Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

[FirstGenRunner]

88, 3vze, 95K

The covers are leaking pretty regularly. It used to be 10W40 would be enough to stop the leak but that's not enough any more, so I'm just trying to get a parts list together for the job. Going through the forums and FSM I believe this is what I need to pick up. Is there anything else I'm missing? Also, what are your thoughts on gasket manufacturers...Felpro vs. Factory? How long has it taken you guys to complete this job? It seems pretty straight forward, any 'gotchas' that you know of?

List:
Valve cover gaskets
Pleunum gasket
PCV Valve
PCV grommet
EGR Valve gasket
Cold Start Injector gasket

What about the knock sensor? Any feeling on this? Should this be replaced at this time as well?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Moustache]

Dont forget about the throttle body gasket, it gets pretty brittle over time. And you may want to pick up some extra rubber hose for vacuum lines. you will be disconnecting most of them and if your luck is anything like mine, you'll probably crack/split a few removing them.

 

[Hyde802]

Knock sensor is under the intake manifold, and the heads need to come off for that.

 

[fishrod]

Im looking at getting this done as well. Oil leaking from top of engine somewhere, we think its the Valve Cover Gaskets.

Can anyone say how long this takes to do or how long the FSM says?

 

[run4yota]

the job is not that hard at all, a kib can do it if he took the proper preperation steps. i'd say expect about 2 hours for a fast paced and experienced mechanic, and about 3 hours (grand total) for a first timer or mild mechanic experience. if your going to replace hoses add an hour to that time frame. (which i 2nd moustache on it being a good idea regardless because those line get brittle over time) (side note i looove your avatar moustache)

preperation, take pictures of all the hoses and plugs hooked up where they belong ( for backup's sake) and then tag all of them with color or number coding... then take pictures again (trust me an extra 5 min of taking pictures can save you hours of pondering later)

next step in preperation and this one cannot be skipped (very important!)... go crack a beer (i prefere two) and then start un pluging your hoses and moving wires to get them outof the way. make sure the you dont crack the fuel line for the cold start injector, just remove the two nuts and gentally pull it out of the way.

remove intake tube and bolts for upper intake manifold. (when i did mine i left the throttle body in place.) remove the EGR valve and throttle cables and you should be ready to just lift the whole thing off. the rest doesnt really need explaining other than follow the torque sequence and specs when putting the valve covers on, and i personally would recommend using a good sealant on the valve cover gaskets.. this is not charmin ultra and less is not more, use a decent amount and let your car sitover night and cure the rtv.

as far as the knock sensor is concerned. the lower plenum needs to be removed to gain acess to it. kinda a pain. although i cant tell you how many 4runnin friends i have (myself included) that have literally just touched our wire and found that we have just broken the sensor or connector. if it's the original sensor i would recommend replacing it, they break easly. i went to a local junk yard and replaced my plug and wire with one off a newer yota v6 (they're really all the same) and it was like 5 bucks. if you decide to change th knock sensor, add an easy 2 hours to total job time, the plenum is a pain to put back down and requires a special torque sequence.

last advise i have is buy all new coolant lines and while your in there just change them out, they (like the vaccum lines) deteriorate. and a leaking vac line will throw a code, a burst coolant line can get you stuck on the side of the road or even worse broke down on a trail.

jus my .02 hope it helps

 

[FirstGenRunner]

Thanks for all the help. Will let you know how it goes. Along the same lines, came across this link that I think will help some too.

Valve cover gasket replacement - Page 2 - YotaTech Forums

 

[4runner_kid]

Knock sensor is under the intake manifold, and the heads need to come off for that.

You must not know the V6? Head's DO NOT need to come off for the knock sensor, i have done plenty in my day's.

 

[Hyde802]

You must not know the V6? Head's DO NOT need to come off for the knock sensor, i have done plenty in my day's.

I need to stop drinking and posting. :bash: Im really pretty good at the the ole veezee. haha.

 

[run4yota]

hey like a said before those beers are an important part of the process!

 

[4runner_kid]

I need to stop drinking and posting. :bash: Im really pretty good at the the ole veezee. haha.

:happens:

 

[fishrod]

88, 3vze, 95K

The covers are leaking pretty regularly. It used to be 10W40 would be enough to stop the leak but that's not enough any more, so I'm just trying to get a parts list together for the job. Going through the forums and FSM I believe this is what I need to pick up. Is there anything else I'm missing? Also, what are your thoughts on gasket manufacturers...Felpro vs. Factory? How long has it taken you guys to complete this job? It seems pretty straight forward, any 'gotchas' that you know of?

List:
Valve cover gaskets
Pleunum gasket
PCV Valve
PCV grommet
EGR Valve gasket
Cold Start Injector gasket

What about the knock sensor? Any feeling on this? Should this be replaced at this time as well?

Thanks in advance.

Does everyone still recommend the Plenum Gasket be done as well? Looking at an extra $110 for the gasket up here at Napa Canada. Will it add much time to the job?

 

[Hyde802]

In most cases its very brittle and it breaks when taken it off.

 

[90 t4r]

110 for a plenum gasket really, wow i have an extra one in the back of my truck and one from the parts store is like 5 bucks cant imagine paying that much for that one little gasket