1st & 2nd Generation (1983–1986 & 1987-1991)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1983-1986 & 1987-1991.
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Any help/advice/tricks involving the replacement of the valve cover gasket on my 1986 Toyota Camry DLX with 2.0 L SE gasoline engine would be greatly appreciated.
Any help/advice/tricks involving the replacement of the valve cover gasket on my 1986 Toyota Camry DLX with 2.0 L SE gasoline engine would be greatly appreciated.
Its a very easy job...
Remove spark plug wires, move wiring harness from timing side of engine (loosen the two bolts), remove the 4 large nuts on the spark plug tubes, and pop the cover off. Clean up the mating surfaces, put small dabs of silicone on all the corners (cam cap, etc) and reinstall everything. The big nuts have a torque spec around 13 ft-lbs, if I remember correctly - not very tight at all.
-Charlie
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1989 Camry Alltrac LE 3S-GTE 5spd - SV25/ST205 hybrid
1990 Camry 3S-GTE 5spd - parted out / junked
1990 Camry DX 3S-FE 5spd - The original white90dx; gone but not forgotten
Remove spark plug wires, move wiring harness from timing side of engine (loosen the two bolts), remove the 4 large nuts on the spark plug tubes, and pop the cover off. Clean up the mating surfaces, put small dabs of silicone on all the corners (cam cap, etc) and reinstall everything. The big nuts have a torque spec around 13 ft-lbs, if I remember correctly - not very tight at all.
-Charlie
Pretty much.
This I think is more towards the 3SFE engine due to the spark plug tubes. The 2SE has the spark plugs in the front and open (underneath the distributor)
I gotta do my valve cover....but while I'm in there, is there anything else I can easily do? Mines sounds like a diesel...lol
^ This is not all necessary on the 2SE engine in his 86 Camry. The spark plugs do not go through the top of the valve cover on that engine; they install from the front side of the head. Just remove the 2 cap nuts on the top of the valve cover (there may be a spark plug wire holder under one of the cap nuts) and the cover should come right off. There are no big 30MM nuts on this cam cover like on all newer Camry 4 cylinder engines (3SFE, 5SFE, etc.) There are 2 studs underneath the come up from the head that those 2 cap nuts screw on to. You made need to lightly tap the cam cover to remove it after all those years. You will also not need any silicone for this engine's cam cover. The new rubber gasket simply fits in to a grove in the cam cover. Reinstall the cam cover and reinstall and tighten down those 2 cap nuts and you are done.
I did my valve cover gasket today. Pretty easy job. My old valve cover gasket was shot...when I took off the four bolts, the cover just sorta pop off...never had to pry it off! lol.
Note to everybody, if you are gonna do your valve cover gasket, MAKE SURE you CHECK your PCV hose, the house on the back of the valve cover going to the tb and grommet along with the gromment for the 4 bolts. They are most likey ALL dry rotted if they have been soaking in oil for a few years + heat. My hose on the back of the valve cover cracked...eblieve it is only a dealer only hose though. I'll post a tread on it for DIY folks.
On the side note, I adjuesting my distributor straight up while I was doing my cover because it was tilting right. When I did, the car ran without power and sounded a little off. does adjuesting the distributor affect timing or something because when I returned it to the position it was in before, the can ran fine.
Rotating the distributor changes ignition timing. It does not adjust mechanical timing between the camshafts and crankshaft. I would advise you to acquire a timing light and time the engine, unless you marked the distributor in two locations (which can be re-aligned upon installation). Good luck
Yes it does, as you found out. It effects when the spark plug in each cylinder will fire in relationship to the piston coming up on top dead center (TDC) of the compression stroke.
Remove spark plug wires, move wiring harness from timing side of engine (loosen the two bolts), remove the 4 large nuts on the spark plug tubes, and pop the cover off. Clean up the mating surfaces, put small dabs of silicone on all the corners (cam cap, etc) and reinstall everything. The big nuts have a torque spec around 13 ft-lbs, if I remember correctly - not very tight at all.
I was reading something about the distributor seal, and how it may leak and puddle oil on top the tran. (90 Camry 4-banger) When replaced the valve cover gasket, plug tube gaskets, is it recommended to swap this distributor seal as well? If so I'll get one of those as well.
Awesome how easy the valve cover gasket can be swapped.
Definitely replace the O-ring in the distributor, they dry up and harden, sometimes they leak so badly they almost pour oil.
__________________ 2000 Lexus ES300 Millenium Edition1MZ-FE 64,000 Km 1993 Camry V6 LE3VZ-FE 164,000 Km SOLD but still in the family 1990 Camry LE2VZ-FE 202,000 Km 1987 Camry LE3S-FE 435,000 Km 1971 Corolla 2-door Coupe2T-C 260,000 miles
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