(Yay it's fixed after 5 hours and missed work day) PCV grommet that fell into valve cover

Too bad your boss is an ass and doesn’t sound very understanding. The great resignation has me tempted to quit every other day and I’ve been at the same place for 14 years. Asshole bosses can pound sand.

I changed all 6 of my spark plug tube seals. They popped out fairly easily by carefully tapping the metal edge of the seal you are replacing from the top of the cover downward towards the inside. Silicone grease helps facilitate installation of the new seal. Pay attention to orientation when installing the new seal as they are directional.

 

What about these tiny oorings that were in the valve cover? Do these come with the kit? Are they necessary?

phew those mothers did not want to come out after 26 years. now to get the parts.

 

Either OEM or Felpro. I wouldn't mess with any other brands for gaskets.

 

Got the parts, all they had was a Mahle kit for $57.00 so I had to buy it. Just got home from walking a mile from the bus stop.

Soooooooooooo, I learned the hard way many years ago to NEVER WORK ON YOUR CAR DURING THE WORK WEEK, and what did I just do? I worked on my car doing the simplest thing, changing the grommet on a PCV valve. Tried to grab it with needle nose pliers and it just shoved it right down the hole. The expression on my face was probably pretty funny.

Now, to put it all back together. Started this at 11:00 AM, exactly 4 hours ago and just now got home with the parts. Also lost a day at work, everybody is pissed at me, and out $57.00 from a tiny rubber grommet.

 

And this is exactly how I ended up with 4 cars

 

I DIDN'T PUT THE WIRE HARNESS CLAMP BACK ON! I got the car back together, started up, did not break any wires, does not smoke or leak (yet). Now I put my tools away and there is the damn wire loom bracket sitting on my table!!!!!!!

Please take a look at the picture of the bracket, and of the orange wire loom that runs along the left side of the head. The bracket I'm guessing is to keep the loom from melting and burning against the hot engine head, but when you look at the bracket, it doesn't hold it very far from the engine at all, just maybe a quarter of an inch.

I do not want to tear this air filter junk off to put the bracket on. In your opinion will the wire loom be okay like it is now, or do you think it may rest against the head and cause it to melt?

Big thanks to everyone who took time out to help me. I am a lousy mechanic. No wonder they charge $90 to $120 an hour. I couldn't do it, and I move so slow it took 5 hours to change a valve gasket.

 

You'll be ok. That plastic can take a lot of abuse. Plus the valve cover valley isn't that hot relatively speaking. (I had one lean up against the exhaust and it only melted halfway and did its job protecting the inner wires lol). As long as its not like clamped against it I wouldn't worry.

But now you'll know what to do next time!

 

had the same problem on my 3.4L grommet broke and pieces fell inside the valve cover. I used a flashlight and one of these to fish out the small pieces. this tool has saved my ass on several engine repairs over the years.