Spark Plug Tube Seal Replacement / Install

[yotaah]

So, I am in the middle of a round of maintenance on my 1999 Limited V6.
I have some interesting findings on the timing belt replacement I will share when I am finished but right now I am replacing the valve cover gaskets and also the spark plug tube seals.

Does anyone know the correct way to get the new spark plug tube seals into the valve cover? Mine are super tight and I seem to be trying too hard and getting nowhere.

Thanks in advance!

 

[yotaah]

FYI - After a little more searching I found out you need to press them in with a large socket and/or block of wood with a hammer, being careful not to damage the valve cover. You mayhave to bend the retainer tab to get them in there correctly.
Anyone else have any experience with this?

 

[Pyral]

I'm replacing mine right now because it leaked. The old one was aftermarket and they used a little gasket maker.

Are you suppose to put gasket maker on the spark plug tube seal, or is friction fit good enough?

 

[Devbot]

I'm replacing mine right now because it leaked. The old one was aftermarket and they used a little gasket maker.

Are you suppose to put gasket maker on the spark plug tube seal, or is friction fit good enough?

You could use something like Loctite 620 or 680 which is great at sealing and retaining pressure/friction fits. It's just gonna make it harder for you or the next person to pull out if they ever have to. But it'll seal good. We used to do that with almost everything we replaced at my job just for the sake of it.
I've never worked on a 3RZ so take this all with a grain of salt. Hell I've never known anybody who replaced a spark plug tube, I don't even know how you get those suckers out. :noidea:

 

[Pyral]

To do the spark plug tube I think you pull the head. I’m doing the gasket that seals the top of the tube with the valve cover.

 

[BuffaloBass]

the seals are cheap, I wouldnt use RTV. They are simply a loose press fit with a tab on one side. They go in and out under that tab is all. Too easy. although they maybe stubborn to get out, here is where you can use the butt of a hammer to get them out.

 

[Pyral]

I found the procedure in the fsm. It instructs to put some ep moly grease on the outside of the seal, which is super helpful.

A 35 mm socket is the size you want to push the seal in. A 36 mm works if you have a another large socket size to push it in the last way.

The inner side of the gasket is shaped like a cone, the taper should face upwards like a volcano to guide the tube through.

Dont buy the blue aftermarket gaskets, they’re garbage and won’t last. From experience.

 

[mtbtim]

I found the procedure in the fsm. It instructs to put some ep moly grease on the outside of the seal, which is super helpful.

A 35 mm socket is the size you want to push the seal in. A 36 mm works if you have a another large socket size to push it in the last way.

The inner side of the gasket is shaped like a cone, the taper should face upwards like a volcano to guide the tube through.

Dont buy the blue aftermarket gaskets, they’re garbage and won’t last. From experience.

We show the procedure to replace the spark plug tube seals in this video. It's for the 5VZ engine, but the technique is the same. You don't use sealant of any type for the installation of spark plug tube seals.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N5fAXAuGozI?si=WdLYuT3q5RWbuJ0G" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>