This...this is VERY bad isn't it?

[fblainen11]

It's really not too bad. If you can change a tire you can probably do this.

Look up how to change valve cover gaskets.
Also, might as well change the spark plugs and wires while you're in there.
It isn't a hard job.

 

[sambishop]

I have a valve cover for you. If you're interested PM me

 

[scrapper]

I have a valve cover for you. If you're interested PM me

Oh man, I just ordered one about five minutes ago.

Thank you though. I appreciate it.

 

[4Runner4TW]

Oh man, I just ordered one about five minutes ago.

Thank you though. I appreciate it.

I over torqed mine awhile back. Pulled one from a junk yard and replaced it (took me a year to get to it though!) was an easy job; just a lot of disassembled

 

[mtbtim]

I appreciate your quick replies. I'm no mechanic so this isn't the first
time you've helped me out.
I'll be searching for replacement parts today in between working and
cursing my mechanic.

Dude, most auto repairs and maintenance jobs are pretty straight forward. With the right information and tools, people can handle most jobs. The fact we have a wealth of information at our fingertips due to the internet, it really has made auto mechanics much easier to tackle. This forum alone is a wealth of information. I've learned tons from the dudes on here.

Now, if you said you wanted to do a V8 swap, and you had little automotive wrenching experience, I'd say you're way in over your head.

Take up the challenge and learn to wrench on your rig. You'll learn a lot, you'll save lots of money, you'll have the peace of mind the job was done right and you'll enjoy the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that comes with doing your own wrenching.

Here, I'll get you started with a video that [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] and I made to launch our YouTube channel Timmy the Toolman. Good luck and Happy Wrenching!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N5fAXAuGozI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[3bears]

if you are reluctant to handle this job, here is an idea. go back to the main forum page, scroll down past all the different generations of 4runners, then past all the vendors. You will then find clubs. Click on American 4runners club...or some title like that, select your region, and then start a thread in your region, like looking for a good reliable shop near.......
or looking for someone to help me do .....

you might meet some neat people in your area and maybe even another 4runner owner in your area that might want to help you out, and become friends and start hitting trails together.

but a lot of people don't look often at this area, some not at all, so don't expect a fast answer

or even start a thread in both this forum and that one

looking for a shop in.......

you never know

 

[Kanoe]

Oh man, I just ordered one about five minutes ago.

Thank you though. I appreciate it.

You will be a happier person if you order the sealing washers too. From the pics yours look way oversquished. Better to have the new on hand.

And check the torque spec before anyone puts that new cover on!

 

[3bears]

and of course the valve cover gaskets and all related

 

[3bears]

You will be a happier person if you order the sealing washers too. From the pics yours look way oversquished. Better to have the new on hand.

And check the torque spec before anyone puts that new cover on!

Kanoe
actually commenting on your signature.
selling my corolla wagon after getting my 4runner was a mistake, wish I could find another one in good shape, great bullet proof little commuters and loved the mpg

 

[scrapper]

if you are reluctant to handle this job, here is an idea. go back to the main forum page, scroll down past all the different generations of 4runners, then past all the vendors. You will then find clubs. Click on American 4runners club...or some title like that, select your region, and then start a thread in your region, like looking for a good reliable shop near.......
or looking for someone to help me do .....

you might meet some neat people in your area and maybe even another 4runner owner in your area that might want to help you out, and become friends and start hitting trails together.

but a lot of people don't look often at this area, some not at all, so don't expect a fast answer

or even start a thread in both this forum and that one

looking for a shop in.......

you never know

Interesting. And no, I didn't know it existed.

Thanks for letting me know. Very cool.

 

[scrapper]

Parts ordered

I took this earlier in the week which led to the oil discovery.
She's not my daily driver now so who knows how long oils been leaking.

I un-built her almost entirely last spring. Probably not too popular here
as well as why "un-built" isn't a word.
Don't hate!

 

[poleclimber63]

no big deal...

...as long as you didnt drive it too far after noticing the leak. Could you still see oil on the dip stick?

Anyways, as others have said, replace all gaskets. Not a huge job. The crappiest part is cleaning the inside of the VC's and removing the plug tube seals. Be careful that you dont install the new ones upside down!
Also replace the plenum gaskets x2--- one on the manifold to lower plenum and one between the lower and upper plenum. Oh, replace the throttle body gasket as well, because when it leaks, it commonly causes high idle. When you get it apart, be careful that when you clean the heads you don't get any gasket material down the drain holes and clean off the mating surfaces well. Its a good idea to pull the half moon "plugs" out from the rear of the heads and replace the sealant. When you replace the VC's, tighten the bolts EVENLY--- I think the spec is 140 in-LBS that's roughly 12 ft-LBS, not very tight! Hence, the cracked VC! In fact, a really common reason VC's leak after install is OVER-TIGHTENING.
So, if you have to replace a VC and remove the plenum, you might as well do both sides, as you will probably never have to do it again! This is an afternoons' job with a couple of beers. Good luck.
PS. the parts are really cheap from Rock Auto Fel-Pro $25, plenum $14, TB $1.50...

Good luck!

 

[scrapper]

...as long as you didnt drive it too far after noticing the leak. Could you still see oil on the dip stick?

Anyways, as others have said, replace all gaskets. Not a huge job. The crappiest part is cleaning the inside of the VC's and removing the plug tube seals. Be careful that you dont install the new ones upside down!
Also replace the plenum gaskets x2--- one on the manifold to lower plenum and one between the lower and upper plenum. Oh, replace the throttle body gasket as well, because when it leaks, it commonly causes high idle. When you get it apart, be careful that when you clean the heads you don't get any gasket material down the drain holes and clean off the mating surfaces well. Its a good idea to pull the half moon "plugs" out from the rear of the heads and replace the sealant. When you replace the VC's, tighten the bolts EVENLY--- I think the spec is 140 in-LBS that's roughly 12 ft-LBS, not very tight! Hence, the cracked VC! In fact, a really common reason VC's leak after install is OVER-TIGHTENING.
So, if you have to replace a VC and remove the plenum, you might as well do both sides, as you will probably never have to do it again! This is an afternoons' job with a couple of beers. Good luck.
PS. the parts are really cheap from Rock Auto Fel-Pro $25, plenum $14, TB $1.50...

Good luck!

Thank you!
I swear the people here are like no others.
You guys are the best.
Thankfully yes, my oil level wasn't even low when I checked it
nor has it ever been (thankfully) so no harm was done while I was
oblivious!

 

[LittleCaesar]

Un no, the torque for those bolts is only 53 in/lbs or 4.42 foot/lbs. As long as you have access to a torque wrench that reads 5 ft/lbs you will be fine.

 

[scrapper]

Un no, the torque for those bolts is only 53 in/lbs or 4.42 foot/lbs. As long as you have access to a torque wrench that reads 5 ft/lbs you will be fine.

You're the man! Thank you!

 

[TheDurk]

Un no, the torque for those bolts is only 53 in/lbs or 4.42 foot/lbs. As long as you have access to a torque wrench that reads 5 ft/lbs you will be fine.

However, I would not recommend just using a wrench whose bottom scale number is 5 ft.-lbs. In general, you should operate between 20 and 80 per cent of the high limit of your wrench. So you need a wrench that goes no higher than 25 foot-lbs. Don't use a 5-80 wrench on the bottom number.

 

[scrapper]

ETA is September 1st

So I appreciate the replies- it will not be in my feeble hands until then!
What did we do before the intraweb and this
Plethora of info?
For one thing - we overtightened the
Hell out of shit like this! Thank you.

 

[Kanoe]

Kanoe
actually commenting on your signature.
selling my corolla wagon after getting my 4runner was a mistake, wish I could find another one in good shape, great bullet proof little commuters and loved the mpg

Hey,

I'm pretty fond of the corolla too. We sold a much newer Cavalier once I found the wagon. It was a project, had not seen any love in a long time. The mileage was low and the body is really, really good. I had to put suspension and brakes all around so it's been pricey but it was worth saving. Yes, it is considerably cheaper on gas and it keeps the daily miles off the 4runner. Keep looking, you just need to find a granny selling one. The hard part is getting one before someone else snatches it up!

 

[poleclimber63]

Hey,

I'm pretty fond of the corolla too. We sold a much newer Cavalier once I found the wagon. It was a project, had not seen any love in a long time. The mileage was low and the body is really, really good. I had to put suspension and brakes all around so it's been pricey but it was worth saving. Yes, it is considerably cheaper on gas and it keeps the daily miles off the 4runner. Keep looking, you just need to find a granny selling one. The hard part is getting one before someone else snatches it up!

We have a 4R, Corolla and a Celica (as well as an Accord and Lancer) in our driveway. My father passed his Corolla onto me 14yrs ago. We drove that car all over Western Canada and the US when the kids were young with a massive car top carrier over many Summers! I drove it back and forth to work for years and all my kids learned to drive in it! Two of them drove it back and forth to College, as well! This last Spring, I decided to pass the Corolla onto my youngest son. To ensure it stayed reliable after 270K, I decided to do some needed work to it. I found the exact car, in excellent condition, at the Pick N' Pull and I stripped it bare. My son helped in this process--- a great lesson in vehicle maintenance. We replaced front and rear suspension, brakes and hubs all around, TB, WP, VC gasket, power steering pump, Alt, neutral safety sw (it was acting up) AND all 4 tires. We even sanded, POR15 and re-painted the rocker panels and lower area of the front and rear fenders... it should last another 5yrs!! An amazing car! My Celica is now my DD... The 4Runner should last many years to come!

 

[poleclimber63]

OOps,

Un no, the torque for those bolts is only 53 in/lbs or 4.42 foot/lbs. As long as you have access to a torque wrench that reads 5 ft/lbs you will be fine.

I was working, unfortunately, from memory, and I was, at the time, pretty confident with the number, however, I stand corrected! I definitely remember the low torque spec and pulled a seldom used small vane style torque wrench out of my tool chest... Next time, before I quote torque numbers, I'll double check with the SM on my computer...