I discovered a leak around my #3 spark plug tube at the top where the valve cover sits and won't have time to do a full gasket job this weekend but want to stop the leak. Oil is collecting around my recently repaired plug and I know that can't be good. Was thinking as a quick temp fix I could run some high temp rtv sealant around the gap. When I have time to do the gaskets I can clean it up and do a proper job. Do you think this will work? Is there a better product to use instead of the rtv sealant? I know the right way to do this is to replace the gaskets but time is short this weekend and I don't want another plug to blow out.
Oil leak around top of spark plug tube
- Thread starter snowninja
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LittleCaesar
New member
No, do it right the first time. Tell the relatives your 4runner comes before a turkey on Thursday.
shootmymime
New member
its the spark plug wells, the oring type gaskets are leaking. ive worked on a saturn that had the wells full of oil. imagine that, owner was complaining of an oil leak. so for a quick fix for him for a week i cleaned the oil out of the wells then ran my finger of RTV around the well tube and the head where the gasket it. sealed it right up. make sure you clean, clean clean! the oil off the well walls or else the RTV wont seal.
do that, have fun, this holiday. then spend the hour or so it takes to replace the valve cover gaskets. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/90301-valve-cover-removal-sludge-check-pics.html
ive got a write up for tearing the passenger side valve cover off.
I think your idea is fine for a quick temp fix.
do that, have fun, this holiday. then spend the hour or so it takes to replace the valve cover gaskets. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/90301-valve-cover-removal-sludge-check-pics.html
ive got a write up for tearing the passenger side valve cover off.
I think your idea is fine for a quick temp fix.
98OzarksRunner
New member
Yeah the RTV should work fine for a short-term fix. Clean the oil off with a good solvent so the RTV will stick. Make sure your PCV valve is good. If there is pressure in the crankcase it might force oil out where it normally wouldn't leak.
WillK
New member
Another thing I would suggest is if you have a torque wrench, re-torque the bolts. When I still had my Gen 3 I noticed some small seepage, so I borrowed a torque wrench and re-torqued and it worked.
Some say don't do it as you can damage the gasket. But if it's already leaking, what can it hurt. Be sure to torque to the proper specs...
Wouldn't hurt to try.
Some say don't do it as you can damage the gasket. But if it's already leaking, what can it hurt. Be sure to torque to the proper specs...
Wouldn't hurt to try.
zgensler31
Senior Member
Its not the gasket that you can damage. You can crack the covers, which requires either expensive welding or a new cover. They can loose up, but do not over tighten them.
