5.7L 3UR-FE Valve Cover Gasket Job

[Timmy65]

Hey Y'all,

If you're due for a Valve Cover Gasket Job, we have a 2-Part video series that will help you get the job done. I have to say, it's a bit of a pain in the butt to do a valve cover gasket job on this engine, but hopefully with our video series, you'll have a much easier time getting it done.

I hope you enjoy the series. Here's Part 1.

 

[Timmy65]

Here's Part 2

 

[04UZJ100]

Why is this needed? Are they known to leak?

 

[DallasTide]

Do I need to do this? Absolutely not.
Am I going to to burn an hour and a half watching a how to video? Absolutely.

 

[Timmy65]

Why is this needed? Are they known to leak?

For this video, the valve cover gaskets weren't leaking but several of the spark tube seals were. When the spark tube seals allow engine oil to get past, the spark plug wells fill up with engine oil. Once enough engine oil gets into the spark plug well, it could foul out the coil pack and cause a misfire.

 

[DallasTide]

For this video, the valve cover gaskets weren't leaking but several of the spark tube seals were. When the spark tube seals allow engine oil to get past, the spark plug wells fill up with engine oil. Once enough engine oil gets into the spark plug well, it could foul out the coil pack and cause a misfire.

How would someone know if this is happening? Asking for a friend....

 

[Timmy65]

How would someone know if this is happening? Asking for a friend....

Remove all 8 coil packs. If any ot them have oil on them, that means the spark plug tube seal has gotten tired and isn't able to keep engine oil from getting past it. People usually discover this when they are replacing spark plugs as preventative maintenance.

 

[DallasTide]

10-4. Haven't done plugs yet. Thanks.

 

[Timmy65]

10-4. Haven't done plugs yet. Thanks.

You're welcome.

 

[AnyMal]

Seriously considering some seal additives for my engine lately. Idk if it would hurt at this point.

 

[Timmy65]

Seriously considering some seal additives for my engine lately. Idk if it would hurt at this point.

That would be a horrible decision on your part. Those oil seal additives can wreak havoc on an engine. If you want to hasten the demise of your engine, go for it, but you've been warned.

 

[AnyMal]

That would be a horrible decision on your part. Those oil seal additives can wreak havoc on an engine. If you want to hasten the demise of your engine, go for it, but you've been warned.

Guess I’ll stick to hopes & prayers

 

[Timmy65]

Guess I’ll stick to hopes & prayers

Oil leaks can be fixed. If you clog up oil passageways and starve parts of your engine of lubrication, now you're talking an engine replacement. These engines are very good. If you're still using 0w-20 oil, I suggest switching to a 5w-30. From what I understand, the oil spec for this engine in other countries is thicker. Toyota went to a thinner oil in the U.S. to satisfy fuel economy standards (CAFE). Corporate average fuel economy - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_average_fuel_economy#:~:text=Corporate%20average%20fuel%20economy%20(CAFE,sale%20in%20the%20United%20States.

 

[marketShark]

Remove all 8 coil packs. If any ot them have oil on them, that means the spark plug tube seal has gotten tired and isn't able to keep engine oil from getting past it. People usually discover this when they are replacing spark plugs as preventative maintenance.

<- This is how I discovered mine were leaking. In my case was about 190k-ish miles.

EDIT: added pics

 

[Sandroad]

<- This is how I discovered mine were leaking. In my case was about 190k-ish miles.

EDIT: added pics

View attachment 3600414

View attachment 3600415

Cool holder for your sockets! I got to get me several of those.

 

[bloc]

Oil within the tubes often isn’t the valve cover gasket, it’s where the tube is sealed into the head. @Taco2Cruiser has written about this in the past.

 

[Timmy65]

Oil within the tubes often isn’t the valve cover gasket, it’s where the tube is sealed into the head. @Taco2Cruiser has written about this in the past.

So you're saying that oil intrusion into the spark tube well is due to the the connection of the spark plug tube with the head and not a faiied spark plug tube gasket? That is interesting and I find it difficult to believe. I thought the spark plug tubes are installed into the head with a sleeve sealant. I guess the proof would be that after replacing the spark plug tube seals, oil is still filling the spark plug tube wells.

 

[bloc]

So you're saying that oil intrusion into the spark tube well is due to the the connection of the spark plug tube with the head and not a faiied spark plug tube gasket? That is interesting and I find it difficult to believe. I thought the spark plug tubes are installed into the head with a sleeve sealant. I guess the proof would be that after replacing the spark plug tube seals, oil is still filling the spark plug tube wells.

Yes. And don’t take my word for it, this guy has worked on hundreds of 200s.

Oil in spark plug wells

So I recently picked up a 2010 lc from out of town. I had a Toyota dealer do a pre purchase inspection and they recommend replacing the spark plugs. After driving it for a few days and noticing the MPG averaging 13ish I decided to try and tackle changing the spark plugs myself. Unfotunately I...

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