What the hell happened?! Please help! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

camry314 · 09-07-2009, 03:24 PM

Ok, so I decided to replace my rear valve cover gasket since it was starting to leak. So I pull the upper manifold, ok no problems there, then I get the valve cover off, ok no problems there, I get the valve cover back on, no real problems there just a bit of maneuvering to get it on, put everything back together, then I go to start the car. After about 1 minute I notice a big stream of oil coming out from under the car!! What the hell!! I shut the car off right away.

Now am I supposed to RTV in any spots, like the corners? Could the gasket have been pinched or rolled when it went back in? I made sure I cleaned the cover and the mating surface before anything. What am I missing? Please help!

Thanks in advance!

camry314 · 09-07-2009, 05:57 PM

Oh and this is on a 94 1MZ-FE.

camry314 · 09-07-2009, 11:05 PM

No one knows? Any ideas? Is there a trick to installing the rear valve cover? I have the main wiring loom running right over the top and I think that caused the problem in getting the cover on properly. Can anyone validate this?

Jimnist · 09-07-2009, 11:11 PM

I think you've answered your own question here. Yes, you are supposed to RTV seal any sharp bends or corners i.e. where the camshafts semi-circle cut outs are and the like. Gasket could also be pinching somewhere. Does it sit perfectly in the groove or is it a tad too small?

I pinched my VCG when i changed it and it looked like my engine bay was on fire from all the smoke coming out of it. I fixed it of course...a week later

It was a tad too small(gasket) and would lift if i didn't hold it in place, had to hold the spot where it popped while putting the valve cover back on

camry314 · 09-08-2009, 10:16 AM

I bought an OEM Toyota gasket, so the fitmemt was right on. I think that maybe with the wire loom and juggling all the other hoses and the cover, it fell out of the groove on the cover and got pinched. The entire straight side on the backside of the rear valve cover was leasing all over the header and was smoking up a storm too. So I guess I will fix it later. I am having a hard time to get motivated to dive back into that job. There is just so much to take off to get there.

Jimnist · 09-08-2009, 10:21 AM

Which is a reason why i love my i4 xD So easy to work on!

flyeri · 09-08-2009, 12:12 PM

As far as motivation goes I would think that the possibility of fire would do the trick. Small, slow leaks just smoke some and stink. Oil running out and hitting the exhaust manifold can cause fire. GM has a recall on one of their v6's now for this very reason.

camry314 · 09-08-2009, 03:47 PM

^^Oh dont worry, I am not going to drive it with the oil leak. I cant. I would be out of oil in the engine before I left the parking lot! I am talking about the motivation of having to tear back into it to fix it right now.

flyeri · 09-08-2009, 04:36 PM

That's good. I'm sure we have seen people do such a thing. Just brought it up because you never know.

camry314 · 09-08-2009, 05:38 PM

Oh yeah I am sure there are people that would try to drive off with the car like that. I however am not that guy. Thanks for the heads up!