valve seals maybe not valve cover gasket - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Tercel Lady · 03-21-2006, 11:41 AM

Actually, what signs would there be if my oil leak problem were valve seals rather than the valve cover gasket?

I looked again, and there is oil below the whole valve cover, down past the rightmost plug and on the flat surface below it, is completely covered by oil.

So is that a sign of seals vs gasket?

Daox · 03-21-2006, 12:28 PM

Oil below the valve cover is your valve cover gasket (a very easy fix too). A sign of valve stem seals failing is a nice puff-o-smoke out your exhaust when you start your car up as well as oil consumption between changes.

Tercel Lady · 03-21-2006, 12:47 PM

Ha. It does that to. Every morning, big puff of blue. And I have to add oil within less than 1000 miles, maybe even less than 700.

Actually, I was kinda hoping that part was the valve cover gasket--that if I had that done I would not have to add oil so often.

But the smell of oil all the time and the oil all over the place, you are saying, is the gasket. That's about 60 dollars to fix. I am sure seals are hundreds. That'll be later on.

Thanks so much.

Tercel Drifter · 03-21-2006, 10:54 PM

here's a temp. fix. If it's the valve stems, start using Mobile high milage oil, In addition add some Lucas brand Oil Stabalizer. The latter should be used as 15-25 % of your engine oil capacity. Trust me this helps ALOT with minor leaks. The oils have special additives that will help condition the seals.

Tercel Lady · 03-22-2006, 06:52 AM

Actually, on recommendation a while back of another poster here, I did start using a High Mileage motor oil (although I think it was Castrol) and it did help a bit. I already have "Restore" in there, which didn't help at all. Is it okay for me to dump in this other stuff you mention, or do I have to wait till after an oil change when the Restore is gone?

And now that I need the gasket, the high mileage stuff is no longer helping.

Is the valve seal job an expensive job (given I take it to a mechanic)?

Tercel Lady · 03-23-2006, 07:39 AM

Another question. How can you tell if the problem is valve seals or if it's piston rings? Someone once told me that the blue puff of smoke and consuming a lot of oil indicated I need a ring job....and someone else told me valve seals.

What are the signs of each?