New member here :) Just a few questions.

[Combat Medic]

Hey guys, I tried searching, still had a few questions. I just picked up a 2000 4runner, V6 2wd. 199,999k on the clock. Timing belt was done at 123xxx, they wrote on the transfercase (rear-diff) 192k (not sure what that means, maybe when the fluid was changed?).

I was poking around in the engine, and every valve cover bolt was loose. I tightened them all up pretty good, is this normal? I did an oil change, topped off all the fluids, will try to do radiator flush this weekend. Any of you guys have high mileage such as mine? And is there anything I should do for preventative maintenance?

Thank you in advance :hatsoff:

 

[LittleCaesar]

Just don't tighten the valve cover bolts too tight, but they do come loose with time.

Check for leaky rear seals.

 

[Combat Medic]

I guess the main thing from over-tightening is stripping the bolt? Or warping the gasket?

 

[gvansickle]

Fuel problems

We have a 1998 T4R with almost 200K miles. It is running very rough and using a lot of gas. It has been suggested that there is to much oil coated on the engine from a small oil leak around the valve cover gasket. My question is can oil getting on the spark plugs cause the engine to run really bad and use a LOt of gas? Also can it be a fire hazard? The spark plugs have been changed recently and one coil. The shop we took it to wants to charge almost 1000 doallars to change the valve cover gasket, new spark plugs, wires, pcv valve, and BG fuel induction kit. Also something called Import Direct (IDI) whatever that is for 136.00 dollars. I need some suggestions on what to do to get my 4runner to run good again.

 

[theizzardking]

Hey guys, I tried searching, still had a few questions. I just picked up a 2000 4runner, V6 2wd. 199,999k on the clock. Timing belt was done at 123xxx, they wrote on the transfercase (rear-diff) 192k (not sure what that means, maybe when the fluid was changed?).

I was poking around in the engine, and every valve cover bolt was loose. I tightened them all up pretty good, is this normal? I did an oil change, topped off all the fluids, will try to do radiator flush this weekend. Any of you guys have high mileage such as mine? And is there anything I should do for preventative maintenance?

Thank you in advance :hatsoff:

240k here, just keep doing what your doing, and have a look in your maintenance schedule in the back your owners manual, it'll tell you a few other things like greasing zerks and such.

main thing like any older car or truck just keep an eye on things andcehck the fluids every couple of weeks or once a month & change the fluids
as necessary

 

[theizzardking]

We have a 1998 T4R with almost 200K miles. It is running very rough and using a lot of gas. It has been suggested that there is to much oil coated on the engine from a small oil leak around the valve cover gasket. My question is can oil getting on the spark plugs cause the engine to run really bad and use a LOt of gas? Also can it be a fire hazard? The spark plugs have been changed recently and one coil. The shop we took it to wants to charge almost 1000 doallars to change the valve cover gasket, new spark plugs, wires, pcv valve, and BG fuel induction kit. Also something called Import Direct (IDI) whatever that is for 136.00 dollars. I need some suggestions on what to do to get my 4runner to run good again.

maybe you should start your own thread on this own here and give us a few more clues, sounds like you have alot going on, the shop could be right on the money or the shop could just be throwing parts at it till something sticks but there's not enough in this post to work with. to answer the answerable questions listed above

1.My question is can oil getting on the spark plugs cause the engine to run really bad and use a LOt of gas?

possibly, but that would take alot, i mean alot of oil, as basically it would have to soak the boot so bad that it would start fouling the plug from the top as opposed to the bottom (inside the motor) which is far more common.
this could happen but it wouldn't be from a small leak, but a massive one.

2.Also can it be a fire hazard?

if there is truly that much oil seeping over the top of your block and plugs then yes, but again i am very very doubtful you're leaking that much oil from the covers to cause this to happen.


i also think there is more going on here and your just not following what the shop is telling you, maybe call back and ask them what each part is for and what will it fix, it helps newbies to understand when things are itemized like that, you know a shop "saying i'm replacing the idi because it failed like this...." is often very helpful to you and really helpful to us to help figure out whats going on and if the shop is being honest or not.

 

[Combat Medic]

240k here, just keep doing what your doing, and have a look in your maintenance schedule in the back your owners manual, it'll tell you a few other things like greasing zerks and such.

main thing like any older car or truck just keep an eye on things andcehck the fluids every couple of weeks or once a month & change the fluids
as necessary

Sounds good Thanks for the tips. I'd like to get 300k out of the motor

 

[theizzardking]

warping the gasket

words go here

oh another thing exercise your 4x4 every couple of weeks and your locker as well if you have one.

 

[badattitude]

The oil on your spark plugs is likely caused by the bad valve cover gasket.