I've been putting up with a slow leak from what looks like the valve cover on my 4-cylinder 2000 Camry and I'm going to attempt to replace the gasket this weekend. Anything I need to be aware of? From what I can tell all I need to do it pull the plug wires and then remove those 4 big nut that are on the plug tubes? Do I then just pry up the valve cover?

Thanks,

Dave

 

You can start by reading the treads at the end of this page.

Yes, remove the 4 large nuts plus PCV hose. Clean the head surface completely were the new gasket will seat, might apply a gasket dressing to increase sealing. Take special note of applying it on the corners where the cam bearing caps meet the head.

Snug down the nuts slowly to allow the gasket to compress. Best to use a torque wrench, the idea is have all the nuts applying the same amount of force.

 

can you just buy the gasket of the valve cover by itself? i think mine has leak too

 

Depending on what the seller stocked one can buy just the gasket that goes around the cover or a kit having this gasket plus the 4 spark plug tube seals.

 

Yep, the kit I bought this weekend included the spark plug tube seals as well. Easily installed too.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

I would not have known about those tube seals without this post. Thanks. Completed the job this afternoon in less than an hour. The only thing I didnt have was a 30mm socket. Original nuts were not tight at all, so I made do with a 1.25" socket. A 1-3/16" would have been better. I only went back to about 10 ft-lb. Is that close enough?

 

33 ft-lbs.

Torque up to the spec in several passes. The gasket will compress over time, recheck torque.

 

This is way over my head, technically, but my '94 V6 was leaking oil badly on the top of the engine.

Aside from the Valve Cover and Spark Plug gaskets, my mechanic changed something called "Half Moon Gaskets". He said those were leaking and were badly chewed up after 120,000 miles.

 

Attached image shows the locations of where you need to apply the sealant onto the cylinder head.. I know its an old post, but good for people also searching for the same thing.