How do you tighten valve cover gaskets on 99' Cambry?

[sgraeme]

I have a 1999 Cambry "Betty" car with 159,000 miles. I love her- she's been so dependable. My check engine light came on yesterday. Awful!!!! My honey, who is very mechanical, looked under the hood & sees oil by the fuel injectors- No gas smell. And oil by the valve cover gasket. Help!!!!! don't have money to take to dealer,etc.

Can the gasket bolts be tightened and how to do or do I need to replace the whole valve cover gasket???

Any help will be gratefully appreciated. Peace, Sandra

[toyomoho]

Take it this is a Camry. If so inline 4 or V6 cylinder engine?

Typically the check engine light does not come on due to oil leaks, as such the light may or may not be related to the leaks. If the light is on, a trouble code has been stored in the computer.

Call around to auto parts to store and determine if one will read the code(s) for free. AutoZone will do this. The stores do this as a service hoping you will buy their parts. Reading the codes is easy and straight forward as the car has a plug-in for this but you need a code reader (hence the parts store).

Once you have the code post back to the Generation 4 Camry forum with the specific code number plus any other concerns.

If an I4 engine, you can attempt to snug down the LARGE nut on each spark plug tube. The tubes are where the plugs go into the cylinder head. If a V6, there are bolts around the cover that hold it down.

Not sure just tightening the cover will help (if the oil is from the valve cover gasket).

Changing the I4 engine gasket is easy, the V6 gaskets more time consuming in removing the rear cover.

A gasket(s) is $20-35ish. If no money remove the cover and try sealing with high temp silicone seal (any store with an auto parts section should have this for under $5). Make sure you remove as much oil as possible before sealing.