3.5 V6 cam/valve cover randomly cracking

I made mine trying to install engine crossover bar. What a pain in the ass the followed by taking all apart again to replace valve cover.

 

Ok, so after talking to some techs....this engine will absolutely NOT run ok with a dislodged cam follower (like a rocker, but it directly actuates the valve from the cam.) It needs both exhaust valves open to properly breathe, otherwise it will throw a misfire code.

General consensus from a Toyota tech and a few independents is that the cover was either damaged from an outside source, (aka I accidentally damaged it), the composite resin had a defect in the molding right were it makes the upward turn for the clip molding and it cracked/delaminated from that point, and then the heat cycles and vibration continued to make it grow larger until it started to actually leak.

Either way, I'm going to be ordering a new cover and gasket and we shall see what that shows when I change it.

Thanks for all the thoughts and opinions. This was definitely a new one...and another tally mark on why I dislike composite engine components.

 

No warranty but they might offer something. They may want to figure out what caused this, and so on. Not pay them anything but see if they have something to say

 

I actually did this. A friend of mine is a GM at a Toyota dealer. I sent him those pics and he's gonna talk to the lead tech and see if he's seen this before.

 

Genuinely curious, what does that bar do?

 

it’s a bar that connects to brackets on top of the strut towers. It’s purpose to strengthen the strut towers & stiffen the front structure, thus reducing flex and prevent frame distortion

 

This. Added it when I added the LT.

 

Thanks for the explanation.

I had one on my lowered civic

 

I was actually thinking , is it possible you drove in bit of a standing water ? or did you clean your engine with it? maybe somehow during car wash? If cold water hit the heated valve, it could have caused crack.

 

Who made your bar?

 

Dirt Designs I think.