to do some other maintenance including water pump, and again the label was goofy but the parts were right.

edit: your sig about your clock is hilarious! i had to get a refurb for mine.

 

[timoboy]

The plenum is machined flat like the heads from the factory, which is why it has metal gaskets like the heads. If yours look like mine did, they had been removed one too many times and got scratched up and didn't seal as well anymore and the metal gaskets weren't a perfect seal anymore. The Felpro gaskets have a small rubber lip on the gasket surface to make up for these imperfections over time.

Either will work. If yours is beat up, Felpro will work better. A sanding job with some fine grit sandpaper can also help.

Also don't overlook copper spray sealant. I've successfully reused OEM metal Toyota gaskets in the past by cleaning and then spraying with copper gasket sealant which will make up for all the little imperfections in the aluminum casting and gaskets. Not always the way to go but works in a pinch.

 

[Mudflaps]

Ohkay

So, back with an update.

I ended up going with a set of FEL-PROs

the only stupid question I have is....do these blue rings on the gasket face outward? away from the intake plenum like this:



or the opposite? lol

Thanks

-flaps

 

[Devbot]

Ohkay

So, back with an update.

I ended up going with a set of FEL-PROs

the only stupid question I have is....do these blue rings on the gasket face outward? away from the intake plenum like this:

View attachment 379587

or the opposite? lol

Thanks

-flaps

How would your car know the difference? Think about it

 

[Mudflaps]

How would your car know the difference? Think about it

I would assume they aren't on only one face of the gasket for a reason, but then again I am asking for advice.:wink2:

 

[Devbot]

I would assume they aren't on only one face of the gasket for a reason, but then again I am asking for advice.:wink2:

I'd assume because a gasket's only function is to act as a median between two faces being joined and help achieve a seal - if it can do so as is, doubling up on the material is simply wasting it twice as fast. And in this application both surfaces being joined are a mirror image of one another, and would therefore make zero difference as to which side the blue material is on. Probably stands reason to assume if they went in a certain way then there would be instructions telling you so, since this is a one-time part and failing to include any would surely mean lots of people putting them in backwards and ruining them instantly, and thinking the product is crap as a result since it didn't work. Just the way I see it.

 

[cl4Rk]

I would assume they aren't on only one face of the gasket for a reason, but then again I am asking for advice.:wink2:

Took me a minute to see what your are talking about. There are blue rings on the surface of the gasket only on one side. Interesting. I have no clue!

 

[gamefreakgc]

I always put the rubber side on whatever side is more rough. Very scientific I know. Put it face up with the rubber upwards on the lower intake manifold though.

 

[Mudflaps]

I'd assume because a gasket's only function is to act as a median between two faces being joined and help achieve a seal - if it can do so as is, doubling up on the material is simply wasting it twice as fast. And in this application both surfaces being joined are a mirror image of one another, and would therefore make zero difference as to which side the blue material is on. Probably stands reason to assume if they went in a certain way then there would be instructions telling you so, since this is a one-time part and failing to include any would surely mean lots of people putting them in backwards and ruining them instantly, and thinking the product is crap as a result since it didn't work. Just the way I see it.

I mean these are all good points. I guess I have a tendency to be neurotic when it comes to these things. I just dont want to be the guy who assumes lol.

 

[Mudflaps]

I always put the rubber side on whatever side is more rough. Very scientific I know. Put it face up with the rubber upwards on the lower intake manifold though.

I see what you are thinking...I think, the weight from the intake and the vibration of the engine; the rubber rings facing up from the lower intake give the upper intake a cushioned surface to rest on?

 

[Bad Luck]

I see what you are thinking...I think, the weight from the intake and the vibration of the engine; the rubber rings facing up from the lower intake give the upper intake a cushioned surface to rest on?

Considering the OEM seal is metal I wouldn't worry about which way is up or down

 

[3bears]

I used felpro when I did my knock sensors and had no issues. ( did use real denso knock sensors and toyota harness) I beleive for the plenuim I went rubber up. I cleaned all surfaces really well. Had no issues or leaks.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I see what you are thinking...I think, the weight from the intake and the vibration of the engine; the rubber rings facing up from the lower intake give the upper intake a cushioned surface to rest on?

Lower intake manifold is rarely removed, so the surface on it is often unmarred. Can't say the same for the plenum, so rubber goes on the plenum.

 

[Hunter223]

Went to replace mine with the felpro set due to an expected leak and there were two of the metal gaskets between the two halves of the plenum (upper interface) but just one at the lower interface between the plenum and intake manifold. Should I be doubling up at the upper location? I have found one place online that says you do but nothing else that seems to confirm that. TIA