Valve Cover Gasket - Spark plugs Replacement , in pictures

[cmh1129]

I am posting pictures along with step by step info on how to replace the Valve Cover Gasket in a Previa. This is how I do it... there may be other oppinions, and they are welcome as threat posts..

This project only takes about 30 minutes... maybe an hour if it is your first time....

For this project, you will need a Valve cover Gasket set, RTV Gasket goop, a 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm sockets, a phillips screwdriver, hammer or rubber mallet. ( a large socket the same diameter as the spark plug tube seals is helpful )

with the 14mm socket, remove the passenger seat and the lower metal seat brace.
a 12mm socket is needed to remove the Jack storage plate




Next remove the 3 phillips screws in the door jam trim and lift it out .

Lift carpet to reveal access panel.


Remove the 12mm bolts that surround the accsess panel....
Dont forget the one to the very left


Remove the accsess panel to reveal the spark plugs and valve cover area



with a 10mm socket, remove the 3 bolts on the cover to the spark plugs...






To make things a little easier, I remove the three connecters on the three sensors to the right and use the phillips screwdriver I esed for the trim to hold them out of the way.
Then pull out the spark plug wires, and the PCV.

Next, get your 10mm socket out and remove the 10 10mm bolts from around the Valve Cover Gasket... ( the 10mm bolt on the very left holds the spark plug clip, but needs to be removed to get the cover off )


Pull off the cover. You may need to EASILY use a flat head screwdriver to pry the cover off.


Remove the old gasket... just pull. It may be on the head, as in the photo, or it still may be in the channel in the cover. next remove the old spark plug tube seals. If you push from the outside of the cover to the inside, they will come out easy. ( in fact, i just use my fingers and push...) If not, use a socket the same size as the outer part of the seal and tap out....

Next is to replace the old with the new. I start with the half circle part of the seal and work around installing it in the channel... next is to insert the spark plug tube seals... IMPORTANT ...... insert them from the inside of the cover, with the tapered side going in first. I use one of the old seals and a rubber mallet to tap the new ones in till they are flush with the cover.



Next is to clean the surface on the head.. I just use a paper towel. DON'T forget to get the OLD goop out. You may need to use a knife or small flat head screwdriver, but be careful as not to scratch or damage the head surface !!!!



Now is GOOP time.... you will need to put a blob of goop in the places pictured... in the corners of the indentation where the distibutor is on the left side, and the 4 places pictured on the right side..



Next is to replace the cover... be careful to put it on as straight on as possible to set the goop, not to smear it..


You are pretty much finished.... Replace the 10 10mm bolts. tighten till they are snug. Do not overtighten them as they are only 10mm and they will strip easy. I tighten with the socket, till it is obvious that i am in all the way and feel it stop. then i give it just a hair more to really snug it up....

Then put it all back together .....

If you are replacing the spark plugs, now would be the time to do that...

[Zembonez]

Good grief! There's an ENGINE in your floor!

[awtomakina]

good for you !!!!

[prestima]

Thanks for posting the pics. I did mine yesterday. I had to use a 32mm axel socket to push-out those spark plug tube seals.

I did everything you posted except the "goop" part. Am I asking for leaks by skipping this part?

I also replaced the spark plugs and spark plugs wire set, oil filter and oil.

Thanks again.

[cmh1129]

"Am I asking for leaks by skipping this part?"

Although I cannot speak on this from personal experience, I have read from other posts that the answer is a positive "YES".

They say to use the Toyota stuff, but I just use the RTV black gasket maker that I picked up at the auto parts store...

[awtomakina]

and if you guys want a better RTV , theres this thing called RIGHT STUFF its more expensive than the regular RTV. but its so much better, - look for it, its made by PERMATEX -

RIGHT STUFF - I PUT THAT *&@! ON ANYTHING !

[itlog]

Originally Posted by prestima

Thanks for posting the pics. I did mine yesterday. I had to use a 32mm axel socket to push-out those spark plug tube seals.

I did everything you posted except the "goop" part. Am I asking for leaks by skipping this part?

I also replaced the spark plugs and spark plugs wire set, oil filter and oil.

Thanks again.

A local shop did mines and it leaked after 2 years w/ out the "goop". I ended up doing it myself and used the toyota "FIPG" sealant that was bought on ebay for less than $10 - about the size of a small tootpaste and half was more than enough to seal the cover. I even ended up using the 2-year old gasket again. I also checked for leaks at the distributor cap while I was at it. Better peace of mind doin' it myself and no more burning-oul smell ....

[Makelo]

Great info, this should be a sticky

[SuperchargedMR2]

Would it hurt to put a bead of goop around the entire gasket?

[SuperchargedMR2]

Did mine today, finally & I'm glad that's done. I'm waiting until tomorrow to start it up as the sealant said it cures fully in 24 hours. The pictures were a big help, thanks.

I replaced my plugs with some E3 plugs that the parts guy said he had heard positive comments from customers about. Anybody use these plugs before?

[alfio]

this is sticky material - MODS, what do you all say?

[viking5950]

I'm a new member -- I came here specifically looking for the content of this post. I have a newly-acquired 93 LE with 160K miles. It's in generally good shape except for the paint. I bought it knowing the valve cover gasket needed replacement. Anyway, I used cmh1192's step-by-step with great success -- THANKS for your time and trouble in doing this. I did have a bad thing happen, however. I spent most of a day doing this job because I was cleaning things up pretty thoroughly before putting it all back together (the oil leak was bad -- oil everywhere). When I got the cover back on, inserted the bolts in their holes and started tightening them, the one in the lower left corner twisted off! I swear I did not think I was putting any serious torque on it, but nevertheless I have no one to blame but myself. I went to the local dealer and bought all 9 valve cover bolts -- brand new and (surprisingly) in stock. I got my left-hand drill bits, screw extractor kit, and my 90-degree Ryobi drill/driver. I then pulled the cover and set about getting the offending screw the heck out of there. It actually didn't take as long as I feared, and a tip: I used the shell of a 3/16" rivet and a 5/64" drill bit. I held the rivet shell with a pair of needle-nose up tight to the screw hole, then ran the drill bit through the rivet shell. It took patience, but the bit cut a nice hole directly in the center of the screw remnant -- the rivet shell kept the bit from walking around all over the top of the screw remnant. In fact the left-hand bit actually started to extract the screw while cutting the hole. Anyway, I got the remnant out and put everything back using the new bolts and a dab of blue Loctite. I used the Loctite cause I don't have a torque wrench that sets low enough to correctly torque the bolts per specs. It's all done and about 500 miles later there is no sign of a leak. Again, not to detract from what cmh1129 posted -- that information is right on and definitely helped me a lot -- thanks again!

[giox1]

People have said that replacing the head gasket at a garage costs about $2000. After seeing this post, I can't believe that's true.

I'm currently looking to buy a Previa and I was fearful of having the potential of a $2000 repair looming. Someone please enlighten me.

Great post, by the way!

Thanks,

[calprevia]

giox1..... that's a "Valve Cover Gasket " replacement not a "Headgasket" ... a headgasket is a major job ,the valve cover replacement is easy there's a huge difference....

[dirtdiggler]

Valve cover hold down bolt part number is 90109-06180. Requires quantity of 9.

After replacing the gasket, several weeks later the familiar smoke came back. Parked the van and removed the seat and cover and noticed that one of the bolts snapped off.. Torqued to spec, suspect was age of bolts. So with all this trouble replacing the gasket, spend the extra 1.18 each for new bolts.

dirt diggler