My beloved 3.4L taco has developed a leak at the valve cover. It drips right onto the manifold, causing it to smell like burning rubber all the time. I want to change the gasket asap but at the same time I am moving across the country and have no choice but to drive it first. Is there an OTC oil additive I can add to put a band aid on the problem for now? Or should I just keep adding oil to it as I drive? I have read concerns that some of these products soften and swell other seals in the motor which may be bad.
Leaking valve cover on Toyota Tacoma
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I am working on the valve covers of my 3.4 right now. It is not a hard job but it is long so I would recommend doing it your self. The gaskets are like 20 bucks for both sides. I am replacing all the intake manifold gaskets and the spark plug wires at the same time. I will Lso be sending in my injectors for rebuild/cleaning for preventive maintenance.
Cheaper alternative is to just tighten the bolts of the valve cover, but be VERY careful, they are not meant to be tight and you can crack the covers and would have to replace them (Not a cheap part)
Cheaper alternative is to just tighten the bolts of the valve cover, but be VERY careful, they are not meant to be tight and you can crack the covers and would have to replace them (Not a cheap part)
All the additives used to help stop leaks take some time to work. Doing a long straight drive may not be enough for them to even be effective.
For a quick patch I would clean up around the intake and try to find where the leak is at and just put a small dab of RTV gasket maker there. It's a bandaid fix by all means but as long as you clean up the oil well on the outside it should be able to bond and hold for the length of the drive so you don't have to smell it.
For a quick patch I would clean up around the intake and try to find where the leak is at and just put a small dab of RTV gasket maker there. It's a bandaid fix by all means but as long as you clean up the oil well on the outside it should be able to bond and hold for the length of the drive so you don't have to smell it.
Originally Posted By: TheKracken
I am working on the valve covers of my 3.4 right now. It is not a hard job but it is long so I would recommend doing it your self. The gaskets are like 20 bucks for both sides. I am replacing all the intake manifold gaskets and the spark plug wires at the same time. I will Lso be sending in my injectors for rebuild/cleaning for preventive maintenance.
Cheaper alternative is to just tighten the bolts of the valve cover, but be VERY careful, they are not meant to be tight and you can crack the covers and would have to replace them (Not a cheap part)
This this and this.Be careful!
I am working on the valve covers of my 3.4 right now. It is not a hard job but it is long so I would recommend doing it your self. The gaskets are like 20 bucks for both sides. I am replacing all the intake manifold gaskets and the spark plug wires at the same time. I will Lso be sending in my injectors for rebuild/cleaning for preventive maintenance.
Cheaper alternative is to just tighten the bolts of the valve cover, but be VERY careful, they are not meant to be tight and you can crack the covers and would have to replace them (Not a cheap part)
This this and this.Be careful!
Originally Posted By: TheKracken
I am working on the valve covers of my 3.4 right now. It is not a hard job but it is long so I would recommend doing it your self. The gaskets are like 20 bucks for both sides. I am replacing all the intake manifold gaskets and the spark plug wires at the same time. I will Lso be sending in my injectors for rebuild/cleaning for preventive maintenance.
Cheaper alternative is to just tighten the bolts of the valve cover, but be VERY careful, they are not meant to be tight and you can crack the covers and would have to replace them (Not a cheap part)
As soon as I get situated In going to be doing the same. Thanks for the tip on the covers. I recently reaquired the FSM so luckily finding the specs won't be hard.
Thanks to everyone answering my questions so promptly on a holiday.
I am working on the valve covers of my 3.4 right now. It is not a hard job but it is long so I would recommend doing it your self. The gaskets are like 20 bucks for both sides. I am replacing all the intake manifold gaskets and the spark plug wires at the same time. I will Lso be sending in my injectors for rebuild/cleaning for preventive maintenance.
Cheaper alternative is to just tighten the bolts of the valve cover, but be VERY careful, they are not meant to be tight and you can crack the covers and would have to replace them (Not a cheap part)
As soon as I get situated In going to be doing the same. Thanks for the tip on the covers. I recently reaquired the FSM so luckily finding the specs won't be hard.
Thanks to everyone answering my questions so promptly on a holiday.
Yea, tighten them with a the right sized socket screw driver (if you have one with a socket set); that way you won't over torque them. If not, use a 1/4 ratchet and choke down on it. That should stop the leak.
I have it all apart right now, but I have heard that figuring out where all the vacume hose goes can be tough, but the FSM should have a diagram. Good luck OP. The 3.4 is the easiest engine I have ever worked on, and with the light lift. I don't ever have to Jack up the car for anything other than wheel and brakes
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