3SFE head - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

NISRCamry · 10-24-2005, 11:13 PM

OK. So i have a junk yard motor in my camry. The motor runs great, only problem is, its leaking oil. It seemed to be comming out of the bottom of the valve cover by the timing cover. I decided to replace the valve cover gasket and discovered somthing odd. A hole in the head. Right on top of the head where it touches the vlave cover, next to the timing cover, there is a half quater shaped hole. I looked at the other side of the head and there was the same thing, but it has a peice sealed in there. Im guessing that its susposed to be on both sides concidering the ammount of oil on the back of the timing cover. Main thing i wana know is what this peice is called, if it has a name. Thanks, Danny.

88 LE · 10-25-2005, 08:30 AM

Not sure what that piece is called, but I know what your talking about.

Its a little piece of aluminum shaped like a half circle.

And yes theres one on each side of the head.

Cyorke · 10-25-2005, 11:55 AM

Straight from the Repair manual that is stickied at the top of the page. THey call them semi-circular plugs. How technical can you get on that one. If you are looking for one I am sure you could call the dealer or jsut see if you can find an old junk engine and take it from there. It is sealed with RTV fromt eh factory. You should only have to remove the valve cover to remove or install in your case these plugs. Use some RTV on them and you will be good to go.