Who Else Has Leaky Valve Covers?

I thought it was the "timing cover" leak... but it's not. Who else has this? It happens on both sides at the same spot.

To fix or not to fix?

 

I noticed I had some oil in the same spot a month or so ago. I cleaned it up and tightened the bolts and so far so good no more oil.

 

My 03 Tacoma's bolts would loosen a bit over time. Just torque them down and clean it up.

 

A lot of valve covers loosen over time. Just retighten the bolts down and you should be good.

 

fix it. Its not very hard.
If oil can leak out, that means air with dust can leak in.

 

had the same i just cleaned it up and torqued the bolts back down. been fine since i did tho by new gaskets which arent the expensive and they are pretty easy to install to have just incase it is a bad gasket

 

if its leaking replace the gasket, don't just tighten it. they stretch and leak and are cheap and easy. torque to spec.

 

mines been "wet" there ever since i bought it, doesnt leak enough to say so... ive got a service tech at toyota and she said they pretty much all leak a little... common problem

 

Nope, not all leak.
If Valve cover leaks it has to be dealt with. Engines work under vacuum. If oil can get out, air will be able to get in even easier. That means when its cold or engine runs in higher RPMS engine will be sucking air with dirt.
Valve cover is not hard job, gasket is not expensive either. Not much excuse to drive like that.

 

What you say is technically true, but does it REALLY matter? C'mon, take a look at just about ANY older push rod engine. Any SBC, VW, HD, even old radial aircraft engines would have met a abrupt death from oil leaks according to your logic. Hell, that isn't even a leak in the OPs photo! I'll bet there isn't even a spot on the driveway!

 

ya ive never had any running issues, and not so much as a drop on the fresh snow in the driveway..

 

If its technicaly true its true ... right. Its not gonna make your engine explode but engine is sucking dirt. Depending on conditions you drive in it can be bad or worse. Why make oil work harder than it has to.

 

Is this my truck? Naw. Oil in the same spot, but not enough red mud residue.

Give em 1/8 a turn and Gunk it.

 

Thanks for all the responses, I haven't checked back in on this post until now. I am all for uniform torque measurements on engines (like the valve cover bolts) and I literally use torque wrench on almost every bolt.

Question is: some of those valve cover bolts can't be reached without removing the intake right?

 

No, you should not need to remove the Intake Manifold.

By what is in the service manual, to remove the valve cover ( when adjusting the valves ). To remove the valve covers you need to do these in order:

1. DISCONNECT CABLE FROM NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL.

2. DRAIN ENGINE COOLANT (See page CO-3) (This could be skipped IMO.)

3. REMOVE V-BANK COVER (See page ES-414) ( This is the plastic cover on top of the engine. )

4. REMOVE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY (See page ES-415)

5. REMOVE INTAKE AIR SURGE TANK (See page EM-57)

6. REMOVE IGNITION COIL ASSEMBLY (See page IG-7)

7. REMOVE CYLINDER HEAD COVER SUB-ASSEMBLY (See page EM-59)

8. REMOVE CYLINDER HEAD COVER SUB-ASSEMBLY LH (See page EM-59)

** Cylinder Head Cover is the Valve Cover

Note: The Red Comments are mine.