Valve Cover Gasket leak??

I noticed this earlier but just assumed it was oil spilt when I pulled the oil filter last oil change and didn't think much of it. (I just bought this truck used 4 months ago). Now I'm wondering if it's a valve cover.

110k miles - 06 4.0L

I also noticed that my coolant level has dropped a tiny bit over the last 5k miles.

Any helpful insight is much appreciated.

 

From the pic you posted it does appear that the driver side valve cover has some seepage starting, it's not a big deal to replace them. Is that the only corner/ side of the valve cover that is leaking?

 

Yeah only that one corner. Other side of the engine is spotless.

 

You should be able to go to O'Reillys and buy some fel-pro replacement gaskets

 

It doesn't look like it is dumping oil which is good. But I'd go ahead and replace them

 

Normal for the Tacoma.

here is mine at around 130k



I cleaned it up and now im at 160k and still looks the same after i cleaned it.

 

Thanks guys. I'll spray it and wipe it down and monitor for the next few k miles.

Any insight on the slight coolant level drop? I've drive 3000 miles in the last 20 days..

 

The coolant overflow bottle level dropped? Or the level in the radiator?

 

Bottle. It was at the top of the "full" and now its down a centimeter from that full line.

 

Sub'd

 

Using a metric measurement I'd guess you are a Canadian member. It gets real cold where you live. Things shrink when it gets cold.

1 CM is just a hair less than 1/2". That much of a drop in cold weather after 5K miles with 110K on the clock is nothing to get rattled about.

If you want to confirm this loss is not relevant, visit one of the mass marketers and rent a cooling system pressure tester. YouTube is full of how-to videos.

Look for the ones put together by people who actually know something about vehicles. I always use the "smell" test when searching the WEB.

 

A centimeter, is not even worth a thought.

 

Incase anyone cares, I wiped that area clean, did an oil change and drove 4000km in the last week. No sign of the "leak". so I think it may just be spilled oil from the filter change previously done.

 

It may be just sipping from time to time, still if you checked if valve cover bolts are at the spec, nothing to worry there keep watching but it will probably be like that for next 500 000 miles..

I think your Fram filter is more of concern ... grrr Fram

 

haha, I didn't use a fram this time around.