Look mommy its OIL! :evil: okay I am going to investigate it tomorrow but I think its a gasket just not sure which one, I think it could be my oil pan gasket (this one I know how todo), or my vavle cover gasket(s). My question is how hard is it to replace valve cover gaskets? What kinda time frame am I looking at? and is there any special tools I will need (aside from the normal ones). also it seems like I am losing a decent amount but my oil level seems fine. but it is oil. I will take pics as soon as I can find my camera. Also if i have to replace the gaskets then I will take pics/ make a writeup.
I highly doubt its the oil pan gasket, oil always leaks downward and the oil pan would be my last guess. As far as the valve cover, toyota is... well...stupid because they use shity philips screws to hold down the valve cover. In tern, pressure builds up and pushes the valve up causing an oil leak at the valve cover. There are various websites that sell replacment bolt kits that wont get pushed up from pressure.
look at your valve cover, there should be philipse screws holding it down. You proboly need to take the head of and clean/replace the gasket too because i would imagine the damage the oil did to it.
A word of caution on the valve cover gaskets. Toyota specs the valve covers to be torqued to only 48 in-lbs. (Thats inch pounds not ft-lbs) If you over torque them, theyll leak. If you under torque them, theyll leak. The valve cover gaskets are cheap and a common source for failure. If you suspect them, replace them and torque them properly. Also, get yourself a tube of the Toyota FIPG. In the BGB it shows where to apply it. Another source for oil leaks is the distributor, but more than likely it is probably your intake valve cover.
how much is the proper torque wrench for the job, and any small instruction on how to use ty all larry aka noob wannabe (his own) mechanic
ya for the gts u must take off the little spark plug area cover after taking off the plug wires, then remove those screws, pretty easy torque wrench anywhere from 20-2000 ;p
