Replacing Valve Cover Gasket

[n0rad]

So I have a leak with my valve cover gasket and was wondering if there is anything else I should replace while I have the cover off. I was thinking the spark plugs because I dont think that have ever been changed. I have a '97 Camry LE with around 225k on it.

Thanks.

[Venom_5]

the spark plugs wont be easier to get to with the valve cover off, but they would be a good thing to check/change!

check out th eDIY on Painting the 5S-FE Valve Cover ... thats what i used to replace my gasket, and while the cover was off i sanded & painted it!

[Eye8Pussies]

sparkplug grommets

[TMetalMan]

PCV valve/gasket, if it hasn't been done recently. My '97 5SFE had never had its PCV valve replaced, and I was pretty sure there was an oil leak from the valve cover gasket, so I did both at the same time. Having the valve cover off made it a lot easier to BREAK APART the old PCV valve gasket, since the rubber became extremely brittle.

[Hajoca]

Apart from what is mentioned above, there is nothing really that the valve cover obstructs for making other servicing easier.

But if you have the V6, that is a different situation.

[n0rad]

Hm i never even thought about painting it. That might not be a bad idea.

One other question. Is there any other common areas where oil could be leaking? It was my Toyota dealer that told me the leak was from the valve gasket but they couldn't tell for sure without giving the engine a bath. (There was a cheap multi-point inspection service the dealership was doing so I had to take advantage of it :P)

Thanks!

[94redcoupe]

hey i have a 1994 camry v6 and my valve cover gasket needs replacing and i dont know where to start any suggestions?

[Vagisimo]

Well, I did my valve cover gasket last weekend, my mother almost had a heart attack
watching me do it, anyway, I used a metal putty knife to skrape the old gasket material
and rtv sealant off then acetone and a towel to clean the oil and carbon crystals off of it
then sanded the surfaces with 1000 grit sandpaper then wiped it with acetone again to
make sure the mating surfaces were clean and shiny, put the rtv sealant in the corners
dropped in the valve cover with the new gasket attched dropped in the tube seals torqued down the tube nuts to 17 ft lbs, and drove straight to the hosiptal to give my mom a ride back home. no leaks anymore

I forgot to mention digging out the old spark plug tube seals with the same flathead screwdriver that i used to pry off the valve cover, and the pcv valve gasket.

I also broke my pcv valve, so before I could leave for the hospital i put the broken pcv valve in and plugged the tube for it that goes to the intake with a 3inch ratchet extension, also there is a tube on the side of the valve cover that cracked when I tried to put it back on, I didnt know there was one or what it is for until I changed the gasket.

anyone know what the tube on the side is for ?

[Venom_5]

^ the tube on the side goes to the intake or plenum (1MZ or 5S-FE)

[KaMLuNg]

Originally Posted by 94redcoupe

hey i have a 1994 camry v6 and my valve cover gasket needs replacing and i dont know where to start any suggestions?

i just did this today on a 94 camry. xle v6... and it is a B!TCH and a half... if i were you, i would pay someone to do it... it took me and my uncle about 5 hrs... the front 3 cyl are easy... but the rear half of the engine is under the intake manifold... you have to remove all that to get to the valve cover...

[KaMLuNg]

here are some pics... i wish they still made cars this reliable... not bad for 240k+ miles...