Valve cover bolts - Yes, I searched stickys first.

replacing VC gasket, going to really scrub the cover, etc so the only thing that wont be new are the 22 year old bolts...does anyone know the exact size (other than just 10mm) and have you been able to find them at the hardware store? Gets kinda pricey x 18 so looking to find them on the cheap.

Also, would it be a good idea to use a small amount of threadlock on the first couple of threads? All of mine were really loose.

 

Don’t cheap out. This logic doesn’t compute. Don’t use hardware store bolts. Get the appropriate fasteners from Toyota. Follow the FSM as far as thread lock or no. If it requires it, the bolts will likely come with it on. I bet the answer is no due to the very low torque these require.

 

These bolts are $1.30 or so each and have a rubber grommet on them.

https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/oem/toyota~bolt~for~cylinder~head~cover~90080-10330.html

 

i hear ya.

I always go with OEM, but I was just wondering if going with the OEM bolts was worth it here? hurts to cough it up for some small bolts that are loose =)

 

Are your bolts ruined? As long as the grommet is in good shape, clean it all up and reuse them. Can’t recall if I reused mine or not when I did my valve cover gaskets.

 

thanks for link..im just gunna do it..the ones I saw at another toyota parts site was close to 2$....this is doable and doesn't exceed my weekly allowance....

its close..but still under

 

Willing to bet by the time tax and shipping is figured in it’s a wash.

 

No, they aren't ruined but I've seen a couple of comments from people replying to a VC gasket job video or post and said "why in in the world didn't you change out the bolts when you had the chance" ??? I was hoping/wondering if some new ones would be be more secure to keep it clean. I've only been a Tundra owner for a cpl months so I really lean on others here.

 

Post some pics of the insides of the vc's & heads. For science.

 

9008010330 18 $ 1.27 BOLT(FOR CYLINDER HEAD COVER)

these are the ones I bought

 

They should be sort of loose. Valve covers distort easily if you tighten them too much. Don't use threadlocker.

 

I think its 13ft.lbs. Barely finger tight.

 

I’ve been there and bought new bolts from Toyota. The rubber gets hard, brittle and flat. You can get the rubber parts from Felpro but for the gaskets I prefer OEM.

 

thanks

 

found them..thanks

 

From the Megathread, all the info you need on part numbers and process, click link in red. Rather than rely on forum search, that sticky thread has a ton of keywords in it, always search that thread before you suffer the pain of the search feature.

• Oil leaks: Two most common causes: Valve cover gaskets and cam seals - this is especially true on low-mile trucks, valve cover gaskets will shrink, harden, crack over time. If you see oil leaks reaching the oil pan, running down the dipstick support, on the heat shield flanges above the manifold, it's probably the valve covers - check the torque on the bolts first to ensure they're in spec, but be prepared to replace the valve cover gaskets and spark plug tube gaskets (see parts and process listed here). If it's leaking down the front of the block, with oil showing either side of the harmonic balancer (big center pulley) or behind the A/C compressor, it's probably your cam seals. Cam seal replacement is $$ and best done w/timing belt, however, ATP's
  $21 AT-205 Re-Seal Stops Leaks, 8 Ounce Bottle
  AT-205 will rejuvenate the seals safely without over-swelling or causing collateral damage you'll need to fix later. Of course, the oil pain *does* sometimes leak, but it's pretty unusual, unless someone had it off for some reason.

 

Inch Pounds!!!

 

*53 inch lbs

 

Thats WAYYY too tight.

53 INCH LB is the spec (approx 4.2 ft lbs).

 

My valve cover ratchet

 

Just snug, two fingers and a thumb. No ape hands. I seldom use a torque wrench on these kinds of fasteners, it is so hard to feel the bolt snuggling up, even with a quality inch pound wrench. With new gaskets it doesn't take much to get a leak free seal.

 

Three snugga-duggas

 

thanks for this info. As i cleaned all the old oil gunk of the dipstick i was thinking how could there be funk from the top of the stick all the way to the grommet at the bottom. Even the bracket secures the dipstick was pitch black with gunk. They are all shiny now

thanks..i didnt think about new seals possibly getting it back to good snugness..

 

how long is that?

 

cam seals replaced..crank next. I wonder whats waiting on me behind the crank seal??? ha I hope its not sludge.

 

Gist of it is this.

Red dot on that blolt is, IIRC, the front/lower valve cover bolt. That's right next to the spot where you MUST clean off any FIPG and re-blot a wipe of fresh FIPG before laying the cover down. It's the only way to properly seal the right-angle corner there, and there's an identical one on the other side of the valve cover where it meets the throttle body area. Any oil seeping past that spot, if you don't re-FIPG when you reinstall your valve covers, will seep out at that corner, the dipstick support is in that spot, it travels down the support bracked, then runs down the dipstick tube, following the arrow.

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Make note of the big washer thingy between the crank and seal (IIRC). There's been a lot of topic on that, where it's been misinstalled. I think @Mr Badwrench is the first person I saw fess up to it.

 

this is gold info!! unanswered questions bug me to death..and I had no idea how that dang dipstick support could be covered in gunk. Got the OEM FIPG in the mail yesterday.. so just right there in the corner...get it good????

 

dude, your engine is clean.

 

Another thing people fuck up doing valve covers is failing to pull, clear, and re-seal with FIPG for the two half-moon plugs at the back of each head, which will lead to oil leaking down the back of the block. It gets mistaken at shops as a rear main seal (RMS) leak. Oh, and here's a pic below that of the spots on the front of each head where you need to FIPG. Instructions for all this is in the FSM, which I hope you've already downloaded.

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