Okay so I am hoping that this thread is in the right place, if not then i'm truly sorry and if it could be moved then thanks! anyways so I have plans to change out my valve cover gaskets. I have not tried my local dealer, but looking online at the cheap toyota parts sites i have noticed that the 3sge has a right valve cover gasket and a left gasket. well all the sites say that the left gasket is nla. i want to get both gaskets and and clean behind the rear most valve cover, because my injector wires are covered in oil. so my first question is.... 1) is the left gasket really nla, and if so who makes a decent aftermarket replacement? 2) what is the best way to clean the rear valve cover without doing damage to the injector clips or wires from using engine degreaser? 3) i know most people will recommend swapping the phillips head screws to socket bolts, what size bolts do you get? 4) which valve cover is the left and which is the right? damn confusing! thanks for the help and not flamming me!
looking at the engine by what is considered the front will tell you that the rear valve cover is the left, My understanding is that the timing belt and gears gives you the front, think of an FR car, what way do you look at it, just apply that to FF.
You have to remove the valve cover to replace the gaskets. Anything will work. My usual weapon of choice is brake clean. Its takes everything off of everything. Just be careful not to spray in an open cut. That will sting alot.
will the wires be ok if i end up using brake cleaner? i know there are always labels saying do not spray on plastic or wires. may cause damage blah blah blah. just want to make sure before I do this. thanks!
If you are taking it off then brake clean would be fine. I used to use spray nine when I worked at a job. Was always careful not to spray it directly into electrical connections and not spray them with the hose either. If you are that worried about it being clean. Take it off and clean it. Don't clean it with it in the car.
I'd recommend keeping the injectors in order for safety sake. ie: cylinder 1 - injector 1 cylinder 2 - injector 2 , etc. I'd wipe them down with just a clean rag to get most the oil off. I don't think you'll hurt anything by wiping a cloth with some spray on it, be it degreaser, to the outside of an electrical connection/component. However, anything open ie: wires that have a gap from the insulation to the connections, or open wiring/open electrical devices such as the alternator, should not have moisture/water on/in them.
ok perfect. that is exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks for all of the help guys. Now I am off to find a valve cover gasket set and plug rings.
Not dumb, that's why the site is here I'd use Allen keys instead of the philips screws, but don't over-tighten them and use the rubber washers! Overtightening will distort the gaskets and leak. Just take one of the screws into your local bolt shop and they'll match it, I think it is M10, 25mm long. I was able to buy the gaskets separately (aftermarket) from my local spares shop for NZ$25 each. ACL makes them over here. Sounds like your gaskets & seals are going hard & leaking - chuck some seal restorer in the oil before you end up having to change all the seals etc. Chuck some in the box and P/S as well! You can hose the motor down, just leave it running and take care not to spray the injector wires, distributor etc. Jack it up so you can get at the shafts, box, sump, P/S pump as those are the dirtiest areas. Best to remove the covers and then clean them out of the car (you can use petrol etc, brake clean may eat the gold anodizing), wipe down the head, plug holes etc before putting them back, remember to put a SMALL blob of black silicone in the corners on the dizzy & cam caps before fitting the new gaskets. Douse the motor with cleen green or engine cleaner in a spray bottle, let it stand for a while and then wash the whole engine bay (hot water is much better than cold water). Leave it running, jack it down and go for a drive afterward - that should dry up any left over water. Hope that helps, nice car
Either I'm very lucky and very stupid or you guys are being real real careful with engine cleaning tactics. When i do an engine bay clean i just cover up the battery, dizzy and alternator with plastic bags, buy 5 cans of general degreaser and get to work, takes about two cans to cover the whole engine bay, then spray the hell outta it with the pressure cleaner, let it dry a little, use the rest of the cans, get out the old tooth brush to get to the hard and heavy stuff, and spray away again, both my corolla and celica are still going strong after such treatment.
I don't cover up my batt or alternator, but the 3SGE is prone to water in the plugholes, dizzy and injector leads. When it gets in it runs crap for days, so rather not advise someone to go crazy with the hose
