cam plug/seal oil leak - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

blacknbluedog · 04-28-2009, 05:12 PM

I have a 98 4 cyl. I replaced the valve cover gasket and cleaned/sealed the semicircular plug with RTV due to an oil leak. What I failed to do was to replace and reseal the plug/seal at the transmission side of the head. Some of the leak had stopped but it still leaks and it seems to come from this area. So now I will have to remove the valve cover and do it again. Does anyone know what the torque spec is on the bolts that hold down the cap on the seal/plug? Don't be a bonehead like me. If you have an oil leak that emanates from the valve cover area be sure to clean and reseal the semicircular plugs, replace and seal the cam plug/seal and use sealer at the semicircular plugs and cam caps where they mate with the valve cover.
aloha

hill8570 · 04-28-2009, 05:38 PM

See http://www.camrystuff.com/manuals/Ge...hanical_I4.pdf page 57 for the sealing points for the valve cover.

The nuts for the valve cover torque to 33 ft-lbs. Normally a good idea to re-torque after a few weeks...the gasket tends to compress.

blacknbluedog · 04-28-2009, 05:53 PM

hill8570 thanks for the info. Hopefully this is the end of my leak. I really appreciate it.
Thanks

jeffbreeden · 04-30-2009, 08:08 PM

Let me know if this works. I have a 97 that I have had the valve cover gasket replaced several times and it still is leaking on the side closest to the transmision. I also know there is a plug / seal that is used to cover the hole where the distributor would go if our cars had one and that might also be a place where we could have some oil leakage.

It will be very helpful to find out what you learn

blacknbluedog · 05-04-2009, 07:33 PM

Jeff, today makes 3 days since I replaced the plug and no detectable leak thus far. The plug is slightly oversized so when its installed it may be a good idea to use RTV as a sealant and lube. The plug will not want to bottom in the cutout and when you put the cap on and snug it down the rubber coating will pinch between the cap and the head. I dont know how the factory does it but when I installed it it pinched so I resorted to the sealer. The pinch would have gone unnoticed but I kinda anticipated it when I dry fitted it so after initial tghtening I decided to check and sure enough a tiny bit of rubber was pinched between the cap and head on both sides. Good luck.

blacknbluedog · 05-04-2009, 07:49 PM

Jeff, if you use genuine parts; spark plug grommets $5.48 ea., valve cover gasket $15.42, cam plug $3.94. I had checked prices at NAPA and they were almost the same. I think genuine is a safer way to go.

1996camry · 05-04-2009, 10:47 PM

I have had replaced new cover gasket on my brother Toyota 2000 4 cylinder, but I still have small leak near the transmission side and the corner on the distrubutor side.

Jeff, I look at the manual link on this page above... still has a question... It is necessary to apply seal packing to semi-circular? Refer to page 57 on the manual link above... Where is the semi-circular? is that locate near the distruutor side? how do you remove it? how do i remove it? Is that the cause leaks on distrubutor side?...

What cause the leak on the transmission side after replaced new cover gasket?

someone has done this before and has experience on cover gasket to share your expert and thing to avoid and thing should do..

jmborchers · 05-05-2009, 06:18 AM

for finding leaks. A lot of times oil ends up somewhere it didn't originate from. This may cause to chase leaks which don't exist in that area.

The dealer guide calls out 33 ft lbs and torquing multiple passes as the gasket compresses.

jmborchers · 05-05-2009, 06:23 AM

Semis are moon shaped metal pieces which slide into the head. When you replaced the head cover gasket did you use a few dabs of silicone sealant over the seams where the semi circulars are? If you don't there will be a gap oil can pretty easily get through at the seam.

I replaced my gasket without taking the semi's out. The semi circular plugs typically seals for life without leaking.

1996camry · 05-05-2009, 09:46 AM

I will retorgue again to see if that'll do the trick. Can someone comments on the grooment on page 57 (manual) to be 15 degrees? What do you have to line the mark up something to be 15 degrees? I was not sure what to line up to be in 15 degrees... How critical is that?

Will 30mm fits (to remove) the 4 nuts on the cover gasket ? Where do you buy 30mm (tool)?

All the comments you guys provided were helpful.

Thanks

jmborchers · 05-05-2009, 10:48 AM

My car didn't have these marks so I assumed they forgot to tell you when un-installing to mark the grommets. What they are asking you to do if you are removing the gaskets and reusing them is to put them back in not only the same spark plug location, also the same relative angle to decrease chance of leakage.

The locations (P03283) they show seal packing you should use a high temp silicone. They are gaps between the half circles and different molds of the engine head.

I don't recall the socket being a 30mm? Sears has large sizes.