Valve Cover Installation (Hot Engin?) - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

asm · 03-03-2005, 02:11 AM

I am in the process of replacing, (for now tighen) the valve cover. Since my 97 I4 Camry (5S-FE) seems to leak from the back of the engin near valve cover gaset.

I remember reading someway in old manual suggested with alumium engin, one must never work on the engin when the engin is hod. It must be cold. Is this still true?

ASM

RedPhoenix · 03-03-2005, 05:29 AM

Its better to work on it when its cold... Thats just commen sense.. no?

asm · 03-03-2005, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedPhoenix

Its better to work on it when its cold... Thats just commen sense.. no?

Well, what I am trying to say is, do I have make a effort make sure it is truely cold?? say... park the car outside and wait at 4 hours for the engine to cool down?

Of course I am not going to work on the engine right after 6 hours drive on the interstate with the engine buring hot!!!

ASM

***BLUEMEANIE*** · 03-03-2005, 01:19 PM

Alum is soft metal, if you take it apart while its hot things can contract diferently as they cool and warp.

RedPhoenix · 03-03-2005, 01:58 PM

Well it would be better just to wait over night and then replace it in the morning. It took me like and hour or two to replace my seal, fixed the leaking I had.

Blue is right, ALU just expands and contracts.