valve cover gasket - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

TFCameron · 05-11-2009, 09:19 PM

So today I way fixing the exhaust on my wife's Camry and noticed that there was oil everywhere. I checked the oil level and sure enough it was low. It's a 1997 Camry LE 2.2L, auto. I'm fairly sure that the leak is from the valve cover gasket so I'm going to just replace that and see if it helps, however, I can't find any bolts that hold the cover on. So my question is, What the heck do I have to do to take the cover off?

98trdcamry · 05-11-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TFCameron

So today I way fixing the exhaust on my wife's Camry and noticed that there was oil everywhere. I checked the oil level and sure enough it was low. It's a 1997 Camry LE 2.2L, auto. I'm fairly sure that the leak is from the valve cover gasket so I'm going to just replace that and see if it helps, however, I can't find any bolts that hold the cover on. So my question is, What the heck do I have to do to take the cover off?

u have to take the bubber boots for the spark plugs of and u will see 4 big nuts i think there 32mm pull the four off and then pry the valve cover fee

rty · 05-11-2009, 10:25 PM

This might help.

How-To Guide: Removing and Painting a Valve Cover - 5SFE -- 56K warned Lots of Pics

TFCameron · 05-12-2009, 12:03 AM

Crap that was fast. Thanks guys.

hill8570 · 05-12-2009, 12:24 AM

When you put the new gasket back on, be sure to use some Toyota FIPG or some other sensor-safe RTV / Liquid Gasket at the points given in step 7 of http://www.camrystuff.com/manuals/Ge...hanical_I4.pdf page 57. Those semi-plugs and sharp corners tend to leak out over time unless they get a dab of liquid seal. Oh, BTW, make sure that the valve cover and head surfaces are spankin' clean before you start putting new stuff in there. I like to use a rag dipped in acetone, followed by a Q-tip dipped in acetone for the final clean. Other folks just use paint thinner. Whatever you use, get it clean first, otherwise that gasket is probably just going to leak out again.

BTW, those nuts are 30mm, if you're planning on torqueing them down per spec (spec in the manual I just referenced above). If you're feeling lucky, then a channel lock or adjustable wrench can be used.

Venom_5 · 05-12-2009, 12:35 AM

how low was the oil btw? a lot of these cars consume oil between 3k oil change intervals anyways - so you might have that happen even after you fix what appears to be a leak, but it cant hurt

use that DIY guide for the valve cover gasket replacement, i used it for mine and it was quite an easy job ...

TFCameron · 05-12-2009, 12:20 PM

It was down by about a quart. I had changed the oil about 1700 miles ago. So that's quite a loss isn't it?

hill8570 · 05-12-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TFCameron

It was down by about a quart. I had changed the oil about 1700 miles ago. So that's quite a loss isn't it?

That's quite a bit, assuming it was full to begin with. It's also an awful lot to lose out of the valve cover gasket -- that sucker usually seeps, not pours.

TFCameron · 05-12-2009, 11:25 PM

Well I put the new gasket in and the first two nuts weren't even screwed down, I undid them by hand. My wife works tomorrow so I'll know if that fixed the problem or not. I also replaced the gasket on the Sunfire I bought a month ago and only two of the bolts were tight on it. So hopefully that fixed both of the oil leaks. Thanks for all your help.

Hajoca · 05-13-2009, 10:23 AM

In about a week, re torque the nuts.