fj cruiser owner needs help with 4.0L (pics)

hi Guys

I have a 2008 fj cruiser with only 12000 miles on the clock. Few weeks ago my (dumbass) friend reved the engine hard few times. Since then the engine doesn't sound right, and lost a bit of power in my opinion. I checked the plugs and cleaned them last week, there was oil on the threads. Last night I checked the plugs again and again oil, on the threads.



At first I suspected a clogged injector, but few guys from the fjforums said it might be the o ring/valve seal.

I can honestly say I took good care of this car, never went off road, etc etc.
What do you guys think, is it the cam cover seal or something more serious. Is this something I should attempt fixing (valve cover gasket) myself?

any input will be appreciated..

 

bump.

 

thanks guys

I dont wanna believe that reving up the engine would cause any damage, especially with that kind of milage, but then s..t happens

I bought the car in US, but took it to europe so there's no warranty, I pray it's just the $20 valve seal.....

 

At 12K aren't you still under warranty? Bring it to the dealer and let them figure it out. The damn thing is barely broken in.

 

I'm in europe, US warranty doesnt transfer here......

they all had some oil residue on the threads, but the one in the picture was the worst

 

If the oil is leaking from the top down (not in the cylinder) check the valve cover seal.

 

why wouldn't warranty be covered in Europe with such low mileage...I don't get that...I'm sure there is a Toyota dealership in Europe where you can take the FJ to get serviced...

hmmm sounds like the valve seal...but it shouldn't go bad that soon...

have you pulled the intake manifold off along with the valve covers...you will be able to see better if the valve seal has a tear in it...

 

not sure how it's leaking, no oil on the top of the plug, just the threads

 

warranty doesnt transfer because cars are way cheaper in the US, so it's their way to deter people from buying overseas. I think even Mercedes does that.

I didn't touch anything yet, waiting for someone to confirm this.

Wouldn't oil leak outside of the engine too (with a bad seal) ?

 

Well start w/that.

 

looking for a diy on how to approach this thing

 

that's lame...

ok that's understandable...

yes and no...the valve cover seal is 1 piece...but if for some reason the valve cover seal ripped where the spark plugs are it will only leak there...if the outer part of the valve cover seal is ripped then yes it may leak out onto the engine...

just make sure when you do remove the valve covers that you lift straight up cause its only a small piece of rubber holding the middle part of the seal to the outer ring of the seal...

 

might sound stupid, but should I drain the oil before I do this.

I don't want to f...k this up

 

you shouldn't have to drain the oil to remove the intake manifold and valve covers...I never have when pulling my valve covers off...

this is what you'll see once the valve covers are removed...this picture is of the passenger side bank cam gears, VVTI indicators, etc...

 

rings can probably be,or the Ignition COIL ??? , you have 6, one is failing??
...sometimes a little oil is normal in the engine with high mileage..or the valve cover gasket, that lets pass some oil .. but that not affect the engine...,

 

you got pm

 

got it...pm sent back to you...

 

oil is normal, but the engine sounds different, vibrates a little bit, and lost some top end power imo. Guys this is really subtle stuff, my wife says "I can't feel any difference" which annoys me more then anything

 

...yeah I know, but the guys is innocent

he only reved it twice or three times (3 seconds total, maybe), I thought nothing of it, at the time

some said that it's worse for the engine at idle, but still that's why the rev limiter is there

 

Where in Europe did you take that baby to?